About Enrollment
OPEN ENROLLMENT ROUND ONE IS CLOSED
The first round of DCSD Open Enrollment closed on 12.2.24 at 4PM. Please visit the Lottery and Enrollment section for details on our lottery procedure or to join our waitlist.
Challenge to Excellence enrolls all new students via random lottery because we want every child to have an opportunity to attend our school.
In-District vs. Out-of-District Enrollment
Round One
- In-district families are given priority in the DCSD Open Enrollment lottery process during the first round.
- Residents outside of Douglas County are placed below all in-district families during this initial enrollment period.
Round Two
- All Round Two applicants, whether in-district or out-of-district, fall below all Round One applicants.
- Applications submitted during the second enrollment window are time-stamped and processed on a “first come, first served” basis.
- Round One applications that were not accepted during the first period are automatically placed on the annual prioritized waitlist and have priority over all second-round applicants.
Important Note
Families participating in Round One or Round Two must provide their current address of residence. Addresses for planned or future residencies will not be accepted.
Kindergarten Entrance Age Requirement
Per Douglas County School District Kindergarten Requirements, eligible children must be five years of age by October 1 of the school year they plan to attend.
Lottery & Enrollment Information
Lottery & Enrollment Information
For admission to Challenge To Excellence Charter School (C2E) for the 2025-2026 school year, complete an application through the Douglas County School District’s enrollment portal (which opens early November, annually), as C2E follows their enrollment process. Once you submit an application, you’ll enter the lottery system, as charter school admissions often depend on space availability.
If you’re planning to move to Douglas County, having an in-district address may improve your position in the lottery. With an out-of-district address, your family would be placed below in-district families on the first-round waitlist. Additionally, if your child is attending school with another school district, having their school records ready can help expedite the process once you receive an offer.
If your child is offered a seat and is enrolled for the 2025-2026 school year, their sibling will receive additional points and move up on the waitlist, with a seat being offered based on availability in that grade. Please note that the sibling form is only for students currently enrolled at C2E.
If you do not receive an offer of enrollment from a school, you will be automatically added to the waitlist for that school and will remain in priority order for the Second Round of Open Enrollment. You can accept an offer at one school and still remain on the waitlist for others.
OPEN ENROLLMENT ROUND ONE IS CLOSED
The first round of DCSD Open Enrollment closed on 12.2.24 at 4PM. Refer to District Policies JCA/JFB and JCA/JFB-R for more detail. District policy states that any student shall be allowed to attend any school of their choice for which they are eligible on a space available basis, subject to district policy. The best method of viewing this page is on a computer if you have access to one.
- First Round Open Enrollment will open on November 1st 8:00 AM and closes on December 2nd 4:00 PM.
- Parents can see offers in the EngagED Parent Portal on December 11th at 8:00am and have until December 18th at 4:00 pm, to log back in and accept any open enrollment offers.
- Intent to return forms for the next academic school year are due by Jan. 10, 2025 for currently enrolled C2E families.
- All new to the district students must complete Online Registration/enrollment by January 10, 2025.
- Second Round Open Enrollment runs from January 22, 2025 at 8:00 AM through August 1, 2025 at 4:00 PM. If a student was put on the waitlist during the first round, they will still be on that list for the second round. Schools will ONLY reach out to families through email when and if a spot becomes available.
The first round of DCSD Open Enrollment will open at 8:00 AM on November 1, 2024. It is not first come first serve, as the first round of Open Enrollment is prioritized by District Policy preference points. District policy states that any student shall be allowed to attend any school of their choice for which they are eligible on a space available basis, subject to district policy.
The first round window is open from November 1 to December 2, 2024. The second round window is open from January 22 to August 1, 2025. Open Enrollment applies to the following school year (beginning generally in August).
If you are open enrolled at a neighborhood school or attend a DCSD-Authorized Charter School, but would like to return to the neighborhood school associated with your address for the next school year (25/26), you must file an intent to return form by January 10, 2025. If you miss this date, you must open enroll to return to your address assigned school, and enrollment is not guaranteed. Please note: If you are currently attending your address-assigned neighborhood school, there is nothing you need to do at this time if you wish to remain.
The Intent to return process does not apply if you are home schooling, attending a non-DCSD Charter School, attending an out-of-district school, or private school. Please reach out directly to your address assigned school for more information. If you do not know your address-assigned school, please use this LINK for more assistance.
School Tours
School Tours
Join us for a tour of C2E! Tours are conducted for parents at 9:00 AM on specific Tuesdays. Tours last approximately 30-40 minutes and give parents an opportunity to hear about our exciting and unique program, followed by a tour of the school.
