Admission

River City Science Academy Schools admit any student, who is eligible to attend traditional Duval County Public schools and who submits a timely application. The Schools admit students of any race, color, national origin, religion or gender.

The Schools have an open enrollment window. Applications will be accepted each year during the open enrollment window and continuously to maintain capacity in each grade level. The deadlines for applications, lottery date, and registrations are announced on each school website and at the front offices. If the Schools receive more application than the available spots for any grade level, a lottery will be held. During the lottery process, all applicants who applied by the deadline will have equal opportunity in the drawing. After the capacity is filled, a waiting list will be formed with the lottery process as well. If the number of applicants is less than the number of seats anticipated to be available, no public lottery shall be conducted for that grade.

As provided for in Florida’s Charter School Legislation, the School will give enrollment priority to the following student populations if a spot available:

• Students who are the sibling of a student enrolled in the school, and

• Students who are the children of an employee or founding governing board member of the charter school.

Students in these categories will be admitted automatically. If the applicants in the above priority groups exceed vacancies, a lottery will be held as well.

Applications submitted for the prior school year will not be valid, roll over, or be processed in the following school year lottery or wait list. A new application must be submitted during the open enrollment window in order to be considered for a seat.

All applications received after the open enrollment window will be placed at the bottom of the waiting list for that particular program, class, or grade level in the order in which they are received.

Parents will be notified in writing of their child’s acceptance no later than three weeks past the acceptance period deadline and will have a specific timeline to respond to the school in writing of their decision to attend. If an accepted applicant decides not to attend the school or inform the school of the decision on time, the slot will be given to the person on the waiting list.

According to the controlled school choice option out of county, students may apply to RCSA schools. If there is an applicant outside Duval County, the applicant will follow the same timeline to apply. If the school still has any opening after giving priority to Duval County applicants, and waiting list students are called, remaining spots will be available to out of Duval County applicants in the order they applied in each grade level.

Transportation will be the responsibility of the parent for out of county students. If an out of county student has excessive tardiness and absences, the school will notify the parent and the student will be dismissed from RCSA to the student’s zone school.

River City Science Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, marital status, genetic information or age in its programs, admission process, or activities.