HCCS is a tuition‑free public charter school. Because we often receive more applications than available seats, Idaho law requires us to use a random, fair lottery system to determine which students are offered enrollment. Submitting an application does not guarantee a seat, but it does ensure your child is included in the lottery for the upcoming school year.
Understanding the Application & Lottery Process
1. Open Application Period
Each winter, HCCS accepts Lottery Enrollment Applications for the following school year. All applications submitted during this window are treated equally.
2. Why a Lottery?
Idaho Code requires charter schools to use an equitable, random selection process when the number of applicants is greater than the number of available seats. A lottery simply means:
- All applicants are placed into a randomized drawing
- A neutral third party conducts the drawing
- Students are selected in order until all available seats are filled
- Remaining applicants form the waiting list in the order drawn
This ensures fairness and prevents selective admissions.
3. School Capacity
HCCS enrolls:
- Grades K–8
- Two classes per grade
- 30 students per class
- 60 students per grade
- Maximum school capacity: 540 students
If more students apply for a grade than we have space for, we use the lottery to randomly select which students receive seats and which students are placed on the waiting list.
4. After the Lottery
Attendance at the lottery event is optional. Families will receive notification by mail indicating whether their child is offered a seat or placed on the waiting list. Applications submitted after the open enrollment window are added to the waiting list in the order received.
5. Accepting an Enrollment Offer
Families who receive an offer must contact the school by the deadline listed in their offer letter to confirm acceptance. After a family accepts an offer, they will be invited to our new student orientation, where they will receive information about picking up, completing, and returning the registration packet along with the required documents, including the original birth certificate and current immunization records. If the registration packet and required documents are not submitted by the stated deadline, the seat may be offered to the next student on the waiting list.
6. Waiting List
The waiting list created during the lottery remains in effect for the current school year. If a student withdraws, we contact the next family on the waiting list to fill the open seat. When a spot becomes available, the school will reach out by email and phone call, and a voicemail will be left when possible. Each message will include the deadline for the family to contact the school and accept or decline the offer before we move to the next student on the list. The waiting list for the next school year is not used until after the last day of the current school year.
7. Sibling Status
If a student is offered and accepts a seat at HCCS, and they have siblings on the waiting list who are not currently enrolled, those siblings will be moved into “Sibling Status” once the enrollment process for the first child is complete. This status gives siblings priority in the lottery and on the waiting list, as required by Idaho law.
8. Re‑Enrollment for Current Students
Once a student is enrolled at HCCS, they do not participate in the lottery again. Families complete an annual re‑enrollment form to secure their child’s spot for the next school year.
9. New Applications Each Year
Waiting lists do not carry over from year to year. If a student was not offered a seat for the current school year, families must submit a new application during the next open enrollment period.
HCCS Enrollment Priorities (as required by Idaho law)
When conducting the lottery, the following preferences apply:
- Returning students (automatically enrolled)
- Children of founders and full‑time employees (limited to 10% of school capacity)
- Siblings of currently enrolled students
- Students living within the school’s primary attendance area
- Students living outside the primary attendance area
Non‑Discrimination Statement
Federal law prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability in any educational programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. Heritage Community Charter School does not discriminate in any educational programs, activities, or employment practices. Inquiries regarding this policy may be directed to Debbie Critchfield, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, P.O. Box 83720, Boise, Idaho 83720‑0027, (208) 332‑6800, or to the Director, Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C.
Non‑Sectarian Statement
Heritage Community Charter School is a 501(c)(3) non‑profit, tuition‑free Idaho public charter school. We welcome students of all faiths, races, abilities, ages, and income levels.