ELIGIBILITY

• We live in another state but plan to relocate to the Pioneer Valley. Can we apply to PVPA before we move?
• If our plans to move into PVPA’s priority area fall through, will our student’s enrollment status be affected?
• What should I do if I don’t know if my student will be promoted? What grade should we apply for?

APPLICATION

• Can you explain the application process?
• How do I get an application?
• What is the deadline for applying?
• I applied last year and am still on the waiting list. Do I have to reapply?
• My student is in elementary school. Can I get an application now?
• Can I transfer my child into PVPA right away?
• We declined PVPA enrollment in the past (or withdrew), but now my child wants to go to PVPA. Can my child get in again?
• I mailed the application on time, but you didn’t receive it. What can I do?
• What is the tuition at PVPA?
• Can my student and I visit the school before applying?

LOTTERY

• When does the lottery happen?
• Do any communities have priority in the lottery?

WAITING LIST

• What does my waiting list number mean?
• How long will I be on the waiting list before I get in?
• I applied last year and am still on the waiting list. Do I have to reapply?

SIBLING STATUS

• I already have a student at PVPA. How do I get my other child into the school?
• I have two children who want to apply to PVPA at the same time. If one gets into the school by the lottery, does the other child also immediately get in?

ACADEMICS / GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

• If I enroll in PVPA after the ninth grade, do I still need to meet all PVPA’s graduation requirements?
• Are PVPA students required to take the MCAS?

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

• What should I do if I don’t know if my student will be promoted? What grade should we apply for?
• My child’s circumstances are unique, and PVPA could make all the difference. Can you make an exception in our situation?
• My student is an extremely talented and experienced performer. How do I get him/her into your school?
• Does PVPA accept students who have special needs?
• Can you give preference to students of color?

MISCELLANEOUS

• Will PVPA increase enrollment in the future?
• I’m a junior. Can I transfer to PVPA for my senior year?
• How do I receive additional information?

ELIGIBILITY

We live in another state but plan to relocate to the Pioneer Valley. Can we apply to PVPA before we move?
You may submit an application before you move. However, applications that do not provide a Massachusetts address have last priority in the lottery. Students are also required to be residents of Massachusetts on the first day of enrollment. Back to top

If our plans to move into PVPA’s priority area fall through, will our student’s enrollment status be affected?
Yes, if plans for a student to relocate to our priority area are cancelled, a prior offer of enrollment will be withdrawn, and the student will be placed behind other students who reside in our priority area. Back to top

What should I do if I don’t know if my student will be promoted? What grade should we apply for?
Candidates for admission are required to apply for the grade immediately following their current grade and to successfully complete that grade to be admitted. Back to top

APPLICATION

Can you explain the application process?
All new applicants must file an application  which must be postmarked and/or recieved by the deadline, January 4th, 2013. Applicants and their families are welcome to attend Prospective Student Meetings that are scheduled for January 2013. These meetings are not mandatory and are by invitation only. Students who are not selected by the lottery are placed on a waiting list in the order in which they were drawn and are contacted if space becomes available. All applicants are given equal consideration within the following state-mandated guidelines: siblings of currently enrolled students are given first consideration; students who are reapplying from the previous year’s waiting list are given second consideration; new applicants who live in PVPA’s priority area (see below) are given third consideration; and all other Massachusetts residents are given fourth consideration. (Note that only biological and legal siblings are eligible for sibling status.) Back to top

How do I get an application?
Click here to download an application. Back to top

What is the deadline for applying?
The deadline varies by a day or two, depending on the calendar. The deadline for the 2013-2014 school year will be January 4, 2013. That is the date that applications must be either postmarked or delivered to the school. Applications that are submitted after the deadline will not be included in the lottery. Sibling applications will be accepted up until, but not after, the date the lottery takes place. For more information about sibling applications, see “sibling status” below. Back to top

I applied last year and am still on the waiting list. Do I have to reapply?
Applicants who are currently on the PVPA waiting list must complete the “Statement of Re-Application” in order to remain on the waiting list for 2013-2014. The re-application statement is available in early November and must be postmarked or delivered to the school by the deadline. The 2013-2014 deadline for re-applications will be January 4, 2013. Additional parent meetings and demonstrations are not required of reapplying students and their parents. Back to top

My student is in elementary school. Can I get an application now?
Applications are available in November for students who are applying for the following school year. It is not possible to apply more than one year in advance. Back to top

Can I transfer my child into PVPA right away?
Only applicants who have gone through the application process may transfer into PVPA. Applicants on the waiting list have preference over any late applicants. In the rare event there is an opening and no waiting list, it is sometimes possible to move quickly through the application and enrollment process. Back to top

We declined PVPA enrollment in the past (or withdrew), but now my child wants to go to PVPA. Can my child get in again?
You may reapply to the school and follow the usual application process. Back to top

I mailed the application on time, but you didn’t receive it. What can I do?
We always note the postmarked date on applications. We recommend parents either drop off applications at the PVPA office or send them by certified mail. Back to top

What is the tuition at PVPA?
PVPA is a public school. There is no tuition. Back to top

Can my student and I visit the school before applying?
We have so many requests to visit the school that it would be disruptive to have ongoing visitors in classrooms. In the fall there is an evening Open Information Meeting held at the school. After a student has gone through the application process and the lottery, the parent may call the school office to schedule a visiting day during the spring semester.

