How To Apply


Recruitment and Enrollment Notification

Schedule for 2024-2025

  • GENERAL INFORMATION

    Odyssey Community School is a public charter school located in Manchester, Connecticut. Charter schools are public, independent schools funded directly by the Connecticut Department of Education. The Odyssey Board of Trustees functions as our Board of Education. We are responsible for meeting all the state and federal requirements of any Connecticut public school. Charter school teachers must meet all of the state certification requirements, and charter school students must take the state mandated achievement tests in the elementary and middle grades.

    Odyssey Community School accepts students from all cities and towns in Connecticut. Bus transportation is only available for K-8 students who reside in Manchester. Parents are responsible for providing transportation to and from Odyssey for those students living outside Manchester.

    Children are admitted to Odyssey Community School by lottery. If you are placed on the WAITLIST, you must reapply for the upcoming school year.

    Odyssey Community School classroom enrollment size is always fewer than 20 students per class.

    All students who wish to attend Odyssey must submit an application. Student applications are available on our website, www.odysseyschool.org. Each year, Odyssey admits new students for each grade, depending upon the availability of open slots. Students are selected based on a public, random lottery, which ensures all students have an equal opportunity to enroll. The lottery is held in April. Students that are not selected will be added to a waiting list. If an opening occurs, the first student on the waiting list at that grade level will fill the vacant space. All deadlines for registration must be met in order to ensure a seat is granted.


    a. Sibling Policy: For purposes of the admissions process and lottery, siblings of a current Odyssey student (whose primary residence is in the same household or that have at least one parent in common) will be granted preference within the lottery. An application must be completed before the lottery has been held to guarantee preference.If a parent/guardian wishes to enroll a sibling after the lottery has been held, the parent will complete an application for their child, and that child will be added to the waiting list.


    b. Children of Odyssey employees: For purposes of the admissions process and lottery, children of a current Odyssey employee will be granted preference within the lottery. An application must be completed before the lottery has been held to guarantee preference. If an employee wishes to enroll a child after the lottery has been held, the employee will complete an application for their child, and that child will be added to the waiting list.


    PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN ENTRY

    Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, age minimum requirements, based on Public Act 23-208, Section 1(a):
  • For students to enter PreK3, that child must turn THREE before September 1, 2024
  • For students to enter Prek4, that child must turn FOUR before September 1, 2024
  • For students to enter kindergarten, that child must turn FIVE before September 1, 2024

 

Timeline for Enrollment Process


  • February 9, 2024: Online Intent to Return form instructions emailed to parents of current students and staff
  • March 1, 2024: Online Intent to Return form must be completed by this date. Students who do not have their online Intent to Return form completed by the due date will have to enter the lottery process if they wish to be considered for enrollment. There are no exceptions.
  • March 8, 2024: Online Application will be posted to the website no later than this date for new families.
  • April 5, 2024: Online Lottery Applications due. Applications received after April 5, 2024 will be put on the waiting list in first come/first served order after on-time applications are processed. There are no exceptions.
  • April 18, 2024 at Noon: Lottery. Acceptance letters will be emailed approximately one week after the lottery.
  • May 17, 2024: Online Registration forms must be completed. If the online registration form is not completed by May 17, 2024, the open seat will be given to the first student on the waiting list. The student who did not complete the registration form will be placed at the end of the waiting list.
  • Prior to school opening, those parents offered a seat from the waitlist will be given 1 week to complete the registration process. After school begins, those parents offered a seat from the waitlist (phone call and email) will be given 48 hours to complete the registration process. The open seat will be given to the next student on the wait list if these timeframes are not met.
  • We will fill open spots through December 2024.
  • There are no exceptions to the above deadline times and dates.
  • May 31, 2024: Accepted Student Open House


ODYSSEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL

579 Middle Turnpike West, Manchester, Connecticut 06040 | Phone 860-645-1234 | Fax 860-533-0324

 

Odyssey Community School does not discriminate in any employment practice, education program, or educational activity on the basis of race, color, religious creed, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or any other basis prohibited by Connecticut state and/or federal nondiscrimination laws.



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