Enrollment & Lottery Information

Who Can Apply?

Richard McKenna Charter Schools is a tuition-free public charter school. There is no tuition charge to attend. Any eligible student may apply for admission to RMCS. Kindergarten applicants must be five years old on or before September 1 of the school year for which they are applying. First grade applicants must be 6 years old on or before September 1 or have completed a public or private Kindergarten program out of state. 

RMCS does not discriminate in admissions based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, gender, socioeconomic status, special needs, or any other status protected by applicable law.

Enrollment decisions follow Idaho law and RMCS's approved admissions procedures.

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted through the RMCS online enrollment application system.

Application Instructions:

• Visit the online enrollment application system.
• Select the correct school year.
• Submit a separate application for each child.
• Review all information for accuracy and submit before the deadline.
• Watch for an email confirming your application.

Enrollment Priorities

Idaho law allows public charter schools to apply certain enrollment priorities when applications exceed available seats.

RMCS applies the preferences authorized by law and its approved admissions procedures, which may include:

• Returning Students: Currently enrolled students who complete the Intent to Return process retain their seats.
• Children of Founders and Full-Time Employees: Eligible children may receive priority, subject to statutory requirements and a limit of no more than 10% of the school's total enrollment capacity.
• Siblings: Eligible siblings of returning students and students selected through the lottery may receive sibling priority.
• Other Statutory Priorities: Certain students transferring from another Idaho public charter school under a qualifying written agreement, students residing within the school's primary attendance area, qualifying former students, and military-connected applicants may qualify for additional priorities or lottery weighting.

Understanding Sibling Priority 

Each child must have a separate application. When a student is selected for admission, eligible siblings may qualify for sibling priority in their respective grade levels.

Newly eligible siblings are placed at the bottom of the applicable sibling-priority section of their grade-level waitlist. Waitlist positions may therefore change as additional siblings become eligible.

Sibling preference does not guarantee admission. A seat must be available in each requested grade.

Visit our Lottery Frequently Asked Questions page for examples and additional information.

Waitlists and Late Applications

Applicants who do not receive an enrollment offer may be placed on a grade-level waitlist according to lottery results and applicable enrollment priorities.

Waitlist Information:

• Waitlists are maintained separately for each school year.
• Waitlists do not carry over to the following school year.
• Families must submit a new application each year.
• Previous applications, time spent waiting, and prior waitlist positions do not provide additional priority.
• Waitlist positions may change when applicants become eligible for higher-priority priority, including sibling preference.
• Late Applications- Applications received after the application deadline, are considered late applications and are not included in the initial lottery. Late applications are added to the bottom of the applicable grade-level waitlist in the order received, subject to applicable enrollment priorities. Eligible siblings are placed at the bottom of the applicable sibling-preference section according to RMCS procedures. If a seat becomes available because of a withdrawal or other enrollment change, RMCS contacts the next eligible applicant by email. Waitlist placement does not guarantee admission.

  
  

  Enrollment Offers and Notifications

  Enrollment offers and waitlist notifications are sent by email within seven calendar days following the annual selection process. Families receiving an offer must:
  • Review the official enrollment offer.
  • Follow the electronic acceptance instructions.
  • Accept the offer by the stated deadline.
  • Complete additional enrollment requirements by the specified deadlines.
  A parent or legal guardian must electronically accept the offer. If an offer is declined or the family does not respond by the deadline, the seat may be offered to the next eligible applicant. Please ensure your application includes an accurate email address and check it regularly.

Additional Registration Information

After accepting an enrollment offer, families will receive information about required documentation and additional registration steps through PowerSchool Registration.

Immunizations

RMCS follows Idaho state immunization requirements.

• Idaho Immunization Requirements – English
• Idaho Immunization Requirements – Spanish

School Supplies

RMCS provides all classroom supplies for all students.