How to apply to Newark charter schools

Which application should I use?

Participation source: Newark Common App school list. Each school profile links to the source for its application route.

Newark Common App: apply step by step

The Newark Common App lets you apply to participating Newark charter schools with one application. You can choose up to five schools and put them in the order you prefer.

1. Explore your school options

   Use our school directory or the My Schools Newark School Finder to look for schools that fit your child’s grade and your family’s needs. Choose only schools you would want your child to attend.

2. Create your account

   Visit Newark Common App and select Go to Application. You can sign up with an email address or a cell phone number.

3. Add your child

   Enter your child’s information and start an application for the correct school year. Complete a separate application for each child who is applying.

4. Rank your schools

   Add up to five schools, placing your favorite first. You do not have to use all five choices. Selecting more than one school can increase your chance of receiving an offer from a school you chose.

5. Answer the remaining questions

   Include information about siblings attending a school you selected and any services your child receives, where the application asks for it. You do not need to upload documents to submit the Common App application. Registration after an offer is a separate step and may require documents.

6. Review, sign, and submit

   Check your information and school order before submitting. Then log in to your dashboard and make sure the application status says Submitted. If you edit your application later, you must submit it again.

Sources: Newark Common App FAQ and the official application instructions (PDF, 2023). The PDF explains the application steps; use the current website for dates.

How the Newark Common App lottery works

• It is not first come, first served. Every application submitted during the priority window is considered together. Applying on the first day does not beat applying on the last day. Take the time you need.
• Rank your true preferences. The lottery offers your child a seat at the highest school on your list that has space. You only receive one offer, and never from a school you did not list.
• Some applicants get priority. The lottery includes a priority for keeping siblings together, and preferences for English language learners, students receiving special education services, and families experiencing homelessness.
• Waitlists are automatic. If your child does not get a seat at a school you ranked, they are placed on the waitlist for that school and any school you ranked above your matched school.
• Missed the priority window? Applications submitted after the priority deadline are handled during Open Enrollment on a rolling basis, after all priority applications are processed.

Source: Newark Common App FAQ.

What happens next?

Newark Common App uses your ranked choices and available seats to make one school offer, if a seat is available at a school you chose. It will not match your child to a school you did not list.

Check your dashboard for an offer or waitlist information. You can accept or decline an offer there. An offer is not the same as completed registration: follow the school’s instructions, provide the required documents, and confirm any registration deadlines.

If no seat is available, your child may be placed on a waitlist. A waitlist position does not guarantee an offer. Contact the application team or school if you need help understanding your options.

Source: Newark Common App FAQ.

After an offer: get ready to register

The Newark Common App does not require document uploads to submit an application. Other application providers may have different requirements. Registering after you accept an offer is a separate step. Start gathering these early:

• Proof of your child’s age and identity (birth certificate or passport; a foreign birth certificate is acceptable)
• Proof that you live in Newark (a lease, utility bill, or similar documents; a combination of documents can count)
• Immunization records
• Your child’s current IEP, 504 plan, or English learner records, if they have one. Share it so services continue without a gap

Parents or guardians register their child with the local school district before formally enrolling in a matched charter school. The school and district will tell you the exact requirements and deadlines.

Can I apply through more than one system?

Yes. Newark Common App and Newark Enrolls are separate systems with different participating schools. Most charter schools in this directory use the Common App; New Horizons uses Newark Enrolls; and a few schools take their own applications. Check each school’s profile for its route.

Applying through more than one system can give your family more options. Just track each application’s account, deadline, and results separately.