Applying to an Academy for the 2025-26 school year

  • Current 8th graders who missed the 21st Century Academy application window may still have an opportunity to join through Late Onboarding. This option allows students to apply to Academies with available capacity. The application process remains the same. If you are interested in applying to an Academy, the first step is to email 21Century@olatheschools.org to determine if the Academy you are interested in has space. Once that is determined, you will receive instructions on how to apply and will receive a PIN to access the application system.

     

How to Apply Video

Spanish: How to Apply

Application Window

Application Information

    • Students will apply online, which includes a response to three different questions.
    • Students will interview with the Academy facilitator or educator. A parent should be present.
    • Students will be notified via a link if they have been invited, not invited or waitlisted to the Academy(ies) they applied to.
      • Waitlisted students should check back at the link to see if their status has changed.
      • Invited students will need to either accept or decline their invitations by a certain date.
    • Students accepting invitations to an Academy will enroll, and attend full time, at the high school where their Academy is located, regardless of where the student lives.

    Please view the following instructional videos on:

Prospective Students

  • Who May Apply?

    • Any eighth grade student who will be enrolled for high school as a freshman in Olathe Public Schools is eligible to apply during the application window.
    • Any student moving in and enrolling as a ninth grade or 10th grade student in Olathe Public Schools may request a late on-boarding application. Late applicants are evaluated in the same manner as those that applied on time. This is contingent on seats available in their academy of interest.

    Note: A student currently in high school may only apply if they are on track for graduation.

2023-24 Application Data | Class of 2028

Academy 8th Grade Students Applied # of Freshman Enrolled Academy Freshman Capacity
Animal Health 67 22 25
Biomedical Engineering 22 10 60
Business Finance 55 34 50
Civic Leadership 39 34 50
Computer Science 42 27 56
Design 74 42 90
Distinguished Scholars 120 37 60
e-Communication 94 79 120
Engineering 139 94 96
Future Educators 69 42 65
Geoscience 54 28 48
Green Tech 21 13 48
Medical Professions 135 38 44
Public Safety 69 28 50
Sports Medicine & Exercise Science 184 88 100
Total Applications Submitted 1,184

2022-23 Application Data | Class of 2027

*Students may apply to one or two academies, but may only accept an invitation to one. This data has been updated to include late-onboarding.
Academy 8th Grade Students Applied # of Invitations Sent 8th Accepted Invitation
Animal Health 69 34 25
BioMedical Engineering 41 36 16
Business Finance 58 49 35
Civic Leadership 42 41 31
Computer Science 57 51 34
Design 60 55 41
Distinguished Scholars 117 59 45
e-Communication 133 124 100
Engineering 139 128 90
Future Educators 54 45 30
Geoscience 38 31 21
Green Tech 25 24 17
Medical Professions 104 60 41
Public Safety 61 42 34
Sports Medicine & Exercise Science 160 113 82
Total Applications Submitted 1158 892 --
Total 8th Grade Students Applying 831 -- *646 accepted invitations

2021-2022 Application Data Class of 2026

*Students may apply to one or two academies, but may only accept an invitation to one. This data has been updated to include late-onboarding.
Academy 8th Grade Students Applied # of Invitations Sent *8th Accepted Invitation
Animal Health 58 30 24
BioMedical Engineering 30 25 18
Business Finance 37 36 21
Civic Leadership 42 41 24
Computer Science Academy 66 64 43
Design 87 75 52
Distinguished Scholars 72 55 42
e-Communication 130 120 98
Engineering 125 113 107
Future Educators 71 69 45
Geoscience 47 45 33
Green Tech 47 43 28
Medical Professions 104 62 46
Public Safety 68 49 38
Sports Medicine & Exercise Science 170 136 91
Total Applications Submitted 1154 963 --
Total 8th Grade Students Applying 846 -- *710 accepted invitations

2020-21 Application Data Class of 2025

*Students may apply to one or two academies, but may only accept an invitation to one.
Academy 8th Grade Students Applied # of Invitations Sent *8th Accepted Invitation
Animal Health 87 35 28
BioMedical Engineering 38 28 19
Business Finance 56 45 30
Civic Leadership 51 50 35
Computer Science 52 45 31
Design 75 64 55
Distinguished Scholars 61 48 39
e-Communication 121 117 100
Engineering 144 120 91
Future Educators 47 40 24
Geoscience 48 41 31
Green Tech 35 30 22
Medical Professions 146 59 39
Public Safety 45 35 30
Sports Medicine & Exercise Science 141 122 93
*Total Applications submitted 1147 879 --
Total 8th Grade Students Applying 802 -- *667 accepted invitations