Quality Education Academy (QEA)
Application & Lottery Process:
Quality Education Academy (QEA) is a public charter school committed to providing a rigorous, nurturing, and culturally affirming educational experience for all scholars. Enrollment at QEA is open to all eligible students, and when applications exceed available seats, a fair and transparent lottery process is used.
Step 1: Submit an Online Inquiry
Families begin the enrollment process by clicking the Apply Now link on the QEA website.
∙ The Apply Now link directs families to an online inquiry form hosted in Finalsite
∙ Families complete and submit the inquiry form
∙ An automatic confirmation response is sent upon successful submission
Step 2: Apply for the Upcoming School Year
Within the online inquiry form, families select Apply for the Upcoming School Year from the available options.
Once this option is selected:
∙ Families receive an email with step-by-step directions
∙ The email provides instructions for creating a Family Portal account in Finalsite ∙ Families must complete the full admissions application within the Family Portal by the published deadline
Incomplete Family Portal applications may not be entered into the lottery.
Step 3: Application Review & Lottery Process (If Needed) After the application window closes:
∙ All completed Family Portal applications are reviewed for eligibility and completeness
∙ Grade-level seat availability is confirmed
If the number of completed applications exceeds the number of available seats in any grade level, QEA will conduct a random, public lottery in accordance with state charter school law.
Lottery Procedures -
If a lottery is required, QEA conducts a random, public lottery with the following procedures:
∙ Lottery Date: Published annually on the QEA website
∙ Location/Format: Publicly accessible (in-person and/or virtual)
∙ Process: Randomized selection by grade level after application review Lottery Outcomes
∙ Accepted Applicants: Families receive an official offer of enrollment via email
∙ Waitlisted Applicants: Applicants not selected are placed on a grade-level waitlist
∙ Accessibility: Lottery results are communicated directly to families and maintained in school records.
Lottery Priorities -
Priority Status:
In accordance with state charter school law, preference is given to the following applicants up to 15%:
1.Siblings of currently enrolled QEA scholars (G.S. 115C-218.45(g))
2. Children of QEA board/staff members (as permitted by statute)
Sibling and multiple-birth applicants may be entered into the lottery using one surname to represent all siblings applying simultaneously. If selected, siblings are admitted to the extent space is available and does not exceed grade-level capacity.
After all priority applicants are placed (if seats are available), remaining seats are filled through a random general lottery.
Key Points:
∙ The lottery is random and impartial
∙ All eligible applications have an equal chance within their priority category ∙ Families do not need to be present to be selected
Weighted Lottery:
Utilization of the Lottery:
Quality Education Academy shall hold a public weighted lottery on a predetermined day following the end of the enrollment period held during the months of January and February for admission for the upcoming school year, If the number of completed applications exceeds the number of available seats in any grade level.
Submission Details of Lottery Applications:
All families must submit an application form by the deadline of 5pm by Friday, March 5, 2027.
Applications can be found on our website at
QEA I Quality Education Academy I Winston-salem (qeschools.orq) and can be submitted online. All applications from applicants received prior to the deadline will be eligible for participation in the admissions lottery.
Location of the Lottery:
The lottery for the 2027-2028 school year will be held on Friday, March 7, 2027 either at 5151 Lansing Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27105 or virtually, upon completion of the open enrollment period. The date and time of the lottery will be announced on the school website.
Lottery notifications:
Lottery results will be posted publicly by the display of the assigned lottery number. Applicant names that have been selected during the lottery for available openings in each respective grade will be notified within four business days of acceptance in which parents/guardians have 48 hours to accept the enrollment offer. You may contact qeaenrollment@qeschools.org if you do not receive notification.
Results of the lottery are posted on the school’s website and notification emails for those accepted and waitlisted are sent to the families upon completion of the lottery.
Acceptance time after release of lottery notifications:
Once an applicant has been notified of an opening in our school for their child, the parent or guardian has 48 hours from the day of notification to accept or decline the enrollment spot. If the school does not receive a response within 48 hours to accept or decline the spot, the child
will lose their enrollment spot, and the next child will be chosen from the weighted lottery.
Weighted Lottery Management:
The Lottery process will be managed by the current Admissions and Enrollment Management Software company SchoolAdmin/Finalsite, or a software program with the same functionality should the school opt for a different software program in the future.