LOTTERY

When does the lottery happen?
The lottery for the 2013-2014 school year will be held in Room 101 at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, February 15, 2013. Back to top

Do any communities have priority in the lottery?
Admissions priority is given to Hampshire, Hampden, and Franklin Counties, as well as the towns of Petersham, Brookfield and Sturbridge. However, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education limits the number of students who may attend charter schools from individual districts. Although this has not happened in the past, it is possible that a student who has been accepted as the result of the lottery is not allowed to enroll in PVPA because the sending school district has reached its limit. Back to top

WAITING LIST

What does my waiting list number mean?
Every year there have been more applicants than openings. When the lottery takes place, applications are drawn to fill openings. Once openings are filled, we continue to draw and assign waiting list numbers to the remaining applications. Back to top

How long will I be on the waiting list before I get in?
As openings occur, applicants on the waiting list are called. There is often no way to predict exactly when an opening will occur. Back to top

I applied last year and am still on the waiting list. Do I have to reapply?
Applicants who are currently on the PVPA waiting list must complete the “Statement of Re-Application” in order to remain on the waiting list for 2013-2014. The re-application statement is available in early November and must be postmarked or delivered to the school by the deadline. The 2013-2014 deadline for re-applications will be January 4, 2013. Additional parent meetings and demonstrations are not required of reapplying students and their parents. Back to top

SIBLING STATUS

I already have a student at PVPA. How do I get my other child into the school?<
Siblings of currently enrolled students who apply by the “sibling deadline” (February 8, 2013 for the 2013-2014 school year) are entered into the lottery. If they are not accepted in the lottery, they are given preference by being placed at the top of the waiting list. If there are more sibling applicants than openings, the original lottery numbers are used to prioritize students. Per Massachusetts General Laws, a sibling must share a common parent, either biologically or legally through adoption. Whether the children reside in the same household has no bearing on determining if the children are siblings for purposes of sibling preference. Back to top

I have two children who want to apply to PVPA at the same time. If one gets into the school by the lottery, does the other child also get in immediately?
Not necessarily. Sibling status only applies to siblings of currently enrolled students. Only after one student is actually in attendance at PVPA does the sibling of that student receive sibling consideration. Only biological and legal siblings are eligible for sibling status. Back to top

ACADEMICS / GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

If I enroll in PVPA after the ninth grade, do I still need to meet all PVPA’s graduation requirements?
All PVPA students must meet all academic requirements in order to graduate. Students are only required to meet performing arts, physical education and internship requirements for the years in attendance at PVPA. Credit earned at a prior school will count toward the PVPA graduation requirements. Back to top

Are PVPA students required to take the MCAS?
Yes. PVPA is a public school, and students must meet all state graduation requirements. Back to top

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

What should I do if I don’t know if my student will be promoted? What grade should we apply for?
Candidates for admission are required to apply for the grade immediately following their current grade and to successfully complete that grade to be admitted. Back to top

My child’s circumstances are unique, and PVPA could make all the difference. Can you make an exception in our situation?
We are, of course, sympathetic to individuals in unusual situations. However, we are legally required to honor the waiting list and all other state requirements. Back to top

My student is an extremely talented and experienced performer. How do I get him/her into your school?
Per Massachusetts law, all applicants, regardless of talent, training, and experience, are treated equally in the application process. Back to top

Does PVPA accept students who have special needs?
Yes. PVPA is a public school and follows all Massachusetts laws for Special Education. Back to top

Can you give preference to students of color?
Per Massachusetts law, all applicants, regardless of race or ethnicity, are treated equally in the application process. Back to top

MISCELLANEOUS

Will PVPA increase enrollment in the future?
The school is not expected to increase its size at any time in the near future. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must approve any increase. Back to top

I’m a junior. How do I go about transferring to PVPA for my senior year?
PVPA does not accept students applying for the senior class. Back to top

How do I get additional information?
You may email the Admissions Coordinator, Amanda Melemed or call (413) 552-1580 ext. 114. Back to top

Revised July, 2012

PVPA is open to all students, on a space available basis, and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, age, ancestry, athletic performance, special need, proficiency in the English language or academic achievement.