What to Expect When You Submit an Application

Southwest Secondary Learning Center is a bit different from other schools. As a tech-based high school, students divide their time between online learning in a computer lab and hands-on projects in a STEAM learning lab. SSLC is also a tuition-free charter school, meaning there’s a unique process for applying and being accepted for the current or upcoming term.

Below are the steps of the application process so you know what to expect, and the answers to a few of the most frequently asked questions.

Applying to SSLC: Step-by-Step Guide

The application for enrollment is quite simple. You’ll just need to know some basic information about the student:

  • Full name and date of birth
  • Grade level
  • Parent/guardian contact information
  • Whether parents/guardians work for SSLC or are active duty military
  • Sibling information, if those siblings are existing SSLC students

No additional information is required at this stage. There’s no entrance exam, no essay, and no need to submit transcripts.

All charter schools operate on a lottery system, which means students are chosen randomly to fill seats as they open for the term. New student applications for the upcoming year open in January. The lottery is drawn in March, and registration for new students begins in June. Applications remain open year-round, and transfer students are considered on a case-by-case basis during the term.

If there are seats available, the registrar will notify the parents by email and phone to confirm. At this point, you may want to schedule a tour of the campus if you haven’t already done so. After you accept the offer, you’ll receive an online registration packet to complete. A sponsor teacher will be assigned to the student to serve as their point of contact for their time at SSLC. In their last year, a senior sponsor teacher will be assigned who can help with college prep and career planning as students enter the next phase of their education.

Students and their guardians will meet with the sponsor teacher before the term begins. This meeting is a great opportunity to get to know each other, establish some goals, and ask questions you may still have.

How Do Charter School Applications Work?

Charter schools are publicly funded, and by law they cannot discriminate against any student based on discrimination based on disability, race, creed, color, gender, national origin, religion, or need for special education services.

For this reason, applications are anonymously shuffled, and seats are filled in random order through a lottery system. Students are turned away only if the school has reached capacity, or if they have been expelled from another school. However, students with siblings already enrolled at the school, those whose parents or guardians work at the school, and those whose parents or guardians are active duty military personnel, are given priority and automatically sorted to the top of the raffle.

If you have any questions about SSLC or our admissions, call us at 505-296-7677. Or, if you’re ready to apply, click below to submit your application.