The schools operated by the organization are public charter schools which receive their Charters from the local school district, and as such, comply with all applicable requirements of state law and the public school system as well as their Charters. Federal Law may also apply if the school is the recipient of federal grant funds. As such, we admit all students based on space availability. The parents may attend a tour, learn information about the school, and share information regarding the student that would assist us in meeting the student’s needs as is permitted under the law. Children will be admitted based on availability for the current year. If they are applying for the following year, they will follow the lottery procedure as described below.

Lottery Procedures

If more students have applied to a specific school than there are spots available by the deadline established by the organization, a lottery will be held to determine which students will be accepted. The following students will be given priority in the admission process under State law:

• Students whose parents are staff members with the organization.
• Students whose parents are on the Board of Directors of the organization.
• Students who have siblings enrolled with the organization.

If there are more students that are to be automatically accepted then there are spots available, a lottery will be held as described below. 

• The lottery will create a primary list of students and the initial waiting list from the students who have applied. 
• Once the deadline has passed, all students will be assigned a lottery number except for those that have a priority as set forth above.
• Numbers will be randomly chosen to decide which students will be accepted into the school by openings in each class offered.
• All students will be ranked based on these random numbers. 
• All students who are granted acceptance will be notified and asked to respond whether they will be attending. If not, the next student on the list will be granted that position until the complete list has been accepted. 
• If there are still openings, the spots will be awarded on a first come first serve basis.

Withdrawals

Students who choose to leave the organization’s school will be assisted in their transition to their new school by having the school create a report indicating the students’ performance and current grade in each class. The organization reserves the right to follow up with the student’s future placement to ensure compliance with compulsory attendance laws.

Enrollment & Admissions Policy 

The purpose of this policy is to establish clear, fair, and consistent procedures for student admissions and enrollment. The school will admit students in accordance with applicable Florida law and will not provide admission preference except as permitted by Florida statute.

General Enrollment

Avant Garde Academy is a nonprofit, tuition-free public charter school authorized under the laws of the State of Florida. The school is open to all students eligible to attend Florida public schools and will not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, disability, or any other protected status.

Open enrollment begins November 15 and closes February 18th each year. A public lottery will be conducted on February 19th each year. Parents are not required to be present. Families will be notified of results via email and/or SMS within 24 hours.

Admission is based solely on submission of a completed application. Applications may be submitted online, or by paper upon request for families without internet access.

Application Information

Applications will include basic student and parent/guardian information, residency confirmation, grade level, date of birth, sibling information, and communication preferences.

Parents must apply using the student’s current grade and expected grade for the upcoming school year. Retention decisions will be made after enrollment based on school records and administrative review.

Returning Students

Currently enrolled students are not required to reapply. Families will complete an annual intent-to-return form to assist with planning and lottery capacity.

Enrollment Priorities (Per Florida Law)

Enrollment preferences permitted under Florida charter school statutes may include:

• Children of full-time employees and governing board members (within statutory limits)
• Siblings of currently enrolled students
• Other preferences permitted by Florida law and approved in the school’s charter contract.

If applications exceed available seats, a random lottery will be conducted.

Sibling Procedures

Siblings receive placement priority where seats are available. If no seats are available, siblings are placed on the appropriate grade-level waitlist. If the Primary Registrant is waitlisted, siblings are waitlisted accordingly.

Lottery Procedures

Applications received during open enrollment are entered into a grade-level lottery. The lottery fills seats at grade level and establishes waitlists in lottery order. A sibling lottery may be conducted prior to the general lottery if necessary.

Students applying after the open enrollment period will be enrolled if seats are available or placed at the end of the waitlist in order received.

Lottery Results & Waitlist

Lottery results will be posted on the school website within three business days. Accepted families will be notified via email (or mail if requested). 

Enrollment Deadlines

Families must accept enrollment and submit required documents within the following timelines:

• On or before May 15: 30 days to accept by completing enrollment form; 30 days to submit paperwork.
• After May 15: 7 days to accept by completing enrollment form; 10 days for paperwork.
• After July 15: 48 hours to accept by completing enrollment form; 5 days for paperwork.

Failure to meet deadlines may result in forfeiture of the seat, which will then be offered to the next student on the waitlist.

Required Enrollment Documents

Enrollment documentation may include:

• Proof of Florida residency
• Birth Certificate
• Report Cards and Transcripts from prior school.
• Authorization to request prior school records.
• Immunization records and required health forms.

School’s Right to Refuse or Revoke Enrollment

The school may deny or revoke enrollment if:

• The student is currently serving an expulsion term from another school.
• False or knowingly misleading information was provided on the application.
• The student does not attend within the first two days of school, and the family cannot be contacted after reasonable attempts.

Handling Errors

Administrative errors during the lottery process will be corrected as soon as identified and reported to the Governing Board. Corrections will not invalidate the overall lottery results. Applicants affected by errors will be adjusted appropriately within the existing lottery order.