Q: Is there any flexibility given for the cut-off date for entering kindergarten?
A: Kindergarten applicants will need to have turned five years old by September 30th in the proposed year of entry. While this cut-off date allows for some flexibility beyond the WA state norm of August 31st, there is not any flexibility beyond the September 30th date.
Q. If my child has been out of school due to COVID, and we are not able to obtain a current teacher recommendation form, what we can do in lieu of that form?
A. We recognize that the past year has presented its share of challenges, and that many students have been out of in-person learning environments for some time. If your child has not been in their standard, in-person preschool or school setting, and you do not have access to their most recent teacher, you may have the teacher recommendation form delegated to a different community member who works with children or caregiver who is also familiar with your child. Some examples of this would be a sports coach, a dance teacher, a remote class instructor, a tutor, a nanny or babysitter, etc.
Q: What kind of supplemental forms, beyond the teacher recommendation and transcript, might be required for my child’s application?
A: If your child has an Individual Education Plan, 504 Plan, or reports from specialists/therapists, we require that these documents be submitted as part of your child’s application. A member of the admissions team may connect with your family to discuss documentation provided.
Q: Is IQ testing required as part of my child’s application?
A: While we do not require IQ testing (WPPSI/WISC) as a part of our application process, we appreciate when families submit educational evaluations if they were completed as a part of the application process for another school, as they help to provide a more complete picture of the student. Additionally, students accepted to CHA who have completed testing through an Educational Psychologist within the last two years and have submitted that documentation with their application will receive support through SPARC, our Student Personalized Academic Resource Coordination (Special and Gifted Program).
Q: How are admissions decisions made?
A: Admissions decisions are based on the strength of each applicant’s overall application compared with the overall pool of applicants. The parents or legal guardians of all completed and reviewed student applications will receive one of three admission decision notifications:
- Accepted – The student meets CHA’s admission criteria, and an offer of acceptance will be extended.
- Wait Pool – The student meets CHA’s admission criteria, but the number of qualified applicants exceeds class capacity. If/when openings in a particular grade level occur, a qualified applicant will be selected from the Wait Pool and offered admission.
- Regretfully Declined – The student does not meet CHA’s admission criteria. Please keep in mind that decisions are difficult to make, and we are not able to share the reasons for denials, as admission files contain confidential information that may not be disclosed.
Q: If placed in the Wait Pool, can I find out my ranking in the Wait Pool?
A: No, the wait pool is a group of applicants who have a continued interest in enrolling at CHA, and it is not rank-ordered. When an opening occurs, we look at a variety of factors, including gender balance, diversity, learning styles, and social skills, and we then determine who might be the best fit given the current make-up of the class.
Q: If my child is declined for admissions, will you share the reason why?
A: As admissions files contain confidential information that may not be disclosed, we do not disclose the reasons for denials. We are always sorry to convey disappointing news, and it is also important to note that the admissions process is a complex one. With every child and with every situation, we carefully weigh all of the variables both for that child, and what their academic, social, and emotional needs are, as well as for the group as a whole, looking at gender balance, age distribution, academic ability, personality/temperament, and more.
Q: If my child is declined for admissions, can I re-apply the following year?
A: Absolutely. If you apply the next year, you will still complete the application process and submit the required supporting documents, and your child will participate in the assessment process, but we will waive the application fee. Please contact us for a waiver code for the fee prior to submitting your application.
Q: Is there an option or opportunity to virtually shadow or visit in the school’s remote learning program prior to making an enrollment decision?
A: At this point in time, we are not offering virtual visits to REACH out of regard for student privacy, as Teams displays our students’ full names, as well as a window into their homes. We would be happy to connect you with a currently enrolled CHA family to gain more insight into the parent and student perspective, if that would be helpful in lieu of virtual shadowing.
Q: If my child receives an offer of enrollment, can I make a request for a specific teacher?
A: While we appreciate parents’ insight and consideration of teachers, we do not take parent requests. We spend a lot of time understanding who students are through your application, their file and previous performance, and the observations we make of them through the assessment process. The student placement process is thoughtfully mapped out prior to the start of the school year, factoring in a number of different variables, such as, but not limited to: gender balance, age distribution, prior school history, prior sibling relationship with teacher, peer dynamics, diversity, academic ability, learning needs, and personality/temperament.
