Here are some general eligibility guidelines:

• Charter Oak, Smith and Webster Hill allow PK3 and PK4

  • PK3 lottery – born 1/2/2020 to 1/1/2021 (Aged 2 years, 8 months to 3 years, 8 months)

  • PK4 lottery – born 1/2/2019 to 1/1/2020 (Aged 3 years, 8 months to 4 years, 8 months)
     

• PK students will be able to choose only one magnet school

• K-5 students should indicate their 1st and 2nd choice of magnet schools

• All siblings not currently enrolled in the magnet school need to apply through the lottery

• There is NO sibling preference in PK lottery, except at Charter Oak, because they have 80 total seats

• Web Hill PK lottery will run on the same timeline but is not part of the magnet process

• These pre-kindergarten programs are open only to children who live in West Hartford. Smith STEM and Charter Oak International Academy pre-kindergarten programs are open to children who reside anywhere in West Hartford. The pre-kindergarten program at Webster Hill Elementary is only open to children who live in the Webster Hill neighborhood and prioritized neighborhoods. 
• Families applying for pre-kindergarten may select one magnet school on their application, either Charter Oak or Smith. Families residing in the Webster Hill neighborhood or prioritized neighborhoods (Whiting Lane, Wolcott, Smith and Hillcrest) may apply to Webster Hill and one magnet school.

Timeline

The 2023-2024 Magnet and Pre-K lottery applications were available from January 9th - March 3rd at 4:00 p.m. 

• Magnet and Pre-Kindergarten Application Process Begins: January 9, 2023
• Parent Information Meeting at Webster Hill: January 26, 2023 at 6:00pm
• Parent Information meeting at Smith STEM School: February 2, 2023 at 6:30pm
• Parent Information meeting at Charter Oak International Academy: February 9, 2023 at 6:30pm
• Magnet Application due: March 3, 2023 at 4:00 pm
• Magnet Lottery Results sent to parents: March 22, 2023 
• Parent responses to acceptances due: March 29, 2023
• Completed registration to accept spot required: April 6, 2023
• First look at waiting list: April 24, 2023
• Final look at waiting list: Mid-August

Pre-Kindergarten Information:

Enrollment packets are now all electronic. Accepted families will receive a link providing all required forms and information to successfully enroll their child. For questions regarding registration please contact our residency office at residency@whps.org.

If you wish to apply for the sliding scale for tuition please fill out the income verification form and return to, Barbara Rua, Business Office,  Room 418, 50 South Main Street or email Barbara_Rua@whps.org. Please be prepared to provide copies of proof of income.

ALL children entering pre-kindergarten must have completed current health forms to attend school. This form can be found in the electronic enrollment packet. Completed forms should be returned to the school nurse.

Only residents of West Hartford. Both Smith STEM and Charter Oak International Academy magnet schools are open to students in pre-kindergarten through grade 5.

You can apply online at whps.org/magnet. These magnet schools are open to West Hartford residents only.  If you are admitted into a magnet school, you will need to establish residency before your admittance can be accepted.  Please visit www.whps.org/residency for more information on residency requirements.

For Pre-K, you may apply to only one magnet school.

For K-5, you may apply to both magnet schools. Please indicate your first choice.

If you apply to Pre-K and are accepted to either magnet school as a neighborhood student and move out of the neighborhood prior to the start of the school year, you will forfeit your spot. You may put your name on the waitlist for the magnet schools as a magnet student. If you move during the school year, you may write a letter to Dr. Andrew Morrow, Assistant Superintendent to request a waiver for the remainder of the school year and must reapply as a magnet student for the following year.  

If you live the magnet school attendance zone and are entering grades K through 5, you do not need to apply. If you live in the attendance zone and are applying for pre-kindergarten, you will need to apply through the lottery.

All children, including siblings of currently enrolled magnet students, must apply through the lottery. Siblings of currently enrolled students at Charter Oak will be given the lowest lottery numbers. K-5 siblings of currently enrolled K-5 students at Smith will be given the lowest lottery numbers.

Yes, transportation will be provided to students who attend a magnet school and live more than a mile from the magnet school.

Students who don’t make enrollment through the magnet school lottery will be put on a wait list, and then given the choice to enroll as slots open. The wait list is reviewed in June and again just prior to the start of school in late August. The wait list is then deleted as a new magnet lottery process is started each year.

1. Considerable care and planning have gone into devising clear and equitable procedures for the selection of students in a manner that is consistent with the magnet school admissions criteria adopted by the West Hartford Board of Education. The magnet brochure explains some of parents’ most frequently asked questions about selection criteria and other procedures related to the application process.
    
2. Please consider attending the information evenings at either or both schools. More information can be found on each school's web page. Georgina Rivera, principal of Charter Oak International Academy, can be reached at 860-233-8506 and Ms. Teresa Giolito, principal of Florence E. Smith STEM School of Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math, can be contacted at 860-236-3315. Both principals are eager to share their exciting programs.
    
3. Please make certain that your on-line application is completed on time. Applications are due by 4:00 p.m. on March 3, 2022. Early applications are appreciated, but the order in which they are received will not affect the selection process.