Enrollment FAQ

Walden will select students on a random basis (via lottery), except as provided in Utah State Rule 53G-5-503 which indicates that:

Walden may give enrollment preference to: 

• a child or grandchild of an individual who has actively participated in the development of the charter school; 
• a child or grandchild of a member of the charter school governing board; 
• a sibling of an individual who was previously or is presently enrolled in the charter school;
• a child of an employee of the charter school;
•  a student who resides within up to a two-mile radius of the charter school and whose school of residence is at capacity
• a child of a military service member as defined in Section 53B-8-102; 

Over the past decade, Walden has maintained an enrollment average of 400 students. As students transfer and positions open, Walden will draw new students through the lottery process. The number of students admitted at each grade level (K-12) ranges from between 30 and 36 students. With our multi-age classes, this allows us to maintain class sizes no larger than 28 students per class (although many classes are much smaller).  Administration is given the discretion to draw more students in one grade over another if enrollment is low in a particular grade and there are no remaining students on the waitlist.

All students eligible to enroll in a Utah Public School may apply to Walden. However, students who are currently suspended and/or expelled from their school of residence, may or may not be accepted at Walden.  When a student in this situation is drawn in the lottery, Walden will meet with the student and his or her parent(s)/guardian(s) to determine if Walden would be a good fit for that student. An expulsion for the reason of violent or bullying behavior typically excludes a student from participation at Walden. 

If you feel that your student is in a persistently dangerous situation, or they have been a victim of a violent criminal offense at their current school, you may contact Walden with a letter explaining your situation. If our administration determines your situation qualifies under the Safe School Choice Option (ESEA Section 8532) and if space is available, your student will be eligible for immediate enrollment. 

Once your student has been accepted, you may call your previous school, as a courtesy, to let them know that you will be transferring your student to Walden. However, the Walden registrar will request your child’s records from the school and you are not obligated to have any contact with the school. By law, that school must provided student records in a timely fashion.

Should you decide, at any time during the year, that Walden is not a good fit for you and your child, please feel free to withdraw your child from the school. Walden will notify your child’s home district immediately. To make this transition easier for you, your child, and the school, please follow the following procedures:

• If at all possible, make transitions at a term break; this allows us to grant your student full credit for the term and will make beginning at a new school easier for your student. Students who transfer mid-term often have a difficult time transferring term grades and credit.
• Please give Walden at least a one-week notice so that we can fill your child’s place with a student who is waiting to be admitted.
• Please fill out this Transfer/Withdrawal Form. When a student simply stops coming without notice, Walden is unable to offer a space to a student who is waiting to be admitted.

When a student is new to a school, there is sometimes a rocky transition period and it is difficult to make a sound decision about a school until you child has had a chance to make new friends and become comfortable with the new people in his or her life. For this reason, we suggest that you do not transfer your child in the first few weeks of school, unless there is a compelling reason to do so.