Eligibility and Application FAQs
Eligibility Criteria
Does my child have to be a certain age to apply?
What if my child is too young to apply?
We recommend signing up for our email interest list here in order to receive updates on schools you are interested in.
What if I make more than the income threshold for my family size?
Are income requirements based on my gross income or net income?
Application
How will I know that you’ve received my application?
You will receive confirmation via email or text message when your application is received.
Can I apply to multiple Bezos Academy locations?
Yes. You can apply to up to 3 schools during a lottery cycle. If you are applying to more than one school, you will be able to rank each school into your order of preference, with #1 being your top choice. We conduct separate lotteries for each school. If selected in more than one school during the lottery, you will receive an offer to your highest ranked school. If you do not receive a seat at your top choice, you will be added to that school’s waitlist.
If I have more than one child, do I need to complete a separate application for each child?
Yes, you must submit a separate application for each child applying to attend Bezos Academy. You may use one family account to submit applications for multiple children.
Is the Bezos Academy application available in other languages?
Yes, the Bezos Academy application is available in the following languages: Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, English, French, Haitian Creole, Hmong, Khmer, Korean, Pashto, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, and Yoruba.
Bezos Academy provides interpreters to assist families with completing their application. Please email [email protected] or call 1-833-560-2221 for interpreter assistance.
My child speaks a language other than English and does not speak English yet. Can I apply?
Yes. Bezos Academy supports English language learners.
Do I need an email address to apply?
No. You can apply using a phone number or email. Bezos Academy recommends using an email address to more easily receive messages about your child’s admission.
How do I contact Bezos Academy with other questions about the application process?
You can email [email protected] or call 1-833-560-2221 with questions. We can provide interpreters to assist families with completing their application.
Lottery
How long will I have to accept my offer at Bezos Academy?
How will I learn if my child receives an offer in the lottery or is waitlisted?
Bezos Academy will notify applicants by email on the posted lottery notification date with the lottery outcome, either offer or waitlist. You will have five business days to accept or decline an offer of admission. You can also see the status of your application at any time by logging into your account here.
What happens if I apply after the lottery date?
If you apply after the lottery date, our team will review your application and will notify you by email within 3 business days with the outcome. If all seats are filled at school, you will be added to the waitlist in the order you applied.
Are seats awarded on a first-come-first-served basis?
No. All applications received before the school’s lottery date will be entered into the lottery. The date that you submit your application will not affect your chances of gaining a seat. Applications received after the school’s lottery date will be reviewed and offered a seat or added to the waitlist, depending on capacity available at the school.
If siblings apply during the lottery, will both receive an offer if one is selected?
Yes, if two siblings apply to the same school during the same admissions period, and one child receives an offer during the lottery, their sibling is automatically offered a seat if one is available. In the scenario that one sibling receives the last available seat, then their sibling is placed at the top of the waitlist. Bezos Academy considers siblings as any of the following who reside in the same household: full siblings, half siblings, step siblings, and children residing in a family foster home.
Waitlist
How do I check my current waitlist position?
Log into your Avela account here to view your child’s current waitlist position. Your waitlist position will be displayed on your homepage next to the school’s name.
Why did my waitlist position change?
Waitlist placement may move up or down as new applications are submitted based on an applicants’ eligibility. Eligible applicants that apply after the lottery are added to the waitlist in the order that they apply. The criteria for filling seats from the waitlist is based on seat availability for the child’s age. Applicants who miss deadlines to accept an offer or submit a registration and forfeit their offer may be placed back on the waitlist upon written request from the family and will be placed at the bottom of the waitlist.
What is the likelihood of my child being offered a seat from the waitlist?
Students on the waitlist will be offered a seat as capacity becomes available when currently enrolled students exit the program. This makes it so that we are unable to forecast the likelihood of a waitlisted student being offered a seat. We do encourage you to continue checking your waitlist status in the system here. If your child is #1 on the waitlist and a seat becomes available, a member of the Enrollment team will notify you right away.
If I accept the offer at a lower ranked school will my child still be eligible for a higher ranked school?
Applicants who apply to more than one school during the admissions process and receive an offer at a lower ranked school will be placed on the waitlist of their higher ranked choice(s) until the school year commences. Once a student begins attending a school, they will be removed from all other waitlists.
Admission
Will my family be charged a fee for attending?
No. Bezos Academy is tuition-free, which means that the preschool is free of charge to eligible families. Each Bezos Academy also provides materials, supplies, and meals for students at no cost to the families.
Does my child need to be toilet trained?
We ask families to make every effort to ensure their child is toilet trained by the first day of school. Toilet learning expectations may vary by location based on childcare licensing requirements.
Once my child is enrolled, do they keep their seat the following school year?
Yes. Students who are age eligible to return for a second year will keep their seat as long as all re-registration requirements are met by the deadline provided. Failure to submit all re-registration documents on time will result in the student losing their seat for the next school year. Students who lose their seat will be entered into the lottery with the general population.
Does Bezos Academy accept children with special needs?
Yes. Our policy is to accept students and provide reasonable modifications in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), its regulations, and any other applicable local, state, or federal laws pertaining to the provision of services to individuals with disabilities. Bezos Academy works with families to ensure we have the right program that fits your child’s learning needs. If Bezos Academy is not able to provide necessary services, then we are committed to working closely with families to ensure your child receives the services they require in the appropriate setting.
How does Bezos Academy ensure a classroom with age diversity?
A mixed-age environment is a core principle of the Montessori approach. Bezos Academy seeks age diversity as it adds value to each child’s experience. Bezos Academy may move children up on the waitlist to ensure a classroom with age diversity.
School Hours and Schedule
Does Bezos Academy enroll children that attend less than five days a week?
No. Bezos Academy provides full day preschool five days a week. To ensure the best educational outcomes, we require full-time attendance. We do not offer partial week or part-time enrollment.