West Ada School District has schools that provide alternate and specialized environments to which parents can choose to apply. These schools have processes required to attend outside of regular student registration.
Alternative Schools
To apply to an alternative school, contact the school directly, or visit their webpage for more information:
- Crossroads Middle School
- Pathways Middle School
- Central Academy
- Eagle Academy
- Meridian Academy
- Rebound School of Opportunity
Online School
Contact the school directly for further information about transferring to Virtual School House.
STEM Academies and Art Schools
Admission to STEM Academies and Art Schools will either be lottery- or audition-based.
- Barbara Morgan STEM Academy (grades K-5)
- Elisa Hart Spalding STEM Academy (grades K-5)
- Galileo STEM Academy (grades K-8)
- Summerwind STEM Academy (grades K-5)
- Chief Joseph School of the Arts (grades K-5)
- Christine Donnell School of the Arts ('22-'23 grades K-6; '23-'24 grades K-5)
- Pioneer School of the Arts (grades K-5)
- Renaissance High School (grades 9-12)
- Idaho Fine Arts Academy (grades 6-12)
General Application Process
To attend one of these schools, applications are required. All applications are online. You are not provided a confirmation email of submittal. The last page on the application is the confirmation. All applications are reviewed and all information submitted is verified. Idaho Fine Arts Academy hosts the audition process in place of lottery draw for placement.
There are two time periods to apply. To be in the lottery or audition for the next school year, applications are due in the month of November. If you missed this time period or would like to apply to another School of Choice, February through November 2024 is the late application period.
Only the applications submitted in November can qualify for the lottery that takes place in December.
IMPORTANT: You can apply to multiple schools. Applicants should be aware they can only be drawn for one lottery. Once an applicant is drawn in a lottery, they are removed from any subsequent lotteries.
The late application period takes place February through November 2024. Through submitting an application in this time period, an application is placed on the late pool list. If and when a seat becomes available, the schools use these lists to fill open seats. No lottery is used for these applications.
IMPORTANT DATES:
- 2024-25 School of Choice Intent to Continue - October 16-30
- 2024-25 School of Choice Application Window - November 7-30
- 2024-25 School of Choice Lottery Draw - To Be Determined
For more information on Schools of Choice, or to apply, please visit: https://www.westada.org/o/wasd...
If you are interested in attending one of our School of Choice tours, please review the information below for upcoming dates and times:
Barbara Morgan STEM Academy School Tours:
- Monday, November 13>span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW122859858 BCX0"> 4:30PM - 5:00PM
- Monday, November 27>span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW122859858 BCX0"> 4:30PM - 5:00PM
- Monday, December 4>span class="TextRun SCXW122859858 BCX0"> 4:30PM - 5:00PM
- Monday, December 18>span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW122859858 BCX0"> 4:30PM - 5:00PM
Chief Joseph School of the Arts Tours:
- Wednesday, November 29>span class="TextRun SCXW144647122 BCX0"> at 4:30 pm
- >span class="NormalTextRun SCXW144647122 BCX0">January 18>span class="TextRun SCXW144647122 BCX0"> at 4:30 pm
Christine Donnell School of the Arts Tours:
- Wednesday, November 15>span class="TextRun SCXW229640948 BCX0"> at 3:00 pm. Call the school to schedule an appointment at 208-855-4355.
- Wednesday, November 15>span class="TextRun SCXW229640948 BCX0"> at 5:30 pm. Call the school to schedule an appointment at 208-855-4355.
Elisa Hart Spalding STEM Academy School Tours:
Open House Tuesday, November 14 from 4:30-5:30
Galileo Stem Academy School Tours:
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Pioneer School of the Arts Tours:
Monday, November 13 at 4:30 pm. Tours will last 45-60 minutes, no reservation. Tour includes a question-and-answer session as well as a full building tour.
Tuesday, November 28 at 4:30 pm. Tours will last 45-60 minutes, no reservation. Tour includes a question-and-answer session as well as a full building tour.
Summerwind STEM Academy School Tours:
- Friday, Nov 10, 11:00am or
- Monday, Nov 13, 3:00pm or
- Monday, Nov 27, 5:00pm
Idaho Fine Arts Academy (IFAA) Tour:
- Tuesday, November 14. Tours begin at 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
- Tuesday, November 14. Principal’s presentation begins promptly at 6:30 to 7:30 pm
