To apply:

If a child in your household is currently enrolled at Heartwood, you are a “current family”, even if an additional child is enrolling for the first time.

1. Click the “Apply Now” button at the top or bottom of this page to go to Alma Start, our Student Information System.

2. New Families: Create an Alma Start Account. Current Families: Log into your Alma Start account. You will receive an email confirmation from ALMA upon successful account registration. ** Be sure to check your Spam folder if you do not find one in your inbox. **

3. Current Families: Click the green plus in the bottom left corner of your account to add a new student and follow the prompts. Current Families: Follow the prompts to add your student to Alma Start.

4. Next, click “Begin New Process” in the upper right corner to start an application process.

5. Use the drop-down menus to select Heartwood, School Year 2026-2027, and your child’s grade level.

6. You must click “Complete Application” and then fill out the entire application form.

7. Click “Submit”. You will not receive a confirmation email regarding successful student application— once you see “Complete Application, Application Received, Nothing To Do” in the system, your application process is complete. We will reach out after the open enrollment period closes with details about next steps.

When open enrollment closes, we will determine whether there are enough available slots for all of the prospective students. If the number of prospective students per grade-level exceeds the number of available spaces, we will hold a lottery. See below for details.

HEARTWOOD LOTTERY PROCESS

1. Applications open online typically in February, and this open enrollment period runs for a period usually through mid-March. Families submit applications online during this period. For the 2026-27 school year this open enrollment period was February 16-March 16, 2026. Applications do not carry over from year to year and families must re-apply each year if they did not secure a spot. A student may enter kindergarten if their chronological age will be five years on or before September 1 of the year of entering kindergarten. There are no exceptions to this rule.

2. Once open enrollment closes, we will determine whether there are enough available slots for all of the prospective students. If the number of prospective students per grade-level exceeds the number of available spaces, we will hold a lottery. The lottery process randomly selects students to fill the available number of student spots. The lottery will is open to the public and will also be live-streamed. The lottery selection date is scheduled for Wednesday, March 25. The lottery is complete only once every applicant from that year’s lottery has been pulled. This determines the order of our waitlist.

3. Families will be notified of the results of the lottery by email. Families of admitted students have 48 hours following notification of admission to submit their Commitment Form. Submission of the Commitment Form will result in securing the student’s place in the class. If a Commitment Form is not returned to Heartwood within 48 hours, that space will be offered to the next family on the waitlist. Commitment Forms will be available to fill out and submit at the lottery location, and also emailed to admitted families.

CURRENT STUDENTS

Heartwood Public Charter School offers automatic re-enrollment to its students. In order to secure this space, current families who would like to continue to attend Heartwood are required to submit a completed Returning Family Commitment Form each year, so there is clarity about available spaces before the lottery that is held for new families. Commitment Forms will be sent home with each student, may be downloaded from our website, or may be picked up from your child’s teacher or in the main office. 2026-27 Commitment Forms went out Monday, March 2 were due back Thursday, March 12 by the end of the day. If Commitment Forms are not returned by the deadline, that student’s space for the 2026-2027 school year may be forfeited.

ENROLLMENT PRIORITY

All chartered public schools shall accept qualified pupils from any school district. Per NH law, New Hampshire students are given preference over out of state students—a pupil who meets the admission requirements of a chartered public school, and who is a resident of New Hampshire, shall be given absolute admission preference over a nonresident pupil. Once admitted, chartered public school pupils need not reapply for admission for subsequent years.

At Heartwood, priority is given to the following groups:

• Children of HPCS Founding Board members

• Children of full-time HPCS employees

• Siblings of currently enrolled students

For more information about NH charter school policy, visit 194-B:2 Chartered Public Schools; Establishment; Parental Choice; Admission. 

ENROLLMENT ASSESSMENT

There is no standard assessment for any incoming students; however, families should talk with the administration about any concerns they might have to ensure Heartwood is a good fit for their child.

OUT-OF-STATE STUDENTS

Out-of-state students may attend Heartwood. While NH residents must be given preference, our current cohort of students come to us from all over the North Country—from Lancaster, Whitefield, Jefferson, Bethlehem, Littleton, Berlin, Groveton, and beyond—as well as several Vermont towns. Tuition applies for out-of-state students, though as Heartwood is a state approved Public Charter School, your school choice district may cover the costs. Please contact us or apply now to learn whether Heartwood is right for your family.