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Admissions
Thank you for your interest in Riverside Leadership Academy!
Riverside Leadership Academy is a tuition-free public charter school open to all students who are eligible to attend public school under North Carolina law. We welcome families from all backgrounds and do not limit enrollment based on academic ability, prior achievement, athletic ability, disability, race, creed, gender, national origin, religion, or ancestry.
Riverside Leadership Academy will accept applications starting on January 1, 2026 for students entering Kindergarten through 8th grade for the 2026–2027 school year. Submitting an application during this open enrollment period will enter your student into the admissions lottery. Please note that applying does not guarantee admission.
Because space is limited, admission is determined through a fair and transparent lottery process whenever applications exceed available seats, as required by state law.
To be eligible for kindergarten, children must be five years old on or before August 31 of the school year for which they are applying, in accordance with North Carolina requirements.
Lottery
The admissions lottery was held virtually on
March 9, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
Attendance for the admissions lottery is optional and does not affect a student’s chance of admission.
Admissions Timeline
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January 2, 2026: Applications for the 2026-2027 school year open
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January 2 - February 28: Open Application Period
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March 2026: Enrollment Lottery
After the Lottery: Students newly accepted to RLA must accept or decline admission within 5 business days and complete registration within 10 business days.
Waitlisted Students: Students who did not receive an offer of admission will be placed on the waitlist in the order they are pulled in the lottery. Waitlisted students who later receive an offer of admission must accept or decline admission within 48 hours from notification and complete registration within 5 business days.
Application
Applications to Riverside Leadership Academy are submitted online and can be completed in just a few minutes. After submitting your application, you will receive an email confirmation. If you do not receive a confirmation, please contact the school office.
Families who need assistance or do not have internet access at home are encouraged to contact our office for support.
Applications submitted after the lottery deadline will still be accepted but will be placed at the end of the waitlist after the lottery has been held.
Lottery Process
If RLA receives more student applications than spots available, we are required by law to host a public random lottery to determine which students shall be accepted.
Enrollment Priority
Riverside Leadership Academy may give enrollment priority under the following circumstances as stated in G.S. 115C-218.45.
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Children of Full-Time Employees and Board Members, not exceeding 15% of total enrollment.
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Siblings of Current RLA Students (Siblings include children living in the same household, such as half-siblings, step-siblings, and foster siblings.)
RLA will also offer a weight lottery for students who are economically disadvantaged