Enrollment Information
- First semester enrollment is open for grades K-10.
- Enrollment is limited. The school will have an open application period from 4/1 to 4/16 and a lottery may go into effect.
- View the latest enrollment updates.
Popup-25-26
2025-26 Enrollment Information
- Per state law, the school has an enrollment limit of 500 students.
- If the number of applications accepted exceeds the capacity limit, we will use a lottery-style drawing to select students for enrollment on 4/23/2025.
- To be eligible for the lottery, please start registration and follow the steps to create an application.
- If the school does not exceed its enrollment limit, no lottery is required. You will then be able to continue enrolling your student.
Video: The Connections Academy Enrollment Process
Enrollment Process
Connections Academy at Gateway Enrollment Process
Learn about the steps of the enrollment process.
Start Your Family’s Learning Journey
Get ready to enroll in an online school program at Connections Academy at Gateway, serving grades K–10. Typically, the enrollment process takes just a few weeks to complete. But spots fill up quickly, so make sure you start as soon as you can. Here's how to get started:
STEP 1
Understand Your Commitment
STEP 2
Check Eligibility
In California, student eligibility requirements are determined by the state, which regulates all public schools including Connections Academy at Gateway.
Connections Academy at Gateway is open to all students who meet the state's age and geographic restrictions for virtual charter schools. While we are required to collect documents that show that the age and residency requirements have been met, we do welcome students who have unusual circumstances, such as homeless and foster youth, immigrants, refugees, migrants, and students who are not U.S. citizens. Contact the school office for assistance if enrolling a student for whom standard documentation is not readily available due to this type of situation. Once your enrollment is confirmed, please immediately withdraw your student from their previous publicly-funded school. Students cannot be simultaneously enrolled in two public schools.
Note: Students who are currently suspended or expelled from their local school or district may not be eligible for Connections Academy at Gateway.
STEP 3
Prepare Documents
We are accepting applications at this time, until the schools meet their enrollment caps for 2025-26. After an application has been started, eligibility tasks and documents are collected. We do not require receipt of student records prior to acceptance into our school. In the event that a space becomes available for your child, there will also be a registration process. The registration process will ask you to upload additional documents to the Enrollment Portal. The documents for the various parts of the process are listed in more detail below.
Child's Proof of Age
Child's Proof of Age
Child's Proof of Age
A copy of one of the following documents must be provided for every student to verify age eligibility:
- Official birth certificate
- Passport (U.S. and other countries)
- Hospital Certificate
- Valid immunization records
- Government-issued ID
- Court-issued documents
- Medical records
- School records
Not Sure Where to Get That?
- If you need a copy of your child's birth certificate, you can order it online through the California Department of Public Health. Please visit the California Department of Public Health(opens in a new tab) website for more information.
- If your child was born in another state, please visit the CDC’s Where to Write for Vital Records webpage for more information. When using this tool, please remember to follow the CDC's Application Guidelines.
- Need a replacement Green Card (Permanent Resident Card)? Visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website(opens in a new tab).
- Have questions about your U.S. passport? Visit the U.S. Department of State FAQs page.
As a reminder, the age eligibility is as follows:
- Kindergarten: Any student enrolling in kindergarten must be five (5) years old on or before September 1 in the school year for which you are enrolling.
- First Grade: Any student enrolling in first grade must be six (6) years old on or before September 1 in the school year for which you are enrolling.
- Maximum Age:
- Any general education student who turns nineteen (19) years old on or before the first day of school and has a break in public school enrollment will not be eligible to enroll in Connections Academy at Gateway.
- Special education students who turn twenty-two (22) years old on or before the first day of school may be eligible to enroll in Connections Academy at Gateway if they have been continuously enrolled in school.
Proof of Residence
Proof of Residence
Proof of Residence
According to the California Department of Education Residency Guidelines, you must reside in one of the following California counties to enroll in Connections Academy at Gateway: Amador, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Sutter and Yolo. You must provide ONE acceptable proof of residency to be eligible for enrollment in Connections Academy at Gateway. There are many verifiable forms of documentation, which are detailed below:
Not Sure What is Accepted as Proof?
Documents must be dated within the last 90 days.
Acceptable documents include:
- A residential utility bill (electric, water, gas, or sewage)
- Cable bill
- Telephone bill
- Current annual rental/lease agreement signed, showing terms of lease).
- Mortgage statement (showing property address)
- Property tax statement
- Bank statement
If you do not have any of these documents, please contact the enrollment team at 1-833-591-0251 to discuss acceptable alternatives.
Geographical Limitations
- Amador
- Contra Costa
- El Dorado
- Placer
- Sacramento
- San Joaquin
- Solano
- Sutter
- Yolo
Child’s Proof of Immunization
Child’s Proof of Immunization
Child’s Proof of Immunization
Immunizations are not required to enroll in the school because the Connections Academy at Gateway virtual school program meets California’s criteria of an independent study program.
