How Does Our Charter School Lottery Work?

Are you looking to enroll your student in a charter school? If so, Paradigm might be the perfect place for you and your scholar! There are a few things that you should know about our lottery system. Every scholar that comes to Paradigm must participate in our lottery system—and we’re unable to offer exceptions to this rule. This is a common enrollment process for charter schools and keeps the process fair and organized.

How to Enter Paradigm’s Lottery

You can enter our lottery by submitting a new scholar application. Our new student application will be available online through our website beginning October 15th prior to each applicable school year.

Our first lottery draw is held on or around February 1st. Please be sure to check the website or call the school to learn the exact date. Subsequent lottery draws will be added depending on enrollment availability. If your scholar is selected, you will be notified by email, so be sure to the email you’re most likely to check when applying for our lottery. You’ll have two weeks to accept or reject acceptance. It is possible that enrollment is available year-round for those looking to transfer schools during the school year. This possibility depends on whether the school is currently full or not.

It is important to note that if your scholar has a sibling currently attending Paradigm, we ask that you fill out the same application. Siblings of scholars will receive first priority. Returning scholars will need to fill out a returning application. If your scholar leaves Paradigm and wishes to return, they will need to participate in our lottery again.

Understand how our lottery system works with this infographic.

What Makes Paradigm Different?

At Paradigm Schools, it is our mission to create scholars, not just teach students. We do this by teaching our scholars how to think not what to think. This is so they can be ready to participate in academia as thought leaders rather than followers.

Here are some of the ways Paradigm is different from other charter schools:

Mentoring: Our scholars have the help and mentoring of their teachers, often in a one-on-one setting. Youth who participate in mentoring relationships experience a number of positive benefits such as better attendance, better chances of higher education, and better attitudes towards school.

Individualized Learning: Everyone learns differently. Scholars at Paradigm are expected to “own” their education, helping them shape their personal mission of learning. We offer multiple modes of learning and encourage scholars to choose their projects, models, and labs that work best for them.

Smaller Class Sizes: Our classes are around 20 scholars each. A lower- student-to-teacher ratio creates a more personal environment to help ensure that no scholar will slip through the cracks and be left behind.

Curriculum of Original Works: We have created a strong curriculum of original works, primary source documents, and classic books. We don’t utilize textbooks to help facilitate the great conversation at school and to direct our scholars directly to unfiltered sources.

Strong Code of Conduct: All of our scholars, mentors, staff, and parents are expected to model a high standard of behavior. Paradigm’s flexible structure is best suited for disciplined scholars ready to proactively pursue their education.

These are just a few of the things that make Paradigm different from other charter schools in Utah. When applying to Paradigm, we encourage you to take a tour of our school or take advantage of our shadowing opportunities. We allow prospective scholars to shadow a Paradigm scholar they already know, but we are more than willing to set them up with a shadowing opportunity if they do not know a current student.

Have Any Questions?

If you have any questions about how our lottery works we’ll be more than happy to answer them about our process. For questions about your scholar’s application feel free to email our registrar at rbowe@paradigmschools.org. For more information about an education at Paradigm, feel free to to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.