General

What is the Newark Common App and What Schools Are Participating?

Newark Common App is a new school application and enrollment process that is available to all Newark families looking to access some of our city’s great school options from PreK – 12th grade. The schools participating for the 2022-23 enrollment cycle include:

Achieve Community Charter School
Discovery Charter School
Great Oaks Legacy Charter School
KIPP Newark Public Schools
Marion P. Thomas Charter School
North Star Academy
People’s Preparatory Charter School
Philip’s Academy Charter School

The new state-of-the-art enrollment portal will better serve Newark families by providing a quick, seamless and transparent enrollment process that promotes equity and access.

How is this different from Newark Enrolls?

Similar to Newark Enrolls, the Newark Common App will feature a centralized application, lottery, and waitlist. However, the new portal will provide Newark families and schools additional services such as: a quicker and easier application for families which can be completed in 5-10 minutes – all you need to apply is a phone number or email address; new customer service approaches; policies that support access to the schools of your choice; and a transparent data sharing and school lottery system with a state-of-the-art lottery that matches students to the highest possible choice with space available and includes preferences for English Languages Learners, Special Education students, and families experiencing homelessness.

Is the application first come, first served?

No – all applications submitted during the application window (December 1, 2022 – March 6, 2023) are considered together. You can apply or edit your application anytime during that window.

How can I get help?

How can I get help with the application?

You can contact the Newark Common App team with any questions at info@newarkcommonapp.org. Participating schools can also help you with your application – contact any participating school for support.

If you have a question about using the online application or creating your Newark Common App account, you can also visit the virtual helpdesk here .

Application and account login questions

What do I need to apply to schools using the Newark Common App?

All you need to do is to log-on, complete an application, and submit. There are no documentation requirements to create or submit an application. You can apply to up to 5 schools on this application. Selecting more than one school increases your chances of receiving a match to a school of your choice. However, you do not have to select all 5 schools – please only select schools that you would like your child to attend.

How do I log in to the application?

You can access the application through a computer or mobile device. Once the application opens on December 1, 2022, you can just click on the “Apply Now” button on the Newark Common App homepage and that will take you to the login page. To create an account all you need is a phone number or email address.

I have submitted an application, now what?

You are able to edit your application any time before the application submission deadline, which is on March 6, 2023. After this date, the Newark Common App team will take all submitted applications and run them through the lottery process. You will receive notification via email of your application results on April 10, 2023.

I’m having trouble logging in (with email)

You will need to click the link on the verification email that was sent to you. This may be in another folder (try Promotions or Spam).

I’m having trouble logging in (with my phone number).

You should receive a text with a code immediately after creating your account or trying to login. If not, make sure the phone number is correct and is a cell phone number capable of receiving texts.

How do I change the phone number or email address on my account?

At this time, we are unable to change this. You can contact the Newark Common App team for help with deleting any applications created under your current account and creating a new account.

I made a mistake on my application, how do I edit it? How do reorder my schools?

On your dashboard, you can click the arrow on your submitted application to see your list of schools and an “Edit Application” button. Be sure to resubmit your application.

How do I know if my application was received?

Log in and check your dashboard – the status of your application should say “Submitted”

How will I be notified when I get an offer?

You will receive a text or email, depending on your account log-in. It will also be available on your dashboard.

Lottery and matching questions

How are schools assigned once we’ve applied?

Our computer-based lottery will assign your student to the highest choice on your list with space available. You will receive one offer based on the ranked list of schools you apply to and the number of seats available in these schools. If there is not enough space for all applicants at your first choice school and your student does not receive an offer to that school, they will automatically be added to the waitlist for that school and any other school you ranked higher than your assigned school.

To support families and promote equity across the Newark Common App schools, the lottery also includes a priority for siblings to be assigned together and preferences for English Language Learners, Special Education students, and families experiencing homelessness. You can find more information about the computer-based lottery program we use here.

We hope to be able to match all students to a Newark Common App school of their choice. However, if there is no space available at the school(s) of your choice, you will be added to the waitlist for these schools. If you are seeking a Newark Board of Education school please visit https://newarkenrolls.org/ or find information about all schools in Newark at https://www.myschoolsnewark.org/.

Will my student be matched to a school I did not list on the application?

No, we will never match a student to a school you did not list on their application.

Lottery priority questions

How do I know if my child qualifies for free lunch?

If you are not sure if your child qualifies, use this table. If your household income is at or below the income listed for your household size, your child qualifies for free lunch. You can find more information here: https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/fr-021622.



What is an IEP (Individualized Education Program) and IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan)?

An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is a written agreement outlining the education plan for students with special needs or disabilities. The IEP explains the services a student will receive to help them learn and grow based on their individual needs. An Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is a written agreement outlining the services young children will receive when developmental needs or delays are identified in children up to three years old.

How do schools define English Language Learners (ELLs)?

English Language Learners (ELLs) have been identified by their schools as students whose primary language is not English and who receive services to support learning English and/or instruction in their primary language. The types of services and instruction students receive include Bilingual Instruction (when classes in all subjects are offered in the student’s native language) and English as a Second Language (instruction designed to improve English reading, writing, speaking, and listening).