Question 1

Who can enroll at Kairos?

Accepted Answer

Kairos is an open-enrollment, public charter school. We are open to all students in the City of St. Louis.

Pursuant to RSMo 160.410, Kairos is open-enrollment for:
All students residing in the Saint Louis Public Schools district (the City of St. Louis)
Non resident students who transfer from an unaccredited district
Students eligible under the terms of judicial settlements or through urban voluntary transfer programs as defined by RSMo 167.131

Kairos Academies enrolls students in grades 5-12. Placement in upper high school grades (11th and 12th) is contingent upon verified credit attainment. Kairos Academies reviews transcripts to determine whether students have earned sufficient credits to be classified as a junior or senior. Students who have not yet met the credit thresholds may be placed in the grade level that aligns with their academic progress.

To apply to our schools, go to SchoolAppSTL
or by contacting us at 314-252-0602 or enrollment@kairosacademies.org.

Question 2

Are there admissions requirements, preferences, or lotteries?

Accepted Answer

Kairos is an open-enrollment, public charter school. We are open to all students in the City of St. Louis.

Eligibility:
Pursuant to RSMo 160.410, Kairos is open-enrollment for:
All students residing in the Saint Louis Public Schools district (the City of St. Louis)
Non resident students who transfer from an unaccredited district
Students eligible under the terms of judicial settlements or through urban voluntary transfer programs as defined by RSMo 167.131

Kairos will not discriminate—for admission or otherwise—on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, gender, income level, proficiency in the English language, or athletic ability. Kairos may limit admission to students within a given age group or grade level. Students will not be required to complete any test or measure for admission to Kairos.

Admissions Lottery:
When demand for enrollment exceeds the available number of seats, a public charter school may hold a randomized, blind lottery to determine which students are admitted and may preference students by need or location.

Kairos will hold an admissions lottery for the 2026-27 school year on March 2, 2026. If the number of applicants the lottery exceeds enrollment capacity, Kairos will enroll students randomly, with preference for eligible new students given in the following order:
Children of Kairos Academies faculty, staff, and Board members
Siblings of students currently enrolled at Kairos as of the lottery date
Students from Kairos Academies' designated enrollment zone (zip codes 63111, 63116, 63118)
All other student applicants

The Kairos admissions lottery are randomized by computer and certified by a third-party public official or outside firm to attest to the lotteries fairness. Interested parties may contact us at enrollment@kairosacademies.org to view the results of our lotteries.

Admissions after the Lottery:
Additional applicants after the lottery will be added to a "waiting list," which will rank applications based on the date they were submitted. Applicants will be identified by number and grade.

Seats remaining after the admissions lotteries will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible students. To apply to our schools, go to SchoolAppSTL
or by contacting us at 314-252-0602 or enrollment@kairosacademies.org.

Question 3

Does Kairos Academies charge tuition?

Accepted Answer

Kairos is an open-enrollment, public charter school and is prohibited from charging tuition. There is no fee to apply to Kairos.

Kairos receives public funding for each student who attends our schools–similar to public district schools. As with most states, Missouri's public charter schools do not receive capital funds to support facility expenses. Charter schools are entitled to federal categorical funding for which their students are eligible, such as Title I and Special Education monies. Federal legislation provides grants to help charters  manage start-up/opening costs.

Question 4

Does Kairos select who their students are?

Accepted Answer

Kairos is an open-enrollment, public charter school. We are open to all students in the City of St. Louis.

Eligibility:
Pursuant to RSMo 160.410, Kairos is open-enrollment for:
All students residing in the Saint Louis Public Schools district (the City of St. Louis)
Non resident students who transfer from an unaccredited district
Students eligible under the terms of judicial settlements or through urban voluntary transfer programs as defined by RSMo 167.131

Kairos will not discriminate—for admission or otherwise—on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, gender, income level, proficiency in the English language, or athletic ability. Kairos may limit admission to students within a given age group or grade level. Students will not be required to complete any test or measure for admission to Kairos.

Admissions Lottery:
When demand for enrollment exceeds the available number of seats, a public charter school may hold a randomized, blind lottery to determine which students are admitted and may preference students by need or location.

Kairos will hold an admissions lottery for the 2026-27 school year on March 2, 2026. If the number of applicants in the lottery exceeds enrollment capacity, Kairos will enroll students randomly, with preference for eligible new students given in the following order:
Children of Kairos Academies faculty, staff, and Board members
Siblings of students currently enrolled at Kairos as of the lottery date
Students from Kairos Academies' designated enrollment zone (zip codes 63111, 63116, 63118)
All other student applicants

The Kairos admissions lottery are randomized by computer and certified by a third-party public official or outside firm to attest to the lotteries fairness. Interested parties may contact us at enrollment@kairosacademies.org to view the results of our lotteries.

Admissions after the Lottery:
Additional applicants after the lottery will be added to a "waiting list," which will rank applications based on the date they were submitted. Applicants will be identified by number and grade.

