Becoming An Eagle

Diverse group of children with teacher on grass with hands raised to give answer.
Diverse group of children with teacher on grass with hands raised to give answer.
We love having new Eagles join our nest! At Eagle, we encourage independence and empathy. All Eagle students quickly learn our four school rules: Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Kind. These are the pillars of ethical, engaged global citizenship. We look forward to meeting you and your child. See below for details about our lottery and application process.

The Admissions Process

  • Submit a general inquiry
    Point of view looking down at shoes on concreate with a chalk drawing of a question mark.

    Have questions before entering the Lottery Process? Get in touch with us by following the below General Inquiry Form button. When filling out the General Inquiry Form, fill as much information out as possible so we can best help you and your family. Once we have received your request, we will be in contact as soon as possible. 


    Please know that completing the General Inquiry Form is the best option for making contact with our busy office staff. You can call or email us at (503) 339-7114 or office@eaglecharter.org if needed.


     *NOTE: If you wish to pursue enrollment at Eagle Charter and skip an inquiry, start the Lottery Application now by going to the next step for entering the Lottery process.  

    General Inquiry
  • The lottery application
    Black and white photo with a hand reaching into a glass bowl with raffle tickets picking one out.

    The lottery process for our public charter school is open to all residents of Oregon. Admission is limited to a maximum of 25 students for our incoming Kindergarten class and any openings in the other grades. All incoming kindergarten students need to be 5 years old before September 1st of the year the student enters kindergarten. Student acceptance is based on a lottery. If you’re interested in enrolling your child in the current school year and have filled out the lottery form, please contact the school office. If there is space available, you will be notified of an opportunity to enroll your student. If there is no space available, your student will be placed on our waiting list.


    The deadline to enter for the lottery process has not been determined for 2027-2028. The deadline is usually the end of March each year.


    At the lottery meeting, we will draw names randomly to fill any available spots in our classes and to form our waiting lists. The lottery meeting is a public meeting, but you are not required to be present.


    *NOTE: The Eagle Charter School, a tuition-free, public charter school of Salem, Oregon, will not consider ethnicity, national origin, race, religion, disability, gender, income level, proficiency in the English language or athletic ability as factors in admission. (ORS 338.125 (3)) In accordance with state statute (ORS 338.125), age and grade will be the only admission criteria.  

    Lottery Application
  • Lottery details

    After the lottery drawing, we will notify families via email within a week about their spot in the school or their placement on the waiting list. We will offer you no more than one week to make a decision about taking the spot in the school.


    If you're offered a spot, you and/or your child may visit the school. Families are also required to attend a New Family Orientation to secure their enrollment. All incoming Kindergarten families are required to attend Kindergarten Jump Start in August. New students in other grades are encouraged to attend Summer Enrichment at Eagle.


    As we work our way through waiting lists, we may notify you during the summer. Be prepared to make a quick decision! Beginning in August and through the next school year, we will shorten the time for a decision to just two weekdays (48 hours). Families are still required to attend an orientation to secure their enrollment. 


     Availible Spots:  

    • The Kindergarten class typically has the most openings, but we do not know yet how many each year. Siblings of existing students will fill some of the spaces. In other classes, there may be few to no spots available at the time of the lottery.

     Siblings:  

    • Siblings of existing students get the top priority in the enrollment process. For newly applying students, if a sibling gains a spot, we will move other siblings up on the waiting list once all enrollment forms are complete and submitted for the enrolled student.

     Wait List:  

    • Our waiting lists stay in effect through the entire school year. If we do not contact you before the start of the school year, we could offer your student a spot during that school year. If your child was not selected during the lottery process, they will be placed on our waiting list for the upcoming school year. (Example: students not selected in the March 2026 lottery process will be on the waiting list for the 2026-2027 school year.) Waiting lists do not carry over to the following school year; students who wish to be considered must reapply for the annual lottery.

     Complete Registration:  

    • The last step in the application process is finishing the student application. The application is sent to you via email to be completed online. You will use an email and a 4 digit pin number given to you when starting the online registration, write that number down. This is how you get back to the application later if needed. Our office staff will verify and advise throughout the registration process. 
    • If you do not have access to a computer, internet, or other means to compete the registration online, please email or call the Eagle Charter office as soon as possible. 
  • New family orientation
    Front entry to a brick school building with a sidewalk and leading up to double doors.

    We offer at least two in-person, group New Family Orientations in April and May each year after the lottery drawing. Families who were selected in the lottery process must participate. For families who enroll at Eagle after the orientations (for example, those who enroll over the summer), they must make arrangements with the Eagle Office for an orientation. 

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What documents do I need to submit with the application?

    You will need to provide proof of your child's date of birth and up-to-date immunization records.

  • Is there a waitlist, and how does it work?

    If a grade level reaches capacity, qualified applicants are placed on a waitlist in the order applications are received. Families on the waitlist are contacted by phone and email as seats open.


    Please be aware that the waitlist does not roll over from year to year. If your child was on our waitlist and would like to be considered for a spot the following school year, you will need to apply to the lottery when it becomes available in the new year. The new lottery applications are posted at the beginning of January each year.

  • Do siblings of current students receive enrollment priority?

    Yes. Siblings of currently enrolled students receive priority placement during the enrollment window, provided their application is submitted by the priority deadline.

  • Can families outside the school district apply?

    We are a state-sponsored charter school so all families in Oregon are welcome to apply.

  • What happens if we miss the application deadline?

    Late lottery applications are accepted on a rolling basis and placed on the bottom of the waitlist after the lottery deadline has passed. We encourage all families to apply as early as possible to maximize placement options.

  • Is there a fee to apply or enroll?

    There is no fee to submit an inquiry or application. A background check fee of $5.00 is required if you would like to become a volunteer. Please apply at the Eagle office.