ENROLLMENT INFORMATION
The Rising Tide Charter Public School is a grades 5-8 public charter school whose enrollment policies and procedures are consistent with Massachusetts Charter School Law and with the Charter School Administrative and Governance Guide. As a public school, Rising Tide is open to all qualified students. Interested students and their parents must visit the school and complete an Application. Students are admitted by Lottery and/or by Waiting List. Each year, a is held in March for incoming fifth grade students and for other grades, where necessary. When openings arise during the school year in any grade level, students are admitted according to their placement on a Waiting List. The policies and procedures described below have been created and developed by the Rising Tide Charter Public School Administration and Board of Trustees.
Initial Application
Any parent or student who inquires about admission to Rising Tide Charter Public School will be given a welcoming letter and a school brochure. It is recommended that all prospective students and parents attend an information session, offered regularly throughout the school year. Rising Tide also offers regular Wednesday morning school tours. These tours are conducted by school personnel and student tour guides. The Head of School may interview prospective students; students and parents will have an opportunity to ask questions during the interview. Each applicant must decide whether or not to attend Rising Tide and complete an application, which is attached to the Enrollment Policy. All student applications must be received by the school on the day before the publicized March Lottery date.
Rising Tide Charter Public School does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, national origin, race, creed, ethnicity, mental or physical disability, ancestry, athletic performance, special need, proficiency in the English language or another language, prior academic achievement, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.
Eligibility Criteria
► Rising Tide requires that applicants must be Massachusetts residents at the time of the application. Applicants may be asked for proof of Massachusetts residency at the time of their application for admission.
► Rising Tide requires that applicants successfully complete the grade preceding the grade to which they apply.
► Rising Tide requires each student and his or her parents or guardians to read the Student Handbook.
► Rising Tide requires each student and his or her parents or guardians to sign the Rising Tide Home School Compact.
► Applicants who do not meet the eligibility requirements will be notified by the school in writing.
► Applicants who have been home schooled prior to attending Rising Tide will be asked to submit examples of grade level work to demonstrate competency.
Lottery Procedures
Rising Tide holds its annual admission Lottery for incoming fifth grade students during the second week of March, on a date set before the beginning of the school year. This Lottery date is publicized on the Annual School Calendar as well as on posters and postcards displayed for enrollment purposes. Information sessions and Lottery dates will be advertised through local media. Lotteries for other grade levels will also be held on this date, if necessary. If other lotteries are required during the academic year, Rising Tide will publicize the application deadline at least one month in advance of the Lottery and will set the date for the Lottery at least one week prior to the Lottery. The Lottery policies and procedures are as follows:
► Rising Tide determines the number of available spaces in each grade level prior to the Lottery, based on the school’s capacity and the estimated number of returning students.
► The deadline for accepting enrollment applications is the day before the Lottery date.
► Each time an enrollment Lottery is held, names will be drawn by a disinterested party, a person not connected in any way with the school.
► Siblings of students who are already in attendance at Rising Tide in the year of the application have preference for admission over non-sibling resident students.
► Applicants who are Plymouth residents have enrollment preference over non-resident applicants because Rising Tide is located in Plymouth.
► Students for whom enrollment in Rising Tide would cause the sending district to exceed the 9% tuition cap may not be offered admission.
► For those students to whom the above policy applies but who are also siblings of students currently in attendance at the school, the state may pay the child’s tuition, subject to appropriation.
► All applicants for a given application and enrollment process will be drawn in the Lottery and assigned a number.
► Applicants who have been granted admission to Rising Tide must accept enrollment within two weeks of the acceptance date.
Applicants who have been granted admission to Rising Tide may be asked to take placement tests in order to best meet the educational needs of the student.
Waiting List Policy
At the time of an enrollment Lottery, if Rising Tide receives more applicants than available spaces, the Lottery will continue past the number of available spaces so that students not granted immediate admission may be placed, by number, on a waiting list. As spaces become available, these students on the waiting list will be offered admission according to their numbered place on the waiting list. Once these waiting list numbers are depleted, Rising Tide may hold another Lottery to determine numbered spots on a waiting list. In the Lottery and admissions process, applicants are placed into three categories:
Siblings, or students who currently have siblings attending Rising Tide at the time of the Lottery. Siblings receive preference in the admissions process.
Residents, or students who live in Plymouth at the time of a Lottery. In a Lottery, residents must be admitted before non-residents but after siblings.
Non-Residents, or students who live in the Rising Tide region but not in Plymouth. Non-residents are admitted, in a Lottery, after siblings and residents.
Within a week after any Lottery, students who gain admission through the Lottery process will be notified by telephone of their admission. Admitted students/families must accept or reject an offer of admission within two weeks of notification of admission. Applications of students who decline an admission but desire to attend Rising Tide in the next school year will be rolled over into the subsequent school year. Applications submitted after the initial application and Lottery process will become part of the next Lottery.
Withdrawing a Student from the School
In the event that parents or guardians wish to withdraw their child from the Rising Tide Charter Public School, they must come to the main office and sign a Withdrawal Form before the child can be officially withdrawn from the school. Any pupil who is withdrawing from school must receive a withdrawal form no later than the day he or she is leaving. The student should present the form to the teacher of each of his or her classes. These teachers will sign the form, indicating that the pupil has met all responsibilities. After all teachers sign this form and return it to the main office, the school secretary can issue a transfer and release report card, test score, and health information. Rising Tide’s policy is that student records are mailed between schools.
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