Two Salem-Keizer Charter Schools Accepting Applications For Enrollment

Charter schools are required by law to be open to all students across the district, which means that students from other areas of Salem-Keizer may also apply and get drawn in the lottery.

Photo: Tim King

(SALEM) - The process to apply for admission to Howard Street Charter School is under way.

Applications are being accepted now through March 2nd.

5th grade information night will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 13th, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM in the Rose Theater at South Salem High School.

5th grade information day and school tour will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 14th, from 8:45 to 10:00 AM at the Howard Street Gym.

For more information call (503) 399-3408 or visit www.howardstreet.org

Optimum Learning Environment Charter School is accepting applications:

At Forest Ridge, there is both a traditional school and charter school.

One classroom in grade 1st through grade 5th is a designated charter class.

This year A-2, A-3, B-3, C-5, and C-6 are charter classes.

Starting on January 16th, parents may submit applications for their child to be in the lottery for the charter school for next year.

Once a child is in the charter they remain in the charter unless they move or withdraw. Consequently, all the charter spots for 2007-08 in grades 2-5 are filled.

However, they will not take applications for those grades and will draw names to create a wait list, so if a child moves we can fill their spot.

No students are already approved for the first grade class for 2007-08.

Parents of this year’s kindergarten students who wish to apply for the charter need to get an application from the school office and submit it before February 28th.

On the second Monday in March names will be drawn for the 1st grade charter class for 2007-08.

Names of students who have a brother or sister in the charter will get selected first.

The remaining students will then be drawn to fill the class to a maximum of 25 and to create a wait list in priority order.

In grades 2-5 student names are drawn and added to the wait list in the order they are drawn.

Each year they have several families move which creates vacancies in all grades, so they gradually move kids based on the wait list.

For more information or to get an application, contact the charter school at (503) 399-5548.