Hernando school choice: dates to remember

Nov. 6: Required orientation at Hernando High for families who plan to apply to Chocachatti Elementary and Challenger K-8 School of Science & Mathematics for 2020-21. Orientation begins at 5:45 p.m. in the school cafeteria.

Nov. 7: Required orientation for families who plan to apply to Nature Coast Technical High for 2020-21. Orientation begins at 6 p.m. in the school’s cafeteria.

Nov. 7: Informational meeting on the Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education program at Central High. Meeting is from 6-8 p.m. in the school’s auditorium.

Nov. 15: Last day to submit an online application for Chocachatti Elementary, Challenger K-8 or Nature Coast Technical. Parents without a computer or internet access can seek assistance at their nearest public school, public library or at the school district offices. Applicants for kindergarten must have reached age 5 on or before Sept. 1, 2020. Applicants for first grade must have reached age 6 by that date.

Nov. 20: First of two information sessions for eighth-grade students and parents interested in the International Baccalaureate program at Frank W. Springstead High. Meeting is from 6-8 p.m. in the school’s cafeteria.

Nov. 20, Nov. 22, Nov. 25: Specified days to submit portfolios for students applying to Chocachatti Elementary and Challenger K-8. The schools accept about 30 percent of applicants based on portfolios and/or auditions. The rest are accepted through a computer lottery or using certain preferences for children of military personnel or school staff. Portfolios must be submitted to the school district office, 919 Broad St., Brooksville.

Dec. 4: Second of two information sessions for eighth-grade students and parents interested in the International Baccalaureate program at Frank W. Springstead High. Meeting is from 6-8 p.m. in the school’s cafeteria.

Early December: Hernando County school district conducts a computer lottery for magnet programs.

Dec. 13: Deadline for the school district to notify families whether their students got into Chocachatti, Challenger or Nature Coast through the lottery. The news will come via email, text or your schoolmint account (see “How to apply” below). Those who don’t get in will stay on a waiting list through the end of the current school year.

Dec. 20: Last day for parents to accept or decline a seat at Chocachatti, Challenger or Nature Coast. Seats not accepted by the deadline will be given to other students on the waiting list.

How to apply: visit hernandoschools.schoolmint.net/signin. Families must create an account to submit an application, and they will be notified of the lottery results through the schoolmint system.

Find out more: For details on orientation meetings and other school choice matters in Hernando, visit hernandoschools.org/Page/3610