Please bring your state issued ID to be scanned at the front office upon arrival. Please note: Tours will not be held on days when C2E is closed for holidays, breaks and staff development days (or the occasional snow day).
Click the button below to sign up for a school tour:
Student Fees
K-8 Student Fees
K-8 student fees are collected during the Douglas County School District (DCSD) Express Check-In registration process in July with an application called MySchoolBucks. Though Challenge to Excellence avoids increases, student fees are subject to change at the recommendation of school administration upon approval by the Challenge to Excellence Board of Directors.
Any questions regarding fees should be directed to our Office Manager Amy Clarke at amclarke@c2e.org
Mandatory Annual Student Fee Schedule: Grades K-8
- Paid before first day of school: $200
- Paid after first day of school: $225
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Student Fees
Q: What are student fees used for?
A: Student fees are used for classroom supplies, instructional materials, classroom programs/activities, student chromebooks, and more.
Q: What is not included in this fee?
A: Optional activities, such as field trips and after school clubs/sports are not included in the mandatory annual fee.
Q: My student receives Free or Reduced Lunch; how does this affect the fee schedule?
A: C2E waives fees for students who receive Free or Reduced Lunch through DCSD. Families simply need to provide a copy of their Free/Reduced Lunch approval letter that was given to them by DCSD Nutrition Services to have the fees waived.
Q: I paid my fees and then transferred schools; can I get a refund?
A: If a student transfers before August 31st, the total fee is refunded. Refunds are not provided after August.
Q: Are there payment plans available?
A: Yes; families who need payment plan options may reach out to office personnel for assistance.
Early Access
Kindergarten Entrance Age Requirement
Per Douglas County School District Kindergarten Requirements, eligible children must be five years of age by October 1 of the school year they plan to attend.
Early Access into Kindergarten or 1st Grade
For children who do not meet the age requirements for kindergarten or 1st grade, but their parents believe they may be able to handle the academic, social and emotional demands for that grade level, please see Douglas County School District’s requirements and deadlines for Early Access Process to Kindergarten/1st Grade.
For students who do not qualify as ‘eligible’ for early admission, they will be enrolled in the grade level that aligns with their date of birth.
Contact Us!
To contact our registrar, please email:
Bharathi Kamadana: bkamadana@c2e.org
Virtual School Tour
Unable to join us for an in-person tour? Take a peek at C2E with our virtual school tour.
Enrollment FAQ
What is the Kindergarten Entrance Age Requirement?
A: Per Douglas County School District Kindergarten Requirements, eligible children must be five years of age by October 1 of the school year they plan to attend.
Does C2E have a waitlist?
A: Yes, each grade does have a waitlist.
Does C2E have a lottery system?
A: Yes, the lottery process is through the DCSD Open Enrollment Process. C2E does not manage the lottery.
Do we have to reside with Douglas County to attend C2E?
A: No. While Douglas County Residents are given priority, residents outside of Douglas County will be admitted as space allows (during the first enrollment period only).
Does C2E offer school Tours?
A: Yes, school tours can be found under the School Tours section.
Does C2E purge its waitlist?
A: Yes. After enrollment ends, we move to our waitlist which is purged each year prior to the next open enrollment period.
How will I be notified if a spot is available?
A: As soon as a spot opens, parents will be notified by email and have 48 hours to accept or decline the offer.
Why does my waitlist position number change?
A: When we extend an offer to a student, your “position” goes down by one number – you are one step closer to being extended an offer of enrollment! If, however, a sibling or a staff member is added to the waitlist after the lottery (and they have priority to do so), then your number may go up one.
What is the cost of tuition?
A: C2E is a public, tuition-free, charter school. Fees for coursework, materials, and supplies are similar to regular district-run public schools.
Is there an entrance exam to attend C2E?
A: No. We are an open-enrollment public school. No entrance exams are given or mandated.
If I haven‘t received an email for an offer yet, does that mean I won’t get in?
A: Not necessarily. We are often still sending enrollment offers in the late summer. It takes several months to send out all of the enrollment offers. If you do receive an offer during the first round you will still be on the waiting list. Not everyone accepts the offer of a spot at Challenge to Excellence, but we must wait 48 hours for the response, or until that invitation expires, before we can move down the waitlist. As you can imagine, this process takes some time. Please be patient and email our registrar regarding waitlist status at any time.
If I don’t get in this year, what should I do?
A: Families must join the DCSD waitlist each year they wish to be included in the lottery.
