Admissions

Admissions FAQs

The application period will open on January 12, 2026 and will close on February 27, 2026.
A link to the application website will be available on this page starting January 12, 2026.

The admissions lottery will be held on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.

To learn about Admissions at RCHS, please read the information below and review the Admissions FAQ.

Important 2026-2027 Admissions Dates:

January 12: Application window opens
January 28: Open House for Prospective Families
February 27: Application window closes
March 18: Admissions Lottery

Open Houses for Prospective Families

Our Prospective Student Open House will be held on January 28, 2026. Please click here to read more detailed information about our Open Houses. Reviewing this information will make your visit more enjoyable. In April, we will hold another Open House just for students who were admitted in the lottery to help them to make a decision about whether or not to attend RCHS.

General Admissions Information

Raleigh Charter High School is an independent, public, college-preparatory school that serves students from North Carolina. Prospective students complete an application for admission. Admission to the school is by public lottery. You can view some frequently asked questions here.

We accept applications over a period of several weeks during the first few months of the year, usually from late January to late February. Applications can be completed online during this time period. The dates of the application period are posted in December for the following year. A link to the application website will be posted on the first day of the application period. Families with limited or no internet access may visit the school office during business hours to complete an application during the application period. The Admissions Lottery is typically held 3 to 4 weeks after the application period ends. Lottery results are emailed to all applicants. We do not accept applications for admission at any other times during the year.

Learn more about Raleigh Charter High School: College Profile, Curriculum Guide, Brochure about RCHS

All applications for students accepted by NC charter schools must be from parents who are currently legal residents of North Carolina. The domicile must be in place at the time of the student application. In order to be included in the admissions lottery, an application to RCHS must list a North Carolina residence.

Prospective students complete an application for admission to Raleigh Charter High School. Applicants must be ready for Math 1/Algebra 1 or a higher mathematics course in the ninth grade. During high school, students must take at least four courses in math and at least two consecutive years of a foreign language in order to graduate from Raleigh Charter High School. We offer math courses from Math 1 to Calculus 3. Many courses are offered only at the honors (advanced) level

Siblings of current RCHS students, siblings of RCHS graduates who finished all four years at RCHS (and graduated), and children of full-time employees are given priority. The current student must be enrolled for one year before sibling status is granted.

We hold an Information Session to give prospective students and parents a chance to view the school campus, to visit staff members, and to hear programs about our school.