- Amy Licht
Are you considering applying to BASIS Charter Schools?
We understand that transferring your child to a new school can be stressful. There are timelines to juggle, applications to submit, and forms to sign. That’s why we do our best to make the enrollment process as simple as possible for incoming families.
Whether you’re looking to start at the beginning of the school year or begin mid-way through the year, we have answers to your questions! Learn about the enrollment process at BASIS Charter Schools and find out how we ensure a smooth transition for all students.
Looking for BASIS DC? The following information applies to our schools in Arizona, Louisiana and Texas. BASIS DC has unique enrollment policies, as it participates in the My School DC common citywide lottery. For more information, visit MySchoolDC.org.
New students starting at the beginning of a school year
When possible, we highly recommend that your child switches schools at the beginning of a school year. This minimizes disruption to your child’s learning and gives them the best possible transition to the BASIS Charter School program.
With this in mind, when should you apply? Applications typically open in late October or November for the following school year. For example, Arizona and Louisiana applications for the 2025–26 school year open in October 2024.
The initial period in which applications open is called Open Enrollment. If the number of applications received during Open Enrollment exceeds the number of openings (at any grade level), enrollment is determined by a lottery and waitlist. We highly recommend applying during Open Enrollment, as it’s your best chance of securing a seat for your child!
If you miss the Open Enrollment window, don’t worry! We continue to accept applications throughout the year. Applications submitted outside of Open Enrollment are added to a waitlist and processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
All applications are completed online and take about 10 minutes to complete. To start your application, click here.
New students starting mid-way through the school year
We understand that starting at a new school at the beginning of the academic year isn’t always possible. Maybe your family just relocated and you need to find a new school right away. Rest assured that applications for BASIS Charter Schools remain open throughout the school year. We continue to accept new students up until May.
Families who are applying for the current school year use the same online enrollment portal to submit their application. If the school(s) you are applying to do not have any open seats, your student will be added to a numbered waitlist. We continue to make offers throughout the school year as seats become available.
Please be aware that if you are offered enrollment for the current school year, you may only have a few days to accept your offer. We encourage you to stay on top of your email inbox and to reach out to our enrollment team if you have any questions!
Transferring from one BASIS Charter School campus to another
Wondering how to transfer your current BASIS student to another BASIS campus? We offer transfer priority for current BASIS Charter School students who are transferring to a different campus. This can be a great opportunity for families who were originally waitlisted for their first-choice campus or who are moving to a different part of the state. However, there are a few things to keep in mind!
First things first—you must fill out a Transfer Request Form indicating which campus you would like to transfer to. The completed Transfer Request Form must be signed by the Head of Schools at both campuses. Students with a completed Transfer Request Form receive priority in our Open Enrollment lottery.
Please note that we do not allow our current students to transfer to different BASIS Charter School campuses in the middle of the school year. All students must complete the current year at their current BASIS campus before moving to their new campus the following year.
A Transfer Request Form is not needed if your student is completing the exit grade at their current BASIS Charter School and moving on to the next grade at their designated affiliate school (for example, completing grade 4 at BASIS Chandler Primary North and moving to BASIS Chandler for grade 5).Families in this situation receive automatic transfer priority when applying during Open Enrollment.
BASIS provides comprehensive support for new students
We are committed to ensuring that our newest students have a smooth transition into our accelerated academic program. We recognize that our curriculum may be more advanced than what incoming students are used to (our students regularly learn material one year ahead of their grade level!), and we go the extra mile to set our students up for success.
Support for new students includes:
- Meet the Teacher Nights: New and returning students are able to meet their teacher before the first day of school. During a Meet the Teacher Night or Open House event, your child’s new teacher will set expectations and provide a preview of what your child will be learning that year. This is a great way to ease students’ nerves prior to the first day of school.
- BOSS Camp: BOSS stands for BASIS Organizational and Study Skills. During this summer program, new BASIS Charter School students learn about some of the organizational tools used at our campuses. They also have the opportunity to become familiar with their new campus before school officially starts.
- Student Affairs team: Each BASIS Charter School campus has a dedicated Student Affairs team. This team offers academic, social/emotional and behavioral support to students in need. The Student Affairs team also works with students on skills such as organization, time management and note taking.
- Individualized academic plans: High school students who transfer to BASIS receive individualized academic plans based on the courses they have already completed at their previous school. These plans are intended to motivate students to reach their highest academic potential, while also considering their prior educational experience.
- Student Hours: Our teachers hold regular Student Hours before and after school to meet with students who need extra help on assignments. This personalized guidance goes a long way in helping our new students get up to speed—especially when a student starts mid-year.
- Peer tutoring: Many of our campuses offer peer tutoring programs after school. Your child will receive valuable assistance on their coursework while making connections with peers from different grade levels.
With these supports in place, we’re confident that your student will be able to thrive at our school!
Whether you’re joining us at the beginning of a new academic year or during the current school year, our staff is dedicated to supporting new students’ integration into our school communities. Our Directors and Deans go out of their way to make sure our new students have plenty of opportunities to get involved with student clubs, school events and more.
Get a firsthand look at our welcoming and supportive school culture by finding a school near you and scheduling a school tour. When you’re ready, visit our Apply page to complete your application. We can’t wait to welcome your child to BASIS Charter Schools!
