Enrollment
Desert Sky Montessori is a public charter school open to all families in Central Oregon. Enrollment for students in Kindergarten through 6th grade occurs through the lottery process in the spring of each year for enrollment the following fall.
To enter the enrollment lottery, parents must complete a lottery application for each child they wish to enroll in the upcoming school year. Applications submitted after the lottery deadline will be moved to our waitlist and remain on our waitlist for one school year.
Charter FAQ
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A charter school is a publicly-funded alternative to the traditional public education system that runs autonomously from the school district. Our charter is a contract with Bend-La Pine Schools that spells out our governance, operations, accountability plan, goals, standards, and curriculum.
Desert Sky Montessori operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a volunteer Board of Directors.
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As a public school, Desert Sky Montessori is eligible for funding from the State of Oregon based on the daily attendance rate of our students. However, because we are a charter school sponsored by Bend-La Pine Schools (BLS), those state education funds are paid directly to BLS.
Based on our charter agreement, we receive 80% funding from the State School Fund Grant and do not qualify for other streams of revenue (such as federal grants, local grants, or local bonds and taxes) that feed into district-run schools. With only a portion of one stream of funding, Desert Sky receives (on average) 48% of total public school funding each year.
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It means we strive to do more with less every year. It also means that parent volunteerism is vital to our community, and fundraising through our Annual Fund, Harvest Festival, Winter Wreath Annual Fundraiser, Central Oregon Gives, and larger events like our Children’s Festival and Rock Paper Scissors Tournament are not only necessary, but essential to our sustainability.
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As a public charter school, we have limited resources for special education and student services. Bend-La Pine Schools provides a Learning Specialist, School Psychologist, and Speech-Language Pathologist for students with IEPs; however, these specialists are only available on a part-time basis. The district also supports an Occupational Therapist on a consulting basis. Desert Sky Montessori employs an additional part-time Intervention Specialist to help identify students’ needs and provide specialized instruction.
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Yes. We teach a Montessori Elementary curriculum that aligns with the most widely adopted curriculum standards. As a public school, we are accountable in the same fashion as all other public schools, which includes state testing.
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No. Unlike private schools, public charter schools cannot select or reject any student. When the number of enrollment requests exceeds the space we have available, we are required by law to hold a lottery drawing to determine who will attend.
Because Desert Sky Montessori is free and open to all, we do not engage in selective admissions policies, which allows for a more diverse student body with varying aptitudes and socioeconomic backgrounds.
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There is no cost to attend Desert Sky Montessori. We are a tuition-free public school.
School FAQ
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Our typical enrollment is between 170 to 180 students per year. We have two Primary (K-1) classrooms, three Lower Elementary (1-3) classrooms, and two Upper Elementary (4-6) classrooms.
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We have an average of 25 students per class with 2 teachers in every class.
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Desert Sky Montessori does not have its own organized sports teams; however, fee-based programs are available through Bend Parks & Recreation District. We do offer fee-based afterschool programs on our campus throughout the year in art, creative writing, parkour, and more.
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We currently do not offer a lunch program but are exploring economical ways to bring hot lunch service into our school in the near future.
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Schools runs from 8:15 am to 3:00 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays; and from 8:15 am to 1:30 pm on Wednesdays.
We follow the Bend-La Pine School District calendar and policies for all observed holidays, school closures, and weather-related delays.
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Desert Sky Montessori does not offer bus transportation to and from school. Our students carpool, drive, walk, or bike to campus.
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Absolutely! We offer several information meetings and tours for interested parents during the lottery window in spring. If you’re unable to attend one of those information meetings, contact our Head of School to arrange an in-person tour.
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We have had students attend from all over Central Oregon, including Bend, Redmond, La Pine, Sunriver, Three Rivers, and Sisters.
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Students go outside every day for recess and PE, usually between one to two hours per day. Some students also choose to study outside on occasion. They are expected to participate outdoors on a daily basis, even in inclement weather, so we ask that students dress appropriately and bring outdoor gear for sun, rain, snow, and whatever else Mother Nature throws at us.
That said, safety is our first priority so in the event of extreme weather or unhealthy air quality, students will not go outdoors. Our faculty and staff are sensitive to the needs of students and will respond accordingly if someone is uncomfortable.
Lottery FAQ
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Incoming Kindergarteners (must be five years old on or before September 1st) and children through sixth grade can apply. Under state charter law, we must first serve all students from the district in which we reside (Bend-La Pine Schools). Students who reside out of the district but in the state of Oregon will be placed on the waitlist after all in-district applicants have been placed from the lottery.
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Yes, a separate application is required for each incoming student.
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The greatest number of spaces are generally available at the kindergarten grade level since that is the entry point for Desert Sky Montessori. The specific number of spaces varies year to year depending on how many siblings of current students are entering the incoming Kindergarten class. We encourage you to complete an application for the grade level your child is at, as we have potential openings at all levels.
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We will not know the number of applicants until the application deadline. If there are more applicants than spaces available, state law requires Desert Sky Montessori to conduct a lottery. The lottery drawing occurs in spring of each year. Once all grade level openings are filled, we will continue to draw names and put them in the order drawn on the waitlist by grade level.
Keep in mind that not everyone who receives a space through the lottery chooses to enroll. Should parents decline placement or move out of the area, the waitlist will be activated. We encourage you to complete a lottery application if you are interested in attending Desert Sky.
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Unfortunately, no. Every grade has its own lottery and siblings are regarded individually and drawn separately in the lottery. One of your children may be offered enrollment, while another one is waitlisted in the order selected in the lottery drawing.
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Yes. As long as your child has a sibling currently enrolled in our school, any siblings wishing to attend will be given preference. You must still submit an application for them using the lottery application. Please note that siblings are only admitted when there is space available in the grade they’re entering. Siblings will be put on the waitlist if there is not a current opening.
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Yes. The waitlist does NOT carry over to the next school year.
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Yes. We encourage all families to apply online, even if they’re past the lottery deadline. We will add you to our waitlist and contact you should an opening occur. Oftentimes, a student who was placed on the waitlist receives a spot as we move down the list in spring and summer.
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Once the lottery process is complete, families with children who have been selected for placement are invited to attend a new parent orientation at Desert Sky Montessori. If any family chooses not to enroll their child after accepting a spot, that space is opened and enrollment is offered to the next applicant on the lottery waitlist. This process continues until all spaces are filled for the upcoming school year.
Since enrollment frequently changes over the summer, waitlist applicants may be offered enrollment throughout the summer, including one or two days before the first day of school or even during the first week of school. In these situations, families are given a short period to make a decision before the next applicants on the waitlist are contacted.