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 currently participating include:

Discovery Charter School
Gateway Academy Charter School
Great Oaks Legacy Charter School
KIPP Newark Public Schools
Link Community Charter School
Marion P. Thomas Charter School
North Star Academy
Philip’s Academy Charter School
Roseville Community 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, 2023 – March 11, 2024) 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, 2023, you can just click on the “Go to Application” 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 submitted an application. How and when will I be notified of my school offer?

If you submit an application by March 11th 2024 you will be notified of your school offer on April 8th, 2024. You will be notified via email and/or text and can also log into your application to see the results: https://apply.avela.org/newarkcommonapp.

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?

Log in to your account and from the “Home” screen click on “Edit Form” for the student whose application you would like to edit. If you edit your application you must resubmit the 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.

I submitted my Phase 2 application. When will I be notified of my school offer?

Phase 2 applicants will be notified on a rolling basis. Phase 2 applications are considered only after all Phase 1 applications are processed.

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.

Why didn’t my child get into our first choice school?

The only reason you did not get your first choice is that there were too many applicants for the number of seats available at your first choice school. In this case, a lottery determines which applicants are matched to the school. However, if you did not get matched to your top choice you are on the waitlist for that school.

I didn’t get an offer to any school I applied to. What can I do now?

If you did not get an offer, you are on the waitlist for any schools you applied to. Login to your account to view the schools you are on the waitlist for and your current position on the waitlist. Also note that if your current school serves your next grade, you can stay at your current school. If you would like to consider other schools options, we are happy to help you. Please contact us via email at info@newarkcommonapp.org

How do I know which campus location my child is matched to?

You will hear directly from your new school with information about the campus your child is matched to and how to register at your new school. You can also find contact information for your school on the homepage of the Newark Common App website (under each school name) or contact us at info@newarkcommonapp.org with any questions. For applicants for fall 2024, you will be notified of your campus after April 8th.

How do I accept or decline my offer from a school?

To accept or decline your offer, login to your account by clicking on the “Go To Application” button on this website.

From your dashboard click on “See Offer”. Once you are viewing your offer(s), click either “Accept Offer” to confirm that you plan to attend your new school, or “Decline” if you do not plan to attend this school.

What should I do if I no longer want to attend the school I was matched to?

If you no longer want to attend you can decline the offer. To decline your offer, login at the “Go To Application” button.

From your dashboard click on “See Offer”. Once you are viewing your offer, select “Decline”. If you would like to apply to a school that was not originally on your application, please contact info@newarkcommonapp.org.

My children are matched to two different schools. What can I do?

Our lottery prioritizes matching siblings together. However, if there is no space available in one of your children’s grade levels at the school of your choice, your children may not be matched to the same school. Siblings are at the top of the waitlist so your child will get an offer if space becomes available. If you would like assistance, please contact us at info@newarkcommonapp.org.

I am on the waitlist. What does this mean and when will I get off the waitlist?

Login at the “Go To Application” button to view the schools you are on the waitlist for and your current position on the waitlist. Once you log in, if you are waitlisted at a school you chose you will see a yellow “Waitlist” label next to the school name and a number next to the “Waitlist” label which indicates your position on the waitlist.

Each school will make offers from their waitlist as space becomes available. We know that schools are eager to welcome students from their waitlist as soon as possible, but we don’t know when a spot will become available, as this will be different for every school and grade, and we can’t guarantee that a spot will become available.

I received an offer for a different school that is not part of the Newark Common App (for example, an offer from a Newark district school), in addition to my Newark Common App offer. What should I do?

It is up to you to decide which school you would like to attend and we ask that you notify your Newark Common App school of your decision. Once you have made your decision, you can login at the “Go To Application” to accept or decline your Newark Common App offer.

If you need more information, please contact your Newark Common App match school to learn more about the school. You can also learn more about all Newark Schools at https://www.myschoolsnewark.org. If you decide to accept your offer

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-020923.



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).