Calgary guide
What is a lottery charter school? How the draw works in Calgary
A lottery charter school fills its seats by random draw, not by test, catchment area or application date. In Calgary, five charter campuses admit this way, and every application inside the window has the same chance.
Verified Sept 11, 2026 2027 entry 5 lottery campuses
How does the draw work?
You apply inside a published window. When it closes, the school draws at random from every application it got. There is no scoring and no edge from where you live, or from applying on the first day.
Documents come later. Connect, for example, asks for report cards, a birth certificate and a writing sample only after your child is drawn.
Which Calgary charter schools run a lottery?
| Campus | Closes | Draw | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEM Innovation Academy Calgary South West | Lottery draw in January | Grade 5 | |
| Connect Charter School Lewis Dr SW | Draw mid-January; package due Feb 5 | Grade 4 | |
| Calgary Girls’ School Bowmont | Offers from mid-January | Grade 4 | |
| Calgary Classical Academy North campus | Feb 2 draw, offers within days | Kindergarten | |
| Calgary Classical Academy South campus | Feb 2 draw, offers within days | Kindergarten |
What happens if your child is not drawn?
- STEM Innovation Academy (Calgary South West) — Reapply annually
- Connect Charter School (Lewis Dr SW) — Carries over year to year
- Calgary Girls’ School (Bowmont) — Carries within the year
- Calgary Classical Academy (North campus) — Held for the school year
- Calgary Classical Academy (South campus) — Held for the school year
Questions about lottery charter schools
What is a lottery charter school?
A lottery charter school is an independent, publicly funded school that fills its seats by random draw instead of by test, catchment area or application date. Every application received inside the published window has the same chance of being drawn.
Does applying earlier in the window help?
No. Every application inside the window has the same odds, whether you apply on the first morning or the last afternoon. A lottery is a random draw, not a queue.
Do you get a second chance if you are not drawn?
Sometimes. You go on a waitlist, reapply next year, or both, depending on the school. Connect’s waitlist carries over from year to year, so your place in line stays. Calgary Classical Academy and Calgary Girls’ School keep waitlists for the school year only, then you apply again from scratch.
Is there a test or interview for a lottery charter school?
At most campuses, no. The application is short, and documents such as report cards or a writing sample are collected only after your child is drawn. Check the campus page before you apply: a school may ask for a short interview when a grade has more applicants than seats.