Frequently Asked Enrollment Questions

How do I enroll my child at Oxford Preparatory Academy?

Please visit our application page (www.applyOPA.com) during Open Enrollment to access our online application. To successfully apply, you will need to fill out the online application. Enrollment will be offered based on available openings for each grade when spaces become available. Waiting lists will be formed for grades with more applicants than openings. The waiting lists will expire at the end of each school year.

When is Open Enrollment?

Open Enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year will begin from February 14, 2024 through March 14, 2024 at 11:59 PM PST.

Do I need to live within the school's district to apply?

You can apply to Oxford Preparatory Academy from anywhere; but in order to enroll, you need to be a resident of Orange County or an adjacent county. Those students who are applying to the South Orange County campus in Mission Viejo who reside within the Capistrano Unified School District will be given a preference in the lottery. Those students who are applying to the Saddleback Valley Campus in Lake Forest who reside within the Saddleback Valley Unified School District will be given a preference in the lottery.

Do I need to fill out separate applications for each campus?

No, you do not. Our application site, will give you the option to apply to both of our Elementary school campuses or our Middle school campus. Applying for an Elementary school student at both of our school sites will not have any effect on your chance for placement at either location. You may also apply for the OPA Virtual Learning Program on the same application.

If I am currently enrolled at one campus, does that give me priority to apply to the other campus?

It does not between elementary schools. Refer to the admission preference/priority list for the middle school.

Does my child have a better opportunity to be chosen for enrollment the earlier we apply during the Open Enrollment period?

No. Entry into Oxford's on-campus program is not on a first-come, first-served basis. Families have 30 days to complete the online application form during Open Enrollment. All verified, eligible online applications submitted during the Open Enrollment period will be entered into the lottery. Open Enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year is from February 14, 2024 through March 14, 2024 at 11:59 PM PST.

How does the Lottery work?

Following the Open Enrollment period each year, applications will be counted to determine whether any grade level has received more applications than availability. In the event that this happens, the school will hold a random public lottery to determine enrollment for the impacted grade levels.
- The lottery will take place on a given published date. ( The lottery for the 2024-2025 school year will take place on April 25, 2024.)
- OPA will comply with all applicable state and federal laws and with the Chartering Authority policy as it relates to the oversight of charter schools.
- The lottery shall draw names from a general pool of ballots.
- Siblings of students placed during the random public lottery will also be placed depending upon space available at the given grade level during the lottery process.
- The drawing shall continue until all names are drawn. Those individuals whose names are drawn after all spaces have been filled will be placed on the waiting list in the order drawn, except if the preferences described above require otherwise.

What is Sibling Preference?

Siblings of students placed during the random public lottery will also be placed depending upon space available at the given grade level during the lottery process. If space is not available in the sibling's grade level, that sibling will be placed on the Sibling Priority Wait List. The remaining names will be placed on a waiting list based on the order drawn from the random public lottery (at each grade level).

How will I find out the results of the lottery?

After the lottery, you will receive an email notification. If you are waitlisted, your waitlist number will be posted on the parent portal. You may log into our application page at any time to see your child's current/updated waitlist number. Lottery results will also be posted on campus for a week following the lottery.

How will I find out if my child's waitlist number has changed?

After the lottery, you may log in to our application page at any time to see your child's current waitlist number.

*NOTE: If your child is on the waiting list and his or her position has moved down a spot, or a couple of spots, it is most likely due to another applicant becoming eligible for sibling priority. If a student joins the sibling priority list, that student moves to the top of the waiting list for that grade, thus causing other non-sibling applicants to move down a spot on the list.

Can my child join the waiting list if we missed Open Enrollment?

Yes! Families who have missed the Open Enrollment window can be added to our Post Lottery Wait List after the lottery has taken place. The online application will reopen for Post Lottery applicants on May 16, 2024, after the lottery was completed. The waiting lists will expire at the end of each school year.

Can I attend a Parent Information Meeting or Campus Tour?

In January and February of each year, we hold Parent Information Meetings(PIMs) at which families found out more about OPA and the open enrollment process. For copies of the presentation, please visit our website: https://www.opaschools.org/apps/pages/admission

Is Kindergarten full day?

Yes, Oxford Preparatory Academy has full day kindergarten. Kindergarten starts at 8:30am every day and ends at 2:25pm Monday through Thursday and at 12:10 on Fridays during our regular bell schedule.

Is Transitional Kindergarten full day?

No, Oxford Preparatory Academy Transitional Kindergarten(TK) has an AM and a PM class. The AM TK class begins at 8:30am and ends at 11:40am Monday through Thursday and the PM TK class begins at 12:05pm and ends at 3:15pm Monday through Thursday during our regular bell schedule. Both the AM and the PM classes begin at 8:30am and end at 12:30pm on Fridays during our regular bell schedule. Placement into the AM and PM classes is based on your position on the lottery list. OPA follows the state mandated birthdate cutoffs for TK. Date ranges are posted on our website here: https://www.opaschools.org/apps/pages/admission

Does Oxford Preparatory Academy charge tuition?

No. Oxford Preparatory Academy is a tuition-free public charter school.

Does Oxford Preparatory Academy provide bus transportation?

At this time, Oxford Preparatory Academy does not provide bus transportation.

Do Oxford Preparatory Academy students wear school uniforms?

Students at Oxford Preparatory Academy follow a school dress code. Our dress code policy and guidelines can be found on our website here: https://www.opaschools.org/apps/pages/dress-code