Lottery Admission

Epiphany School admits students who are from low-income, racially diverse families living in Boston, Massachusetts. The goal is a student body that encompasses a broad range of cognitive diversity. Students are chosen by lottery.

The lottery delivers students who reflect the diversity for which we are searching. It is simple to administer, requiring few staff hours and virtually no money other than the cost of advertising. It is unbiased by subjective opinion, past connections, or teacher recommendations. It is not dependent on Boston Public School testing or transcripts.

There are two exceptions to the lottery. Epiphany admits all siblings (those with the same biological mother or father as a past/current Epiphany student). Epiphany admits four students each year based on recommendation of the MA Department of Children and Families (DCF).

We believe that we can work more effectively with families when all of their children attend Epiphany. Virtually every private school in the Boston area has an established sibling policy.

Our DCF liaison is to ensure that Epiphany continues to reach out to the city’s most vulnerable students. Because of our twelve-hour day and individualized approach, we are uniquely suited for DCF students. Referrals are made by DCF directly to Epiphany’s director of admission who has the discretion to consider all factors, including the student’s academic record, socialization skills, projected effect on the overall balance of the class, and whether Epiphany is able to provide the services that the student requires. The primary contact for DCF during the school year is the Epiphany Outreach Team.