New Student Information

Welcome to Irvine International Academy, Irvine's first tuition-free PUBLIC CHARTER school that offers dual immersion instruction fully in English and Mandarin while integrating the concepts of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math).

Join our growing community of Dual Chinese/English Immersion learners!

Feel free to contact the school at (949) 242-6164 or email [email protected] for a school tour. We are located in the following address:

4782 Karen Ann Ln

Irvine, CA 92604

Lottery 2026-27

OPEN ENROLLMENT

January 5 - February 27, 2026

IMPORTANT DATES:

January 5, 2026 - Application site opens at 12:01 a.m. APPLY HERE

January 12, 2026 @ 5:00pm - Parent Information Meeting - If you missed the meeting, watch the recording HERE.

Click HERE for the PPT presentation.

February 27, 2026 - Application site closes at 11:59 p.m.

March 11, 2026 - Lottery will be held via Zoom at 4:00 p.m. Log in here: LOTTERY

April 2, 2026 - Post-Lottery application period opens

Lottery Admission Preferences/Priority

Applications for Irvine International Academy (IIA) are accepted annually during an open enrollment period. Admission is determined by a public random drawing, with preferences given to children of current staff and founders, siblings, and students residing within the district boundaries. Non-discrimination is enforced, and homeless and foster youth have equal access to education.

Parents of applicants being offered admission through the lottery will be notified in writing by email or mail and will be provided 4 business days to accept the offered seat. They will also have 5 business days to register the student in order to be successfully enrolled in the 2026-27 school year.

Parents of student applicants who are placed on the waitlist resulting from the lottery may call or visit the school to find out their child’s priority number on the waitlist. Parents of student applicants on the waitlist who are offered admission at any time subsequent to the lottery will receive notification by email or text. They will also be provided 4 business days to accept the offered seat before it is given to the next student on the list.

How do I enroll my child at Irvine International Academy?

Please visit our Application Page during Open Enrollment to access our online application. To successfully apply, you will need to fill out the online application and submit it. Enrollment will be offered based on available openings for each grade. Waiting lists will be formed for grades with more applicants than openings. The waiting lists will expire at the end of each school year.

When is Open Enrollment?

Will there be a Parent Information Meeting?

How can I get information if I missed the Parent Information Meeting?

Do I have to live within the school's district to apply?

Does my child have a better opportunity to be chosen for enrollment the earlier we apply during the Open Enrollment period?

No. Entry into Irvine International Academy's programs are not on a first-come, first-served basis. Families have within the Open Enrollment period to complete the online application form. All verified, eligible online applications submitted during the Open Enrollment period will be entered into the lottery. Open Enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year is from January 5, 2026 - February 27, 2026.

How does the Lottery work?

Following the Open Enrollment period each year, applications will be counted to determine whether any grade level has received more applications than availability. In the event that this happens, the school will hold a random public lottery to determine enrollment for the impacted grade levels.

The lottery will take place on a given published date. (The lottery for the 2026-2027 school year will take place on March 11, 2026.)
The lottery shall draw names from a general pool of ballots.
Children of IIA staff will automatically be given priority.
Siblings of students placed during the random public lottery will also be placed depending upon space available at the given grade level during the lottery process.
Irvine residents will be given weight during the lottery process
The drawing shall continue until all names are drawn. Those individuals whose names are drawn after all spaces have been filled will be placed on the waiting list in the order drawn, except if the preferences described above require otherwise.

What is Sibling Preference?

Siblings of students placed during the random public lottery will also be placed depending upon space available at the given grade level during the lottery process. If space is not available in the sibling’s grade level, that sibling will be placed on the Sibling Priority Wait List. The remaining names will be placed on a waiting list based on the order drawn from the random public lottery (at each grade level).

How will I find out if my child's waitlist number has changed?

Can my child join the waitling list if we missed Open Enrollment?

What are the age requirements for TK and Kindergarten?

Is Kindergarten Full Day?

Is Transitional Kindergarten Full Day?

Does Irvine International Academy charge tuition?

Does Irvine International Academy provide bus transportation?

Do Irvine International Academy students wear school uniforms?