We’re here to help! Contact us at registrar@stemk12.org.

Absolutely. We encourage families to attend a school tour, attend a prospective parent event, or schedule an enrollment consultation. It’s a great way to explore our programs and see if STEM is the right fit for your child. Upcoming opportunities are listed on our website.

Applications are submitted through the STEM's Enrollment Application Portal. The application portal link will be available on this webpage on November 3 at 8 am. If you have questions, our enrollment team is happy to assist. Please note: STEM School Highlands Ranch follows DCSD's open enrollment timeline but applications for enrollment at STEM School Highlands Ranch are only accepted through STEM's Enrollment Application Portal.

2026-27 STEM OPEN ENROLLMENT APPLICATION

You can apply for the 2026–2027 school year during Open Enrollment Round 1, which runs from November 3 to December 1, 2025. Round 2 opens on January 22, 2026, and remains open until seats are filled or until August 1, 2026.

To give your child the best chance at a seat, we recommend applying during Open Enrollment Round 1. In some grades, it is not unusual that all available spots are filled during Round 1. 

Each child requires a separate application submitted through the STEM's Enrollment Application Portal. You can apply for all your children during the same enrollment period.

Enrollment offers are made based on our Enrollment Priority Policy, not through a lottery. During Open Enrollment Round 1, all applications are reviewed in priority order, starting with siblings of current STEM students, followed by Founding Families and children or grandchildren of current STEM staff and board members (with a submitted Enrollment Priority Request Form), then Douglas County residents, and finally out-of-district applicants.

Offers are extended as space becomes available within each grade level. If no seat is available at the time of review, the student is placed on a waitlist in priority order. Round 2 applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis and do not receive priority.

Yes. Sibling priority is considered during Round 1 if space is available and a sibling is currently enrolled and attending. While not guaranteed, it can improve your child’s chances of receiving an enrollment offer.

Yes. Open Enrollment is open to all Colorado residents. While in-district applicants are prioritized in Round 1, we regularly accept out-of-district students based on space availability

To enroll in Kindergarten at STEM School Highlands Ranch, your child must turn five years old on or before October 1 of the school year. This age requirement follows state requirements and ensures children are developmentally ready to begin their K–12 journey.

No, STEM School Highlands Ranch does not use a lottery system. Instead, we follow an enrollment priority policy established by our Board of Directors to determine the order in which applications are considered during Open Enrollment Round 1. While this policy helps guide the process, placement is not guaranteed and depends on space available at each grade level.

If a seat is available, you’ll receive an offer via email. If no seat is available, you will be notified and your child will be placed on a waitlist for the applicable school year. Enrollment offers are made on a regular basis. Be sure to monitor your email regularly—especially after Round 1 and throughout Round 2. Our waitlist 

If your child has a current ALP, 504, IEP, or other learning plan and receives an offer of enrollment at STEM, you’ll be asked to submit the most recent copy of that plan after you accept the offer. This helps our Student Support Team begin the review process to determine if we can meet your child’s needs.

Yes. Round 1 applicants who don’t receive an offer are placed on a prioritized waitlist and considered before Round 2 applicants. The waitlist is active through August 1 and resets each year. Waitlist positions are not shared and do not carry over from year to year.

No. STEM School Highlands Ranch does not release waitlist positions. All applicants are reviewed in accordance with enrollment priority and space availability. Families will be contacted directly if a seat becomes available.

If your child is offered and accepts enrollment at STEM, you do not need to reapply in future years—they remain enrolled through 12th grade. However, if your child is placed on the waitlist and not offered a seat, you must submit a new application during the next year’s Open Enrollment period to be considered again.

Families seeking enrollment priority under one of these categories must complete the Enrollment Priority Request Form before the Round 1 Open Enrollment window opens. This form provides the required documentation to verify eligibility for priority consideration. Please email registrar@stemk12.org to request the Enrollment Priority Form. 

To complete enrollment, you’ll be asked to submit your child’s birth certificate, immunization records, proof of residency, and a parent/guardian photo ID.  A student Transcript/Last Report Card is necessary at the Secondary level (Middle/High) for class placement and schedule creation. Additional forms may be required based on grade level or programming.

Mid-year enrollment is sometimes possible, depending on grade-level availability. After August 1, we recommend reaching out directly to our enrollment team at registrar@stemk12.org to inquire about availability. We’re happy to walk you through the next steps if space is available.

As a public charter school we follow DCSD enrollment policies. As such, STEM School Highlands Ranch does not review or evaluate the application to determine enrollment offers. Enrollment is based solely on space availability, enrollment eligibility (ie. Kindergarten Student birthday) and our Enrollment Priority Policy. There are no essays, interviews, academic records, or recommendation requirements.

We do not offer bus service. Families arrange their own transportation. Many choose to carpool, and we encourage building connections within our community to make that easier.

STEM School Highlands Ranch follow DCSD's open enrollment policies and timeline but we manage our own Enrollment Application Portal and application process.  For additional information about DCSD's open enrollment policies and timeline, please visit their website.