Enrollment Information

Admission Policy

Use the information below as a guide

  • Only one application will be accepted per child.
  • All applications must be received by the posted deadline to be entered into the lottery.
  • Visit the link below to login or create an account to start the application process:
    NYC Online Charter School Application
  • Any child qualified under the laws of New York State for admission to a public school is qualified for the Rochdale Early Advantage Charter School lottery; there is no tuition.
  • Rochdale Early Advantage Charter School is open to all children in Pre-k through grade 8 on a space available basis within each grade.
  • Entering Pre-K students must be or turning 4 years old by December 31st of the year you are applying for.
  • Entering K students must be or turning 5 years old by December 31st of the year you are applying for.
  • Siblings of enrolled students will automatically be enrolled once a sibling application is received. An application must be submitted for each sibling before the lottery deadline.
  • Applications are not considered valid until they have been received by the Business Office.
Start Application

Applications are available in other languages and we offer a preference for English language learners.

Admissions Process

Lottery, Preference, and Residency Information

Review how the lottery works, who receives preference, what happens after selection, and which residency documents are accepted.

The Lottery

Rochdale Early Advantage Charter School will hold its annual electronic lottery drawing at the school, located at 122-05 Smith Street, Jamaica, New York. Student applicants and their families are welcome to attend. Your presence at the lottery is not required for your child to be selected.

All applications that are received by the due date will be included in the lottery. Lottery numbers are assigned first to In-District Applicants and second to Out-of-District Applicants.

In-District Family home address is located in District 28, the district for REACS.
Out-of-District Applicants whose addresses are outside District 28. Contact 311 for district information.

Preference Order

1

Returning Students

Seats are offered to returning students first, when applicable.

2

Siblings

Siblings of enrolled students may receive preference if a separate application is submitted on time.

3

ELL Students

REACS has an English Language Learner preference in the lottery process.

4

CSD 28

Preference is also offered to applicants within Community School District 28, if seats are available.

What happens after the lottery

Here is the process families can expect once applications are included in the lottery.

1

Receive Notification

Each applicant is informed of the assigned lottery number by text or email through the SchoolMint system.

2

Log Into SchoolMint

Parents log into the SchoolMint account to accept, decline, or withdraw the offered seat.

3

Submit Documents

Accepted students must provide proof of residency, birth certificate, and immunization within two weeks.

4

Waitlist Updates

Waitlisted students can check SchoolMint for their waitlist number, which is available within 48 hours.

Acceptable proof of residency

Families may submit any of the following documentation. Please make sure it meets the date requirements listed below.

✓
A residential utility bill (gas or electric) in the resident’s name issued by National Grid, Con Edison, or the Long Island Power Authority
✓
Document on letterhead from a federal, state, or city agency stating the home address, such as Social Security, NYC Housing Authority, or Human Resources Administration
✓
All documents must be dated within 60 days of submission to REACS
✓
An original lease agreement, deed, or mortgage statement for the residence
✓
A current property tax bill or water bill for the residence that is current at the time of submission
✓
A water bill for the residence valid within the last six months

Special residency note

If submitting or residing in a home where the parent is not a lease-holder, you must provide a notarized Address Affidavit signed by both the primary leaseholder and the parent affirming that the family is residing in the home.

You must also submit one of the acceptable proof-of-residency documents listed on this page showing the leaseholder’s name.

If required documents are not submitted within two weeks, the seat will be released to the next student on the waitlist.

Additional notes

Wait list applications do not carry over from year to year; families must apply again the next year.

Wait list numbers are dynamic and may fluctuate as students accept or decline seats and as sibling preference is applied.

Applications are available in other languages if requested. Translators are available upon request.

REACS admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.