To help you decide whether or not Freire is right for you, we have compiled questions most frequently asked of us and provided answers for your convenience below.
The Basics
What is a charter school?
A charter school is a tuition-free, independently operated public school with the freedom to adapt and innovate its curriculum and structure to best support its students. Charter schools each hold a contract—their “charter”—with a school district or other authorizing organization, which provides oversight and input and holds each school accountable to the high standards outlined in its charter.
Charter schools originated in Minnesota in 1991; today, more than 3 million students attend more than 7,000 charter schools across the United States. Because of the greater autonomy given to charter schools, these 7,000 schools represent a wide diversity of educational approaches and student experiences. Charter schools offer families the opportunity to choose from more than one public school option and find the school that will truly help their child thrive.
Does Freire charge tuition?
No. Freire schools are free public schools, and there is no cost to attend.
Do Freire students wear uniforms?
Freire Middle School students wear uniforms, while Freire High School students do not. All students must dress appropriately, as defined in Freire’s Code of Conduct.
Application
How do I apply?
All applications are accepted online via Apply Philly Charter. Click here to make an account and apply now! Applications can also be submitted via phone at Apply Philly Charter’s toll-free number: (800) 891-3999.
How do I know my application has been received?
After we receive your application, Freire will send you a confirmation email containing your Application Identification Number (AIN). Please keep this number safe as it will be used during the posting of lottery results on the Freire website.
Can I submit an application for any grade?
Freire accepts applications for all grade levels 5-12. Please note, however, that our main entry point for Freire Middle School is Grade 5 and the main entry point for Freire High School is Grade 9. We will not know if space is available in other grade levels until the summer before the school year begins.
Can I still apply after the lottery deadline?
Yes, you can still apply! However, your student will be added to the end of our waiting list on a first-come, first-served basis.
When will I find out if my student has been accepted to Freire?
If your child is selected, your AIN will be announced at the lottery and posted online with the rest of the lottery results shortly afterward. If your student is not selected, check the lottery results posted online for your AIN to see your place on the waiting list for your grade.
What happens after the lottery?
If you are accepted to Freire Charter School, you will receive a packet of enrollment paperwork in the mail that you must complete by the deadline listed in the packet to secure your enrollment. If you are placed on the wait list, your AIN may be pulled later in the spring or summer. You can check the website for updated lottery results to see if any students have been admitted from the wait list.
Does Freire offer enrollment preference to siblings of current students?
Yes. Siblings of current Freire Charter School students will receive preference in Freire Charter School’s admissions process if they apply before the lottery deadline. To be eligible for the sibling preference, an applicant must be related to a current Freire Charter School student in one of the following ways:
- The two students have a shared legal guardian, or there is shared legal custody of both students by a common individual; or
- The students are half siblings, step siblings, or biological siblings.
Residing at the same address as a current student, without also being related to a current student in one of the two ways listed above, does not make an applicant eligible for the sibling preference.
