Why does Kamehameha Schools select preschool students using a lottery process?
Using a lottery offers several advantages. It is an unbiased and completely objective way to select students, all students are considered equally, and it simplifies the admissions process because applicants do not have to be tested or observed.
When is the lottery run?
Who is included in the lottery selection process?
What happens to late applicants?
Late applicants (those who submitted their applications on February 1st or afterwards) are not included in the lottery, but are included at the end of the “on-time” lottery list for their region in order of the date their applications were received in the Admissions Office. Once the list of “on-time” applicants is exhausted, late applicants will be considered for any available spaces.
How does the lottery selection process work?
The lottery is a random computer function that is tied to Admissions’ database. It is an automated process that randomly selects student names which are sorted by age, gender and preschool region.
For example, all girls applying to the 4-year-old program in the Honolulu region (Kalihi-Pälama, Wai‘alae or Nu`uanu preschools) are included in the same lottery group. The computerized selection program is run, and children are slotted into preschools in the order in which they are ranked by the lottery. Children are assigned to preschools according to the school they selected as long as space is available.
What are the minimum qualifications to be included in the lottery?
All children whose applications were received by the January 31st deadline are included in the lottery. However, an on-time application may be disqualified from the lottery if their application is incomplete. An application is incomplete if a copy of the child’s birth certificate (to verify age) was not submitted or if the application is not signed. All incomplete applicants are notified by letter to complete their applications at least twice prior to the running of the lottery.
What is the Hawaiian preference policy?
Kamehameha Schools’ admissions policy gives preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law. This means that preschool applicants who have verified their Hawaiian ancestry with Kamehameha Schools’ Ho`oulu Hawaiian Data Center are selected first.
Why is it so difficult to get into some Kamehameha Schools preschools?
The competitive nature of admission to Kamehameha’s preschool and K-12 programs is due to the increasing numbers of children seeking enrollment. Each year the number of applications received exceeds the number of available spaces. On average, there are three preschool applicants for every one space.
Who makes final admission decisions?
Since selection to the preschool program is based on a lottery process, all preschool admission decisions are made by computer, subject to application of KS’ preference policy.
What safeguards are in place to ensure that the selection process is fair?
The lottery is run according to strict protocols. By policy, admission decisions, as determined by the random computer lottery ranking of applicants, may not be reversed by the Admissions Office, the CEO or Trustees of Kamehameha Schools.
In addition, every July Kamehameha’s Internal Auditor audits the records of the Admissions Office. The final audit report is shared with the CEO, Trustees and the Master appointed by the Probate Court, who also reviews Kamehameha Schools’ operations annually.
Who is included in the wait pool?
All applicants not selected for admission to a Kamehameha preschool are placed in the wait pool in ranked order. Wait pool ranking information is confidential.
How does the wait pool work?
If a selected student declines the invitation to attend, or disenrolls after the school year begins, children in the wait pool will be offered admission (in order of their rank). Replacements are generally made according to gender, for example, if a girl disenrolls, then a girl from the wait pool is offered admission.
Hawaiian ancestry verification status for students in the wait pool will continue to be updated with verification information from the Ho`oulu Hawaiian Data Center. The wait pool is considered “active” through January 31st of the school year for which the student has applied.
Does admission to a Kamehameha preschool ensure that my child will be admitted to Kamehameha’s kindergarten program?
Admission to a Kamehameha preschool does not ensure admission to Kamehameha’s kindergarten program. There are several reasons for this:
• Each year nearly 1,000 children complete the four-year-old program at a Kamehameha preschool; however, there are only 160 kindergarten spaces available at Kamehameha’s three K-12 campuses (80 at Kapälama, 40 at Hawai`i and 40 at Maui).
• Admission to Kamehameha’s preschool program is determined by regional lotteries while admission to Kamehameha’s kindergarten program is based on a combination of testing and classroom observation.
• There are Kamehameha preschools on five islands, but Kamehameha Schools only serves kindergarten students on the islands of O`ahu, Hawai`i and Maui.
Are there other Kamehameha Schools programs that my family can benefit from?
Absolutely! There is so much more to Kamehameha Schools than our preschools or our three K-12 campuses! Kamehameha offers many exciting new community-based educational programs for the entire family. Offerings include a variety of short-term enrichment programs, distance learning, the Kamehameha Scholars program and more.
Kamehameha has also formed partnerships with public charter schools and offers post-high school financial aid. Of particular interest to the parents of preschool-aged children is the Pauahi Keiki Scholars program, which offers need-based financial assistance to help children attend other qualifying preschools. Check our website at www.ksbe.edu for a complete inventory of KS educational programs and specific application information.