Rise Preparatory Academy Admissions Process

Admissions Timeline: The admissions process typically takes 1–3 business days. Processing times may vary depending on the time of year, application volume, and how quickly all required documents are submitted. Applications that include all required documentation at the time of submission are generally processed more efficiently.

Before Applying

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the following minimum academic requirements:

• Grades 9–10: Minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA (equivalent to a C average).
• Grades 11–12: Minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA.

Note: Middle school students are not assigned a cumulative GPA. Their academic performance will be evaluated using their report cards and overall classroom achievement.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirements are not eligible for admission.

Step 1: Submit an Application

• Complete the online admissions application.
• Pay the required non-refundable application fee (approximately $26, including applicable processing fees).

Step 2: Submit Required Documents

• Birth Certificate
• Florida Immunization Record (Shot Record)
• Official High School Transcript (high school applicants)
• Most Recent Report Card (middle school applicants)
• Withdrawal Form (transfer students)

Important: Students who completed high school courses while in middle school must submit their middle school report card. Rise Preparatory Academy will award high school credit for eligible courses completed with a grade of C or higher.

Students who completed courses through Florida Virtual School (FLVS) must request an official FLVS transcript and submit it to Rise Preparatory Academy during the admissions process. As a private school, Rise Preparatory Academy does not have access to view FLVS coursework. While FLVS courses may appear on transcripts from public schools, they are not automatically available to private schools and must be submitted separately for credit evaluation.

Students who earned high school credit at a school outside their current public school district — including out-of-county schools, out-of-state schools, private schools, charter schools, virtual schools, or homeschool programs — must submit an official transcript from each institution where high school credit was earned. Even if those courses appear on the student's current transcript, Rise Preparatory Academy requires the original official transcript from each institution for proper credit evaluation and, when applicable, NCAA eligibility certification. NCAA may require official transcripts from every school outside the student's public school district where high school credit was earned.

Step 3: Admissions Review

Our admissions team will:

• Review academic records.
• Evaluate transfer credits.
• Determine grade placement.
• Review graduation requirements (for high school applicants).
• Determine admission eligibility.

Rise Preparatory Academy follows the educational philosophy of Headmaster Jerry Williamson, who is not a strong proponent of placement testing as the sole measure of a student's academic ability. While placement assessments may be reviewed when appropriate, the school recognizes that standardized tests do not always reflect a student's true potential, as some students are simply not the strongest test takers. Instead, Rise Preparatory Academy places greater emphasis on reviewing a student's official transcripts, the rigor of previous coursework, overall academic performance, and available standardized test scores to determine the most appropriate academic placement, including eligibility for Honors, Advanced Placement (AP), and Dual Enrollment courses. This holistic approach allows the school to place students in courses that best match their demonstrated abilities and academic readiness.

Step 4: Conditional Admission & Scholarship Verification

Following the admissions review, families will be notified by email of the student's Conditional Acceptance to Rise Preparatory Academy.

A Conditional Acceptance means the student has met the school's admissions requirements and is academically approved for admission. Final enrollment is contingent upon the successful completion and acceptance of the Step Up For Students Scholarship (if applicable).

To finalize enrollment, parents must complete the following steps:

1. Complete the Step Up For Students Scholarship application (if not already completed).
2. Once approved, submit the student's Scholarship Award ID Number and scholarship award amount to the Admissions Coordinator.
3. The Admissions Coordinator will verify the scholarship and enter the student's Award ID into the Step Up For Students system on behalf of Rise Preparatory Academy.
4. After the school completes its portion, the parent must log back into the Step Up For Students portal and officially accept Rise Preparatory Academy as the student's participating school.

Once the parent accepts the enrollment through the Step Up For Students portal, the student's Conditional Acceptance becomes a Final Acceptance, and the student is officially enrolled at Rise Preparatory Academy.

Important: Students using the Step Up For Students Scholarship are not considered fully enrolled until the scholarship enrollment has been accepted by both the parent and Rise Preparatory Academy through the Step Up For Students portal. This final step secures the student's seat for the upcoming school year.

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