NSA Parent Club - Decide & Apply

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DECIDE & APPLY

MAKING AN INFORMED CHOICE

Decisions, Decisions!

Is North Star the right choice for your family?

As you consider your child's educational opportunities at North Star, there are three things that might help: Understanding our Academic Foundation, Exploring our Campus, and Discovering our Community.

Our Difference: Compacted Curriculum

Think of a compacted curriculum as trading repetition for depth. We cover the required coursework at an accelerated pace, which clears the schedule to go deeper into advanced material, explore big ideas, and take learning beyond the standard curriculum. You can learn more about curriculum compacting from the NAGC or CAGC.

One benefit of the compacted curriculum and having extra time in the school day is that our students are offered enirchment classes as their last period of the day. Enrichment offerings range from chess, crafty science, and science olympiad, to baking, sewing, photography, and much, much more. You'll learn more about that on the next page.

Come Have Fun with Us!

We invite prospective families and neighbors to join us for our signature public celebrations and campus events throughout the year:

The Fall Festival: A lively, campus-wide celebration packed with games, treats, and family fun. It’s the perfect, low-pressure way to walk the grounds and meet current students, parents, and staff.
Theater & Performing Arts: Take a seat in the audience for our annual fall play or full-scale spring musical. Our stage productions are open to the public and showcase the incredible creativity, confidence, and dedication of our young performers.

You can usually find information about public-facing events our parent club website, here.

Campus Tours

Optional informational tours of the North Star campus are offered most Tuesdays and Thursdays from November 3, 2026 - January 7, 2027.
More tour information can be found on the district website, here.
Tour attendance must be confirmed through the NSA office at least one day in advance. Sign ups can be found here.

Time to Apply!

Online Application: Families whose children meet the qualifying criteria submit an online School of Choice application (typically open late December through early January). North Star only participates in the winter application window, not the spring cycle. You can get all the information on our checklist, here.
- If your child is not already in the Redwood City School District, you'll need to enroll them with this application first.
- If you already attend a school in the Redwood City School District, you can complete the School of Choice application.

2. Random Lottery & Placement: Because interest often exceeds capacity, qualifying applicants enter a computerized lottery. Sibling priority policies apply, and non-placed students are moved to an active waitlist.

3. Acceptance & Confirmation: Families are notified in mid-to-late January and must submit required documentation (proof of residency, birth certificates, immunizations) and confirm placement within the school district's required deadline.

We're In! How Do we Prepare for Day 1 and Life at North Star?

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