The Line Rules: CSAS and CSLA Kindergarten Sign Ups Continue

Parents hoping to get their kids into Hamilton County's most popular magnet schools will get their line.
     
Earlier this week we told you how the Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences and the Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts didn't want to honor the line parents started for kindergarten sign up. School administrators announced Friday, the line stays.

For years parents have lined up on a first come, first serve basis to get their 5-year-olds into Hamilton County's first two magnet schools.

"The parents that are involved, they're the ones who make it easy and have made it easy to come out here to camp and hang out and stay in line, " said Randy Steele, who is currently the 24th person in line.

Chava Hoffman started this line on August 28th, the earliest it has ever started. Since it began so early and on a weekend, school administrators weren't sure if they should honor the line.

"I wanted to be sure that I was first, and it turned out it was a good thing because there was another girl planning to start it Tuesday, and another girl planning to start it Friday," Hoffman said.

CSAS Principal William Fain  told us off camera that they didn't have a chance to properly advertise the line to give everyone a fair shot at getting a spot. After pressure from parents, Fain says the line rules. However, the school wants to tweak the system for next year. They will announce the new rules before the end of the school year.

"I think that the line works as long as there's a little better regulation as to when it can start and as long as the school has a little bit more of a hands on approach," said Steele.

Here's how it works this year...

Applications will be available at CSAS, CSLA, and online starting September 7. On September 18, CSAS will accept applications from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. After that, you can turn in applications at both schools during regular school hours.

The line determines who gets to apply first. Parents sign up and get a number. Then starting September 10, and every weekday until the 18th,  you check in with your number at 6 p.m. If you're not there, you lose your spot.

"If you want to sign up again you have to go to the end of the list," Hoffman said

Parents are competing for about 100 kindergarten spots. But the other catch is that students with siblings already enrolled at the magnet schools, get priority.

Click here for CSAS admission information. For CSLA admissions, click here.