10/31/24
School App STL: Revolutionizing School Enrollment for St. Louis Families
The Takeaway
In an exciting step forward for St. Louis families, eleven charter schools have partnered with the Missouri Charter Public School Association, The Opportunity Trust, and the Walton Family Foundation to launch School App STL—a streamlined common enrollment application. This innovative platform is designed to make it easier for families to explore and apply to schools through one simple process, allowing them to focus on what matters most: finding the right educational fit for their children.
Families can now apply to multiple schools at once, saving time and energy. They’ll get offers from schools and complete the final steps with their chosen school without running all over town.
Noah Devine, Executive Director of the Missouri Charter Public School Association
The platform’s impact was felt immediately, with more than 200 applications submitted within the first 24 hours of its October launch. This quick adoption highlights just how much of a game-changer School App STL is for families navigating the often complex world of school enrollment. Think of it as a modern solution to an age-old problem. Instead of visiting each school’s website, tracking different deadlines, and navigating complicated paperwork, School App STL allows families to apply to multiple schools all at once with one deadline and one place to submit common paperwork for enrollment.
Before the launch of School App STL, many parents expressed how overwhelming the school application process could be.
“Having an app that lets you apply to all the schools in one place would be so much easier. Right now, there’s so much paperwork and deadlines to keep up with for each school. Being able to do it all online, like everything else, would take away so much stress. I’d absolutely use it,” said Kendra Williams, a charter school parent.
The application system is designed to solve a big problem. Many schools were dealing with how to simplify the enrollment process for parents and ensure that enrollment numbers were accurate. Before the platform, families enrolled at multiple schools through separate processes, leaving some schools with inaccurate records on the first day of school. It’s all part of the effort to make the experience more family-friendly and hassle-free. Inspired by Kansas City’s successful Show Me KC Schools, this platform has already proven it can work wonders.
I’ve gone through all of their processes and integrated them into a common app. So we’re cutting down the work time of the school staff, and we’re also not putting families in a place where they have to provide all of these documents to multiple schools over and over again.
Leslie Kohlmeyer, Executive Director of Show Me KC Schools
School App STL will give schools critical data on family preferences, waitlists, and enrollment demands, helping them better plan and serve students. Schools will know exactly where families want to go, making this system a game-changer for everyone involved.
“This common enrollment platform is more than just a tool; it represents a broader commitment to aligning school choice with equity, ease of access, and family support,” said Eric Scroggins, Founder and CEO of The Opportunity Trust.
As more families discover the benefits of School App STL, this initiative is poised to reshape the future of school enrollment in the region. The platform stands as a testament to what collaboration and innovation can achieve—offering families a clearer, simpler path to quality schools and setting the stage for a brighter educational future for children in St. Louis.