Student Admissions
Valley Inquiry Charter School is a free K–8 public charter school open to students who live within Salem-Keizer School District boundaries. Admission is based on available space through the kindergarten lottery and grades 1–8 waitlist process.
To learn more about our school history, mission, and International Baccalaureate approach, visit our About VICS page.
Before You Apply
Before submitting an application, please download and read the current Admissions Packet in its entirety. The packet includes important information about Valley Inquiry’s IB program, including:
Student and family expectations
Attributes of the IB Learner Profile
The school’s focus on international-mindedness, student agency, and taking action as mechanisms to create a safer and better world
The school’s commitment to embracing and celebrating the role that diversity, equity, and inclusion brings to a thriving IB World School environment.
By submitting an application, families acknowledge that they have read and understand the Admissions Packet and support the mission and educational approach of Valley Inquiry Charter School.
Kindergarten Lottery
Each January, VICS accepts applications from families interested in kindergarten enrollment for the upcoming school year.
If the number of kindergarten applications exceeds the number of available spaces, VICS holds a public lottery via Zoom. Kindergarten spots are given first to families with siblings enrolled in Valley Inquiry. Remaining applicants are then assigned lottery numbers, and available kindergarten spaces are offered in the order numbers are drawn. Once all available spaces are filled, the drawing continues to establish the kindergarten waitlist.
The waitlist created through the kindergarten lottery carries forward each year.
Grades 1–8 Waitlist
Families interested in enrollment for grades 1–8 may submit an application at any time to be added to the appropriate grade-level waitlist.
Waitlists roll over each year, so families are encouraged to apply as early as possible.
Because openings depend on current enrollment and grade-level availability, it is not possible to predict whether a waitlist position will result in an offer of admission. Some years see little movement on a waitlist, while other years have seen a grade level deplete the waitlist entirely.
Your best chance of admission is to complete the application as soon as you can.
Kindergarten Lottery Results
Lottery results are posted after each annual kindergarten lottery. Results are listed by lottery number to protect student privacy.
For questions about your student’s lottery number or waitlist status, please contact the VICS office.
Questions?
For questions about the application, lottery, or waitlist process, please contact the VICS office.