With this said, Connections Academy at Gateway is still required to collect information from parents and report to the state on immunizations. Therefore, immunization records should be submitted for students upon enrollment and resubmitted upon entry into seventh grade. Even though during the enrollment process all immunization records must be submitted, if the records indicate that the student has not received all the state required immunizations, the student will still be allowed to enroll.
Families will be able to submit immunization records and/or exemptions once they begin the enrollment process.
- Copy of up-to-date, complete Immunization Records
- Temporary Medical Exemption
- Permanent Medical Exemption
This form may require both the parent/guardian and health care provider signature.
Not Sure What Immunizations Are Required?
For more details, including information regarding what immunizations/shots your student needs, please refer to the Shots for Schools website, and for a complete list of immunization requirements, please see the Health and Safety Code Section 120325–120380 document.
The California Immunization Record (sometimes called the "yellow card")
The California Immunization Record (sometimes called the “yellow card”) helps you keep track of what shots your child has received and when. Many California medical offices and clinics can now update your child’s yellow card automatically using an electronic immunization registry, known as the California immunization registry.
Where Can I Get Immunizations for My Student?
Immunizations can be obtained from doctor’s offices, clinics, or hospitals. Pediatricians and family doctors or their nurses or medical assistants can give your student the shots they need to meet the requirements for school enrollment. In addition, some large chain pharmacies offer immunizations for older children and adults.
What if I Need Assistance Paying for Vaccines?
By law, California managed-care organizations (such as Kaiser Permanente and Blue Cross) must cover recommended immunizations for children. Your health plan may charge a co-payment for the shot visit. Check with your health plan or your doctor’s office about any fees.
If you don’t have health insurance, you may be able to get free immunizations through one of these programs:
- Healthy Families Children enrolled in California’s Healthy Families plan receive free immunizations with no copayment.
- Medi-Cal.Medi-Cal covers preventive care services for eligible low-income children and adults. Contact your local County Social Services for more information.
- Vaccines for Children.Many private-practice California doctors participate in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, which gives free vaccine to eligible children up to age 18. Ask your child’s doctor if his or her office offers VFC shots.
- CHDP. Children eligible for California’s Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) program may also be eligible for free or low-cost shots.
Child's Proof of Health Examination
Child's Proof of Health Examination
Child's Proof of Health Examination
According to the California Department of Education, California state law requires that each student/child’s family provide, within 90 days of entrance into kindergarten or first grade, a certificate documenting that the child has received a health checkup within no more than 6 months before the start of Kindergarten. Please complete the form below to fulfill this state requirement.
What If I Can't Afford a Health Examination for My Student?
Prior Academic Records
Child’s Proof of Immunization
Prior Academic Records
All students who have previously attended public school, private school, or homeschool are eligible to enroll and will be asked to submit academic records for placement.
- Report Card
For students applying for grades K–9: Please submit a copy of the report card from the most recent school year.
The following items should be included on the report card:
- Student Name
- Grade Level
- School Year (example: 2024–25)
- School Name
- Grading Scale (example: 90–100%=A)
Unofficial Transcript
For students applying for grade 10: Submit an unofficial transcript that includes the complete end-of-year grades from the prior school year(s) and any academic documentation (such as a progress report/interim report, class schedule, or marking period/semester report card) issued for the current school year. Additional documentation may be requested for placement.
The following items should be included on the unofficial transcript:
- Student Name
- Grade Level
- School Year (example: 2024–25)
- School Name
- Grading Scale (example: 90–100%=A)
- Credits Earned
Not Sure How to Get Your Child’s Report Card or Transcript?
- Contact your student's previous school and request the document, providing them with the information outlined above, OR contact your school's district office with the request.
If after attempting these steps you still cannot obtain your student's report card or transcript, please contact the enrollment team at 1-833-591-0251 to discuss acceptable alternatives.
Have Your Child(ren) Been Formerly Homeschooled?
- Prior Academic History Form
For homeschooled students in grades K–10: Complete the Prior Academic History Form indicating what courses were completed through a homeschool curriculum. This form will be available to you in Pearson Online Classroom.
Other Documents for Special Circumstances
Proof of Residence
Other Documents for Special Circumstances
You may need to provide additional documentation if any of the following circumstances apply:
- Custody order: If your legal guardianship is determined by a court order, please submit a copy of the order.
- Report of Health Examination for School Entry: Required for students entering Kindergarten and first grade.
STEP 4
Get Started
Join the Connections Academy community and help your child go further in school and in their life ahead.
Enroll to
BE A PART OF OUR ONLINE PUBLIC SCHOOL
Join the Connections Academy community and help your child go further in school and in their life ahead.
Give Us a Call
If you have any concerns or questions about how to enroll, our enrollment team is here to help.
Please call us at 1-833-591-0251.
Connections Academy at Gateway admits students and conducts all educational programs, activities, and employment practices without discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, creed, sexual orientation, disability, or any other legally protected classification.
Enrollment Support Hours:
Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. PT