Lottery & Enrollment Procedures
Our lottery application will go live when we return from Winter Break. While our main lottery for the school year has already been pulled, we will continue to pull lotteries as needed. Apply now!
If the number of applications exceeds the number of available spaces for any grade level, then applicant(s) will be placed in the lottery. To be entered in the lottery waiting list, parents need to complete a Lottery Application for each child they wish to enroll in the upcoming school year.
Pasco County charter schools are open to any student residing in Pasco County or within a county covered by an inter-district agreement.
Interested applicants should submit their Lottery Application by: Completing the electronic Lottery Application on our website. We are no longer accepting paper or emailed Lottery Applications. Parents must submit via our
Our main lottery is held each year on February 15th, unless that is a non-school day or otherwise posted. If it is a non-school day, the lottery would be held on the next school day. Parents will be notified soon thereafter of their students’ selection in the lottery via email. Parents will have 24 hours to complete and submit the Pre-Enrollment Application and appropriate documentation, including Individual Education Plan (IEP), 504 Plan, Progress Monitoring Plan, etc. as applicable. Once the Pre-Enrollment Application is received and processed (see #6), parents will be notified of their child’s final acceptance status.
If applicable, after submission and processing of the Pre-Enrollment Application, District and CMCS will work together, through the IEP committee, and will be appropriately referred.
Parents of students who are not selected in the lottery will be notified via email. These students will be placed on a waiting list in the event of any future openings. CMCS does not carry over waiting lists; therefore, a new application will have to be completed in January for the following school year.
Welcome to Countryside Montessori Charter School
Tampa Bay area’s only public Montessori charter school and a part of Pasco County schools.
Registration for the 2025-2026 School Year
Our main lottery is held each year on February 15th, unless that is a non-school day or otherwise posted. If it is a non-school day, the lottery will be held on the next school day. To be considered in the main lottery, the Lottery Application MUST be submitted no later than the announced deadline.
For the 2025-2026 school year, the main lottery (for first grade) will be pulled on February 18th. Families will be notified soon thereafter via email.
Fresh lotteries are pulled throughout the spring and summer as spots become available.
Schedule a Tour
To inquire about a tour, email [email protected] or call us at 813-996-0991.
Thank you for your interest in our school.
Our Programs
CMCS BOD Approved
In accordance with HB7029 (Controlled Open Enrollment), Countryside Montessori Charter School must provide seats to students that reside in Pasco County before accepting students from other counties. In order to address this and other requirements in the Florida Charter School Statutes, CMCS has established the following guidelines to satisfy the eligibility, enrollment capacity, preference, and lottery requirements:
A. Eligibility Requirements
School age children not subject to a current expulsion or suspension may submit an application for enrollment at CMCS during the specified period.
B. Application Process
Complete a CMCS enrollment application via an online form during the open enrollment period established annually by Pasco County School District. If the student resides outside of Pasco County, an inter-district agreement must be obtained prior to completing the CMCS enrollment application.
C. Enrollment Capacity
Enrollment capacity shall not exceed 365 students.
Please note maximum capacity for each grade level cohort. CMCS does not necessarily enroll to maximum capacity.
Updated 4/3/25
