Massachusetts

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the Boston Charter School Application?

  The Boston Charter School Application, launched this year by the Boston Charter Alliance, allows families to apply for multiple children to several charter schools (if they choose) at once using either a mobile phone, iPad or tablet, or computer.

  The online application was created to ease the process for families to apply to one, or many, charter schools located in and near Boston. This new application process was developed with the sole intention of providing families with a simpler, more positive application experience. 

  This application does not in any way impact your odds of admittance to any one school, nor does it impact the way our lotteries are conducted. 

• What is the School Chooser tool?

  The School Chooser is a tool which allows families to learn more about the 15 charter schools participating in the Boston Charter School Application. This tool will allow you to:

  1. Identify the schools closest to you based on your home address. 
  2. Filter schools by the grade for which you are applying. 
  3. Access links to every school’s official website. 
  4. Apply directly from the School Chooser page with the Apply Now button. 

• Who can apply to Excel?

  Any child who is a resident of Massachusetts at the time of application and/or enrollment is eligible to apply and attend. Your child must have successfully completed the grade preceding the grade to which he or she apply prior to the start of the school year. This means that any child applying for 5th grade must successfully complete 4th grade before the next school year begins, and so on. 

  Excel Academy Charter School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, sex, gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, age, ancestry, athletic performance, special needs, proficiency in the English language or a foreign language, or prior academic achievement.

• I am not a Boston resident. Am I still able to apply using the Boston Charter School Application?

  Yes. All residents of the state of Massachusetts are eligible to apply. 

• How do I apply to Excel?

  Excel Academy is one of 15 charter schools in Boston participating in the Boston Charter School Application. You can access the online application portal at https://bostoncharterschools.schoolmint.net/

  We strongly encourage families to apply using the online application to ensure your application is received promptly, and that all the information submitted is accurate.

• Do I need to reapply each year if my child is not offered a seat?

  Yes. Excel’s waitlists do not carry over from one year to the next. You must reapply each year if you are interested in enrolling your child at Excel Academy.

• When will applications be available?

  Applications will be available in September of the current year, https://bostoncharterschools.schoolmint.net/

• When are applications for the lottery due?

  All applications must be received by February 28th at 11:59PM.

• Can I select the campus at which I would like to enroll my child?

  Excel Academy has one application for all four campus locations. Excel will assign students to a campus based on geographic proximity, student safety, or programmatic needs. If a student has a sibling attending an Excel campus we will prioritize assigning their sibling to the same campus location.

• My child has a sibling who attends Excel. Do I still need to submit an application?

  Yes. If you have a child currently enrolled at any of our Excel Academy campuses, you must submit an application for any additional children who are eligible to apply. 

  The Boston Charter School Application has a section where families may indicate if the applicant has a sibling currently enrolled at the schools for which they are applying. Please be sure to complete this section so we can appropriately apply sibling preference. All sibling claims will be verified by the school before the lottery. 

• Am I required to provide proof of residency?

  You must provide proof of residency at the time your child is offered a seat. You do not need to provide proof of residency prior to the lottery. Admission is dependent upon a family’s ability to produce proof of residency. 

  • A Utility Bill dated within the past 60 days
  •  A Deed, Mortgage Payment dated within the past 60 days, or Property Tax Bill dated within the last year
  • A current Lease, Section 8 Agreement, or Landlord Affidavit
  • A W2 form dated within the year or a Payroll Stub dated within the past 60 days
  • A Bank or Credit Card Statement dated within the past 60 days
  • A Letter from an Approved Government Agency* dated within the past 60 days

  Please visit the side link titled “Proof of Residency” to learn more about how to submit proofs of residency. If you have questions about what constitutes proof of residency or feel you are unable to provide this documentation, please email enrollment@excelacademy.org or call (617) 874-4142.

• How are students admitted to Excel?

  All students are admitted to Excel through a blind, public lottery. Excel grants enrollment preference first to students whose siblings are currently attending Excel Academy Charter School (regardless of the campus at which the sibling is enrolled) and then to students who reside in Boston or Chelsea.

  At the time of the lottery in March, all students applying for grades 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 will automatically be placed on the waitlist. We automatically generate a waitlist because we will not know the number of open seats in those grades until the end of the academic year when all grades have been finalized. As seats become available, we will begin accepting students off the waitlist.

• What does a lottery look like?

  Excel’s lotteries are all executed electronically using software created by an unaffiliated third party. The lotteries are run one grade level at a time beginning with 5th grade. All lotteries are open to the public which means families are welcome to attend. Our next lottery will be held on March 9^th,2021 – snow day is March 10^th,2021.

• How long is Excel's waitlist valid?

  If a student withdraws from Excel during the year, we will back fill all open seats at our four campuses by accepting students off the waitlist through February 15th of the current academic year.

• On average, how many students apply to Excel?

  For the 2019-2020 school year, Excel received over 1,800 applications for all grades across our network. 

• Can I schedule a tour of Excel before I apply?

  Please contact enrollment@excelacademy.org for information on upcoming events.

• I have questions about the application/I need help with the application process. Who should I contact?

  If you have any questions about the application or lottery process, please contact our Enrollment team at enrollment@excelacademy.org or by phone at (617) 466-9384.