Step 4: Enrollment Offers & Waitlist
Enrollment Offers
∙ Families of selected scholars will receive an official enrollment offer via email ∙ Offers include a deadline to accept or decline the seat
Waitlist
∙ Students not selected are placed on a grade-level waitlist
∙ Families of waitlisted scholars will receive an official email
∙ Waitlists remain active throughout the school year
∙ Seats that become available are offered in waitlist order
Step 5: Seat Acceptance & Registration
To secure enrollment, families must:
∙ Accept the offer by the stated deadline
∙ Complete all required enrollment forms
∙ Submit required documentation (e.g., proof of age, residency, immunization records)
Failure to complete enrollment by the deadline may result in forfeiture of the seat.
Intent to Return Process (Current QEA Families)
The Intent to Return (ITR) process allows current QEA families to indicate whether their scholar(s) plan to return for the upcoming school year. This process helps QEA plan staffing, class sizes, and available seats before opening enrollment to new applicants.
Who Should Complete an Intent to Return
∙ Families of currently enrolled QEA scholars (K–11)
∙ An Intent to Return is required for each currently enrolled scholar How the Intent to Return Process Works
1. Intent to Return Opens
Families receive a notification via email and/or Family Portal when the Intent to Return window opens.
2. Submit Intent to Return Form
o Families complete the Intent to Return form by the published deadline o Families indicate whether their scholar will return or will not return for the upcoming school year
3. Sibling Priority Identification
o Families may indicate if they have a new sibling who will be applying to QEA
o Submission of an Intent to Return by the deadline helps ensure sibling lottery priority for new applicants
4. Deadline Matters
o Families who do not submit an Intent to Return by the deadline may risk losing guaranteed placement for returning scholars and sibling priority consideration
Important: Submitting an Intent to Return does not replace the enrollment or registration process. Additional forms may still be required.
Important Dates
∙ Intent to Return Opens: December 18, 2026
∙ Intent to Return Closes: January 15,2027
∙ Application Opens: February 1, 2027
∙ Application Closes: March 1, 2027
∙ Lottery Date: March 11th, 2027
∙ Enrollment Notifications Sent: March 12, 2027
Dates will be posted annually on the QEA website.
Non-Discrimination Statement
Quality Education Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, or any other characteristic protected by law in its admissions or educational programs.
Questions?
For assistance with the application or enrollment process, please contact:
Office of Enrollment & Community Engagement
Quality Education Academy
qeaenrollment@qeschools.org | 336-744-7138 Ext. 4003
Quality Education Academy is committed to a fair, transparent, and family-centered enrollment process.
Performance Framework Review – Governance Monitoring Compliance (GOV 1)
This Student Admission, Application, Intent to Return, and Lottery Process is designed to comply with the North Carolina Charter School Performance Framework, specifically Governance Monitoring Criterion GOV 1 – Student Admission and Lottery Requirements.
Purpose
Quality Education Academy follows all student admissions and lottery requirements as outlined in: - G.S. 115C-218.25 (Student Eligibility) - G.S. 115C-218.45 (Enrollment & Lottery Requirements) - CHTR-003 (Enrollment Period Requirements) - Section 7 of the QEA Charter Agreement
This policy supports transparency, equity, and public accessibility and is submitted annually through Epicenter as required by the North Carolina Office of Charter Schools.
Admissions & Application Compliance
∙ Applications are open to all eligible students in grades K–12 without discrimination.
∙ The open enrollment period is no fewer than 30 consecutive calendar days, in accordance with CHTR-003.
∙ Applications are accessible to the general public via the QEA website and Finalsite platform.
∙ The application does not request or consider prohibited information, including but not limited to:
o IEP or disability status
o Race or ethnicity
o Gender
o Religion
o Academic performance or GPA
Offer of Enrollment & Response Timeline
∙ Families are provided a minimum of 7–10 calendar days to accept or decline an offer of enrollment
∙ Non-responsive families may forfeit the seat, which will be offered to the next student on the waitlist
∙ Extenuating circumstances may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by school leadership
Waitlist Management
∙ Waitlists consist of completed applications only
∙ Applications are time-stamped upon submission
∙ Waitlists clearly reflect lottery priorities and are maintained in alignment with QEA board policy
∙ Waitlists remain active through the academic year or until exhausted Roles & Responsibilities
∙ Board of Directors: Approves admissions and enrollment policy
∙ School Leadership: Oversees implementation and compliance
∙ Enrollment & Community Engagement Office: Manages applications, lottery execution, waitlists, and family communication
Policy Review & Updates
∙ This policy was created/updated: December 2025
∙ Policies are reviewed annually to ensure alignment with statute, State Board policy, and charter requirements
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This policy was created/updated: May 26 2026.