Admissions
UChicago Charter School is a neighborhood charter school comprised of three academic campuses on Chicago’s South Side. Two elementary school campuses serve grades preK–5 and one combined middle and high school campus serves grades 6-12. Together, the three campuses of the UChicago Charter School provide a pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade “superhighway” to college, cultivating students to become critical thinkers and leaders who succeed in four-year colleges and beyond.
Ready to Apply?
Grades preK-8 & 10-12
Families looking to join us in the these grades may apply using our online application system. The application process takes only a few minutes and requires a minimal amount of personal information. The Application Deadline is 11:59 PM on February 29, 2024.
9th Grade ONLY
Chicago Public Schools has developed a new unified application for all high school students applying to 9th grade. To apply to UChicago Charter School – Woodlawn Campus for 9th grade, click the button below and you will be taken to Go.CPS.edu to complete the online process. Scroll down for more details.
Admissions Process Overview
1. Application
The UChicago Charter School generally makes applications available in early October with a final due date in late February. Families may apply to more than one campus. Applications are good for one year only. Any applicants who are not admitted in one year must re-apply the next year. All applicants must be residents of the City of Chicago.
2. Lottery
A public lottery is generally held in late March. Any openings available after priority applicants have been admitted will be filled through a random lottery. Wait lists for each grade level will also be established through random lottery.
Learn more about our lottery process here
3. Registration
If your child is selected for admission, you will be notified via email and asked to accept admission through our online application portal, SchoolMint, complete the remaining online registration forms, submit required documentation online, and pay a non-refundable school fee. Please watch for this email notification. You will lose your seat and be replaced by someone on our wait list if you fail to respond by the deadline.
Admissions Timeline
Application Opens - PreK-8 and 10-12: Applicants may apply for admission for the 2023-2024 school year. Applicants for grade 9 must use the GoCPS application process.
Information Sessions:
North Kenwood/Oakland (NKO) PK-5th Thursday, Nov 30 & Thursday, Dec 14 @ 4:30PM
Donoghue (DON) PK-5th Thursday, Dec 7 @ 4:30PM
Woodlawn Middle (UCW) 6th-8th Wednesday, Nov 15 @ 4:30PM
Woodlawn High (UCW) 9th grade Wednesday, Nov 2 @ 5:00PM
Application Deadline - PreK-8 and 10-12: All applications for grades PreK - 8 & 10-12 are due at midnight on the deadline date. Any late applications will be added to our waitlist following the enrollment lottery.
Enrollment Lottery: The enrollment lottery will be held via Zoom (https://uchicagocharter.zoom.
Admission Response Deadline: All applicants must indicate their intent to accept or decline our offer of admission by midnight on the deadline date. Any offers that are not explicitly confirmed will be offered to the next family on the waitlist.
Wait list Admissions Open: Available enrollment seats will be offered to families who are on the wait list. Offers will be made in the order determined by the enrollment lottery.