Which grades can students apply to enter?
CCSC offers grades 7-12, but we only enroll new students in grades 7, 8 and 9. Starting in 2014-15, we will add a 6th grade and begin enrolling new students in grade 6 as well.
What is the application process?
To apply for enrollment, please complete our 2013-14 lottery application form and return it to the school by mail, fax (617-354-3624), or in person.
Is proof of residency required to apply?
Yes. State law requires that all families provide proof of Massachusetts residency at the time they submit the lottery application. You must provide one of the following documents: a gas bill, an electricity bill, a cable bill, or a lease agreement. If you are unable to provide one of these forms of proof of address, we ask that you submit an Address Verification Form.
How does the lottery process work?
The CCSC enrollment lotteries are open to all Massachusetts residents entering 7th, 8th or 9th grade. Our first lottery takes place in December, and subsequent lotteries occur monthly thereafter until all available seats are filled. Your child’s chance of being offered a seat is much greater if you enter one of the earlier lotteries. Applications are drawn at random. However, preference is given to applicants in the following order:
- Cambridge residents with siblings currently attending CCSC: Children who reside in Cambridge as of the application deadline and who share a common biological or legal guardian with a student enrolled at CCSC. Note: Children who live in the same household but do not share a common biological or legal guardian are not considered siblings for the purpose of the lottery.
- All other Massachusetts residents with siblings currently attending CCSC. Children who share a common biological or legal guardian with a student enrolled at CCSC, but who reside outside Cambridge city limits as of the application deadline.
- All other Cambridge residents: Applicants whose residence is within the Cambridge city limits as of the application deadline.
- All other Massachusetts residents: Applicants whose residence is outside the Cambridge city limits, but in the state of Massachusetts as of the application deadline.
When will I be notified if my child gets a seat in the lottery?
We will mail enrollment offer letters the day of the lottery. You will have 2 weeks to return your confirmation of enrollment to hold your child’s seat.
What is the orientation process for new students?
All new students and their parent-guardians will attend an orientation and testing session. Students will take a grade-level placement assessment. Families will be contacted with the test results. Some students may not qualify for the grade to which they applied. All parent-guardians will complete a student registration packet.
What is the required Summer Academy for new students?
All new students are required to attend our Summer Academy in July. The 4-week program, which focuses on math and English language arts skills, introduces new students to our academic requirements and classroom routines. More importantly, it prepares them to make a smooth transition when classes start in the fall. If a student already plans to attend an outside summer program with a comparable level of academic rigor, he/she may apply to the school for a waiver.
What if my child does not get a seat in the lottery?
Your child will be placed on a waiting list until a space becomes available, or until enrollment closes for the 2013-14 school year. Wait-listed applications do not carry over to the following school year’s lottery cycle, but you are welcome to reapply.
What if I register my child for a seat but later decide to attend another school?
Since we typically have a long waiting list for seats, we simply ask that you notify us promptly if your plans change, so that we can give the seat to another student anxious to attend.
Whom should I contact if I have questions about the lottery or enrollment process?
Phone the school’s main number at 617-354-0047.