Are You Ready?
Enrollment is OPEN for the
2026-2027 School Year!
We are growing - Now enrolling grades TK-10
Open enrollment for the 2026–2027 school year is here, and this is the moment every family has been waiting for. Each year, Caat’s waitlists do not roll over, which means every family has an equal opportunity to apply. If you have been hoping for a chance to join our school, now is the time. Caat is college-pre, free, California public charter school:
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Free, No Tuition
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No School Boundaries
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Open to ALL Students
For the 2026–2027 school year, we are enrolling students in grades TK–10 and are excited to be adding our first 10th grade class. Once your child is enrolled, you do not need to reapply in future years.
If you are looking for a school that feels different in the best way, Caat may be the right fit for your family. With a strong focus on the arts and technology, high expectations, and real support, our students are known as individuals, encouraged to be creative, and challenged to grow. Families who join CAAT become part of a community that truly cares about student success.
Our 2026-2027 Enrollment Application goes live in a couple of weeks - fill out an Enrollment Interest Form NOW to make sure you are the first to apply.
I am interested, what's next?
Our 2026-2027 Enrollment Application goes live in a couple of weeks. Fill out an Enrollment Interest Form and we can make sure you are the first to get an Enrollment Application! Here is what you can expect next:
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If you fill out an Enrollment Interest Form, a Caat staff member will reach out to let you know we have your contact information. Once the enrollment application is live we will email it to you so you don't miss it.
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Once available, complete the '26-'27 Enrollment Application and you will receive confirmation and an application number. Save this information incase there is a lottery for your grade level.
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Come for a tour or enrollment meeting. We’d love to show you around and meet you in person. Tours take place on Tuesday's at 10AM during the week or attend an Enrollment Meeting.
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Stay connected! Follow us on social media and look for emails from us. You will received updates and opportunities to engage with our school community.
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Attend the lottery on April 2nd @ 5PM (1701 18th Street). We anticipate a lottery for most grade levels. Don't be discouraged if there is a lottery for your grade many students get from the waitlist as families make their final decisions.
What happens after I am accepted?
1. Complete registration through the online link that is emailed to you. Pay careful attention to deadlines.
2. Students in grade 8-10 must attend a career and counseling meeting. Do not miss your appointment.
3. Student Records: We’ll need you to sign a student records request form so we can get your child's files from their previous school. If you have any important legal or education records share them with the school.
4. Getting ready for your first day! School uniforms will be available for purchase, attend our Spring BBQ, and meet your child's teachers.
5. Mark your calendar for New Student Orientation and Mutual Promise Night.
The following enrollment information applies during the open enrollment period (January - April).
Who can enroll?
Interested families who live in Kern County need to submit an application. Enrollment is open to any family in Kern County.
How does the lottery work?
Caat will identify the grade levels for which a lottery will be required. For the grade levels where we have more applicants than spaces we will identify students that meet the enrollment priorities outlined in our charter and conduct a public lottery. We will notify the families of interested students two weeks before the lottery by mail.
What happens if I am not accepted?
Families who are on the waitlist and not accepted throughout the school year must reapply each year during the open enrollment period.
What do I need to submit to enroll?
Interested families need to submit a enrollment application for each student along with the required documents: proof of date of birth and immunization records (or you can bring these documents to the school).
What are the enrollment priorities?
The order of priority is as follows:
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Siblings of currently enrolled students.
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Children of Caat employees.
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Children who attend Franklin Elementary School.
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Children who attend Bakersfield City School District.
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All other applications of students who reside in Kern County.
How does the waitlist work?
Once the maximum capacity has been reached for each grade, the remaining student names (or numbers) will be drawn and then placed on a waiting list in the order in which they are drawn. Students on the waiting list will then be notified by mail immediately if a space becomes available.
What if there are more students that apply than space in a grade level?
During the public lottery will take place if we have more Enrollment Forms than spaces available in a specific grade level.
What happens after I am accepted?
You will receive notification shortly after the lottery if your child(ren) have been admitted. That communication will include information about when and where you can pick up your Enrollment Packet and what needs to be turned in for each student. Once notified, you will have two (2) weeks to submit your enrollment packet. If the complete enrollment packet is not submitted within two (2) weeks the student’s spot will be forfeited and given to the first student on the waitlist.
What happens if I submit my application after the enrollment window closes?
If the grade level you are applying for is at maximum capacity, your student will be added to a waitlist based on priority for the 2024-2025 school year. If and when a space becomes available, you will be notified by mail regarding your student’s admission.
Charter School Complaint Notice
A charter school shall not discourage a pupil from enrolling or seeking to enroll in a charter school for any reason, including, but not limited to, academic performance of the pupil or because the pupil exhibits any of the following characteristics:
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Academically low-achieving
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Economically disadvantaged (determined by eligibility for any free or reduced price meal program)
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English learner
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Ethnicity
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Foster youth
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Homeless
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Nationality
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Neglected or delinquent
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Race
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Sexual orientation
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Pupils with disabilities
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A charter school shall not request a pupil’s records or require the parent, guardian, or pupil to submit the pupil’s records to the charter school before enrollment.
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A charter school shall not encourage a pupil currently attending the charter school to disenroll from the charter school or transfer to another school for any reason (except for suspension or expulsion).
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This notice shall be posted on a charter school’s Internet website and a charter school will provide copies of this notice (1) when a parent, guardian, or pupil inquires about enrollment; (2) before conducting an enrollment lottery, and (3) before disenrollment of a pupil.
Complaint Procedures:
In order to find out more information on how to submit a complaint, click here.