Enrollment

DEAP's Enrollment Process

DEAP is a public school and will provide a tuition-free, culturally relevant and engaging learning experience to any individual, regardless of gender, race, religion, disability, academic standing, or any other specific condition, who desires admission.


As per NMSA Section 22-8B-4.1 NMSA 1978 enrollment and the lottery will be governed by the following rules:

(1) a start-up school may either enroll students on a first-come, first-served basis or through a lottery selection process if the total number of applicants exceeds the number of spaces available at the start-up school; and


DEAP gives enrollment preference to:  

(1) students who have been admitted to DEAP through an appropriate admission process and remain in attendance through subsequent grades; and  

(2) siblings of students already admitted to or attending DEAP


DEAP will recruit students following the process listed in H.(1). In the event that we have more applications than space, we will conduct a lottery and inform students of the drawing at the end of July 2021.

Step 1

Lottery Application


Step 2

In-Person Application


Learn More

Lottery Process


1) A number/letter combination will be assigned to each application


2) These numbers assigned to each student who submits an application will be placed in a “hat” and randomly drawn, one at a time, on the approved lottery date until the available slots are filled.


3)The drawing continues until all numbers are drawn and a waiting list will be generated based on the order in which they were drawn.


4) Lottery applicants will be notified in writing regarding their placement as a result of the lottery process.


5)Drawn students will have 14 days to accept or reject their placement to attend DEAP. Applicants that fail to respond within 14 days will lose their placement and will be placed at the end of the waiting list.


6) DEAP’s admissions team will process initial placements and will determine if any placements are available. If placements are available, DEAP will inform applicants on the waiting list based on the order in which they were drawn. DEAP will repeat steps 5-6 until all placements are filled.


Note: A student may apply for one slot only. Students who apply for more than one slot will be removed from the lottery. A student must apply using his/her legal name. Using an alias could result in disqualification from the lottery or dis-enrollment at a later date.    

Enrollment Process


DEAP will complete the enrollment process in compliance with NMSA 1978 Section 22-8B-4.1, and Subsection D of 6.80.4.12 NMAC. Our process is as follows:


Process for Enrollment and Transfers In:

Step 1—Student is drawn in a lottery;


Step 2—DEAP will inform student and family of drawing and confirm enrollment of student;


Step 3—Registration appointment is scheduled and family meeting is held;


Step 4—Registration packet is completed (application, document verifying date of birth, copy of student’s immunization record, a copy of most recent IEP or 504 plans, student interest survey, CIB, contact information, home language survey, parent compact, etc.)


*students starting on DEAP’s official first day of school are required to attend orientation 


Step 5—Student starts school same day or following school day after a tour and classroom placement meeting with the Dean of Students

What is a New Mexico charter school?

A charter school is a public school that is considered to be a Local Education Agency (LEA), and is free to attend. Charter schools are created by the State of New Mexico or through a local school district. They operate much like an independent school district by setting their own curriculum, creating their own budget, and hiring & firing their own staff. Charter schools must follow the same laws and regulations that other public schools throughout the state follow. DEAP is a state chartered school.


What does “lottery” mean?

As a state charter school, DEAP is required to use a “lottery” type student selection process. “Lottery” means that the ability to enroll and attend the school is based on chance. The “lottery” is the public time that the school will draw at random names from the list of those who have completed lottery applications. This gives every interested student an equal opportunity to enroll. Nothing that is included in the lottery application affects a student’s chances to get drawn. The only requirement is that the lottery application is complete at the time of the drawing.


Once we receive your lottery application, it will be included in the next scheduled drawing and you will be notified if it was picked.


Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about the process — we’re more than willing to talk with you and your family to find out if DEAP is the right fit for you. The only requirement to be included in the lottery is a completed application form returned to us prior to a lottery drawing.


YOU MAY SUBMIT APPLICATIONS IN PERSON, THROUGH DEAPSCHOOL.ORG, BY MAIL OR Email: kdbegay@deapschool.org


Contact Tierra Bia for questions at 505-777-2053