Charter Lottery & Enrollment
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Kindergarten–8th Grade
Sterling Montessori Charter School is a tuition-free North Carolina public charter school, open to any NC resident who meets public school eligibility requirements. We do not discriminate based on ethnicity, gender, national origin, disability, or academic ability (per NC G.S. 115C-218.55).
To qualify, students must reside in North Carolina at the time of the lottery. County boundaries or local school zones do not affect charter eligibility.
There is no application fee for Charter enrollment.
Sterling’s preschool program (the Academy) is tuition-based and operates separately from the public charter school.
About Charter Schools
Charter schools are public schools that operate independently from traditional district systems. They are tuition-free, state-funded, and open to all—offering innovative programs, such as Montessori education, within public accountability standards.
Application Timeline
The 2026–2027 Lottery Application Window opens October 16, 2025 and will remain open for at least 30 days.
Specific dates for application deadlines and the public lottery drawing will be posted here and on our News & Events page.
Applications must be completed by a parent or legal guardian.
Our Lottery System
Beginning July 2025, Sterling will use Lotterease, a secure, third-party system that manages our electronic lottery and waitlist process for transparency and fairness.
- School staff cannot alter or adjust results.
- All actions on your application are tracked and visible in your Lotterease parent portal.
Important: Providing false information during registration will void your child’s application and may result in removal from the waitlist.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must have a physical North Carolina address at the time of the lottery.
- Kindergarten applicants must be five years old on or before August 31 of the enrollment year (NC G.S. 115C-364).
Lottery Process & Priorities
When applications exceed available seats, Sterling conducts a public electronic lottery each spring. Attendance is optional but open to the public.
Per NC Charter Law 115C-218.45, priority enrollment is offered to:
- Children or grandchildren of full-time Sterling employees
- Children of LHU Board Members (combined may not exceed 15% of enrollment without a waiver)
- Siblings of currently enrolled students (includes step-, half-, and foster siblings in the same household; multiple births are entered as one)
- Siblings of Sterling Alumni (must have completed the highest grade and attended at least four years)
- Students currently enrolled in Sterling’s Academy (preschool) program
Lottery Results & Waitlist
Families are notified of lottery results via email.
Once all seats are filled, a waitlist is generated and updated regularly. You may log into Lotterease at any time to view your child’s position.
Enrollment Offers
Families must accept or decline offers within:
- 7 days during the standard enrollment period
- 3 days within 30 days of the first school day
- 24 hours during the first month of school
To confirm enrollment, families must provide:
- Birth certificate
- Proof of NC residency
- Immunization records
Failure to respond or submit documents by the deadline will result in forfeiture of the seat.
Please note: Sterling Montessori does not provide transportation; families are responsible for travel arrangements.
Right to Refuse Enrollment
Sterling Montessori reserves the right to refuse enrollment to:
- Students currently under suspension or expulsion from another school (until that term has ended)
- Applicants who knowingly provide false or misleading information