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Admissions Policy

Admissions Policy

Northeast College Prep is a tuition-free public charter school serving students in grades K–8. NECP is open to all eligible students and follows Minnesota law governing charter school admissions and enrollment.

When the number of applicants for a grade exceeds the number of available seats, NECP uses a lottery and waiting-list process to determine admission.

Annual Enrollment & Lottery

Applications for the following school year are available on or before January 1. Families are encouraged to apply by January 31 to be included in the annual enrollment lottery, if a lottery is necessary.

  • If the number of applicants is fewer than the number of available seats in a grade, all eligible applicants will be offered enrollment.
  • If the number of applicants exceeds the number of available seats in a grade, NECP will conduct a lottery on February 1, or the next business day if February 1 falls on a non-school day.
  • The lottery determines which students are offered available seats and establishes the order of the waiting list.
  • Families will be notified of their child's enrollment or waiting-list status within three business days following the lottery.

After the lottery, applications continue to be accepted. Students will be offered enrollment as space becomes available or added to the appropriate waiting list.

General Admission Procedures

  • When the number of applicants exceeds the number of available seats, students are admitted according to the following enrollment preferences and order:

    1. Siblings and foster siblings of currently enrolled students
    2. Children and foster children of NECP employees who work at least 480 hours per school year
    3. Other Minnesota resident students
    4. Students who are not Minnesota residents

    Within any group where there are more applicants than available seats, admission is determined through the lottery process.

  • Students who are not offered a seat through the lottery are placed on a waiting list in the order determined by the lottery.

    Waiting lists do not carry over from one school year to the next. Families who wish to be considered for admission for a new school year must submit a new application and participate in that year's admission process.

  • Each student seeking admission completes a separate application (i.e. not one application for the family). In a lottery situation, each student receives an individual number/lot in the lottery.

  • Applicable lotteries occur from highest grade to lowest grade. For example, if a lottery is required in grades Kindergarten and 3, the grade 3 lottery is conducted first, followed by the Kindergarten lottery.

State Law

Northeast College Prep is required to follow state and federal laws regarding charter school admission and enrollment. Specifically, state statute 124E.11 outlines the most up to date requirements for charter school admission and enrollment.

The federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act requires that states and school districts eliminate barriers to immediate school enrollment for students experiencing homelessness. Students experiencing homelessness must be allowed to enroll in school immediately, even if they are unable to provide records normally required for enrollment. The school will work with the student, family, or legal guardian to support enrollment and obtain any necessary records.


Northeast College Prep does not discriminate based on age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, economic status, ability, religion or services needed.