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Application Information

School Year 2024-25 and Beyond

Urban Montessori is a public school, free and open to all students. English language learners and students with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Urban Montessori Charter School is proud to partner with Oakland Enrolls to help you choose the best Oakland public school - district or charter - for your child. 

Oakland public charter school applications will open on November 12, 2024 for the 2025-2026 school year. The "On Time" Application window will close on February 14, 2025. Late Applications received after the 2/14 deadline will be placed on the waitlist in the order they are received.

  • Looking to transfer this year? We are still accepting applications for 2024-25!
  • Applications received by the deadline will be included in our public lottery, held on March 6th. On March 7th, you will see your charter school lottery results (OFFER or WAITLIST) in your online application dashboard and at that time you can ACCEPT or DECLINE an offer.
  • The deadline to ACCEPT/DECLINE a charter school offer is March 20. If you do not accept by this date, your charter school lottery offer(s) will expire. Once you accept an offer, offers from other Oakland charter schools will be automatically declined. You can remain on waitlists but may only accept an offer at one school.    
  • If you miss the application deadline, you will still be able to submit an online application for the 2024-2025 school year. Charter school applications submitted after the deadline will be considered a Late Application, and you will be placed on a waiting list at each of your selected schools, and/or offered enrollment if space becomes available. 
  • If you already attend Urban Montessori, you do not need to apply to attend again next year. 
  • Any siblings entering for the first time will need to apply.
  • For more information about enrollment at Urban Montessori Charter School, please contact the Enrollment Team at enrollment@urbanmontessori.org or call 510-842-1182. (Call 510-842-1183 to speak with Rosi in Spanish.)

Things to know about applying to UMCS:

  • Our age-eligibility requirements are as follows (consistent with the CDE guidelines) for 2025-26:

    • Transitional Kindergarten—DOB 9/2/2020 - 9/1/2021
    • Kindergarten—DOB 9/2/2019 - 9/1/2020
    • 1st Grade—DOB 9/2/2018 - 9/1/2019
    • 2nd Grade—DOB 9/2/2017 - 9/1/2018
    • 3rd Grade—DOB 9/2/2016 - 9/1/2017
    • 4th Grade—DOB 9/2/2015 - 9/1/2016
    • 5th Grade—DOB 9/2/2014 - 9/1/2015
    • 6th Grade—DOB 9/2/2013 - 9/1/2014
    • 7th Grade—DOB 9/2/2012 - 9/1/2013
    • 8th Grade—DOB 9/2/2011 - 9/1/2012

  • Our age-eligibility requirements are as follows (consistent with the CDE guidelines) for 2024-25:

    • Transitional Kindergarten—DOB 9/2/2019 - 6/2/2020 <-- "Five by June 2nd" is new for 2024-2025!
    • Kindergarten—DOB 9/2/2018 - 9/1/2019
    • 1st Grade—DOB 9/2/2017 - 9/1/2018
    • 2nd Grade—DOB 9/2/2016 - 9/1/2017
    • 3rd Grade—DOB 9/2/2015 - 9/1/2016
    • 4th Grade—DOB 9/2/2014 - 9/1/2015
    • 5th Grade—DOB 9/2/2013 - 9/1/2014
    • 6th Grade—DOB 9/2/2012 - 9/1/2013
    • 7th Grade—DOB 9/2/2011 - 9/1/2012
    • 8th Grade—DOB 9/2/2010 - 9/1/2011

  • Please note that UMCS strictly follows these guidelines in admissions, making exceptions ONLY in cases that follow the established educational trajectory of a child as confirmed by official public elementary school or accredited private/independent elementary school transcripts.

  • If you are unsure that your application has been received, you may contact our Admissions Coordinator (enrollment@urbanmontessori.org) to ensure that your child(ren) will be entered into the lottery.

Registration for Enrollment Tours is not required. Our Tour dates are listed here.

Information about lottery preferences

Per our charter, as part of the public random drawing, the following categories will receive weighted preference for admission to the school:

  1. Children seeking to change schools under the public school choice provisions of ESSA, one additional lottery number will be assigned for this preference. Pursuant to Education Code 47614.5(c)(2), this includes students who are currently enrolled in or who reside in the elementary school attendance area of the Public elementary school(s) in which UMCS is located.
  2. Children of Urban Montessori Charter School Board Members after two years of service on the Board; ten additional lottery numbers will be assigned for this preference.
  3. Children residing within the boundaries of Oakland Unified School District; one additional lottery number will be assigned for this preference.