Student Lottery
ICS enrolls students through an annual lottery process. Any student living in Philadelphia and entering grades kindergarten through 8th is eligible to apply to the lottery. For a student to be eligible to attend kindergarten in 2021-2022, they must turn 5 by September 1, 2021.
All applications received by the lottery application deadline each year are entered into a drawing. Available spaces at the school are then filled in the order that the names are drawn in the lottery. In kindergarten we typically accept 92 students each year. In grades 1st-8th we only have spaces available if students leave our school. In an average year we are able to accept about 20 total new students from the waiting lists in 1st-8th grades (approximately 2 or 3 new students per grade).
Siblings of currently enrolled ICS students receive preference in the lottery process.
Our waiting list does not carry over from year to year. You must submit a new application each year to be entered into that year’s lottery.
The lottery application deadline for the 2021-2022 school year is January 25, 2021.

Take a Tour
For the health and safety of our community, Independence Charter School will open 100% virtual on September 8, 2020.
Admissions, the provisions of services, and referrals of students at ICS shall be made without regard to race, color, religious creed, disability, ancestry, national origin (including limited English proficiency), age, sex, or sexual orientation.

CONTACT US
215-238-8000, ext. 2222
215-238-8000, ext. 2228 (Spanish)
215-238-1998
1600 Lombard St.
Philadelphia, PA 19146