Seats remaining after the admissions lotteries will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible students. To apply to our schools, go to SchoolAppSTL
or by contacting us at 314-252-0602 or enrollment@kairosacademies.org.

Question 5

Why a year-round schedule?

Accepted Answer

The traditional school calendar was built around one thing: making sure students were available to help out on the farm. Not only does this century-old schedule not reflect our 21st century reality, but it also creates a huge summer learning gap. Students typically spend the beginning of the new school year re-learning what they forgot over the summer.

Kairos uses a year-round schedule split into 8 academic cycles with breaks in between. Although Kairos students are in school for the same number of days, shorter, more frequent breaks keep students feeling refreshed. Our staff uses time during breaks to study student academic data–making changes as-needed–and to complete regular professional development. The result is Kairos students and staff keep growing and each cycle is better than the last.

Academic year calendars can be found here. Look for the buttons that say "Download" to view a one page copy of important dates and holidays.

Question 6

What is the difference between public charter schools and other public schools?

Accepted Answer

Public charter schools are public schools established by teachers, parents, principals, educational experts, and entrepreneurs. The biggest difference is that no student is assigned to a charter school. Families choose to enroll their children in public charter schools.

Public charter schools operate free from some of the regulations of a school district. Charter schools are accountable for achieving the same state standards as school districts but may choose to use different measures and timelines for reaching their goals. In exchange for flexibility, charters can be closed if they do not keep their performance promises.

Public charter schools are governed by non-profit boards and must comply with their “charter” agreement and performance contract conditions. Unlike elected district boards, charter school boards are appointed and operate under Missouri Statutes that regulate non-profit organizations.

Question 7

How can I enroll my child?

Accepted Answer

FOR STUDENTS NEW TO KAIROS (www.kairosacademies.org/apply):Step 1: ApplyKairos participates in  the SchoolAppSTL common application. Applications for the 2027-28 school year open on October 1, 2026. Applications received by March 1, 2027 will be included in our admissions lottery.Step 2: Lottery / OfferSeats will be filled by random lottery on March 5, 2026. All remaining seats are offered to families on a first-come, first-served basis. You may apply to multiple schools but you may only accept one admissions offer per student.Step 3: EnrollmentOnce you've logged into SchoolAppSTL and accepted your admissions offer, Kairos will send instructions to complete your student's enrollment in PowerSchool. Your student cannot attend school until this process has been completed and supporting documentation has been verified by our staff.Step 4: Welcome to KairosYour family will receive a list of events over the spring and summer to help you prep for the new school year and plug into our school community.-----FOR STUDENTS RETURNING TO KAIROS (www.kairosacademies.org/reenroll):Step 1: Intent to ReturnComplete your intent to return conversation with your student's mentor beginning in November. This is a casual conversation to gauge your interest in joining us next school year and helps us in our enrollment planning.Step 2: Re-EnrollmentEvery returning Kairos student must complete a re-enrollment form in PowerSchool beginning in January. Forms are due by the end of February and will determine how many seats are made available to new students. Failure to complete your form by February may result in loosing your seat at Kairos.-----Enrollment support can be reached by contacting us at enrollment@kairosacademies.org or at 314-252-0602.

Question 8

Can unhoused/homeless students apply to Kairos?

Accepted Answer

Yes! If your student lacks a home address, you can still submit your application using SchoolAppSTL. Youu may also complete your application in person at our main office, weekdays from 9am-3pm at 2315 Miami St. Still need assistance? Please email our enrollment team at enrollment@kairosacademies.org or by calling 314-252-0602.

How are students considered homeless under federal law? The McKinney-Vento Act defines "homeless children and youths" as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and includes children and youths:
who are sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; or are abandoned in hospitals;
who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;
who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and
who are migratory children who live in one of the above circumstances.

Who can I contact at Kairos if I need access to homeless resources? Please contact our McKinney-Vento Coordinator. Contact information can be found on our Middle School and High School staff directories.

Question 9

What is SchoolAppSTL?

Accepted Answer

SchoolAppSTL is a common application created by participating St. Louis public charter organizations. We launched SchoolAppSTL to simplify our initial application process into one easy form that you can fill out on any electronic device. The application allows you to apply to our school in less than 3 minutes and makes applying to schools easier, more accessible and more transparent.To learn more about the common application, go to SchoolAppSTL.

Question 10

How do I apply?

Accepted Answer

Kairos participates in the SchoolAppSTL common application. To apply, visit www.schoolappstl.org. Guardians only need to create one account and can add multiple students. The application takes 3 minutes to complete and is your first step to join the Kairos community.All applications received by March 1, 2027 will be included in our early admissions lottery. You will receive your admissions offer beginning on March 8, 2027.Any applications received after March 1 will be offered open seats on a first-come, first-served basis.

Question 11

What's the difference between the application and enrollment?

Accepted Answer

We participate in the SchoolAppSTL common applicatiojn. This tool makes it easy for St. Louis families to explore and apply to multiple schools across the city.The application is your FIRST step in our two-step process. We collect basic details about you and your student. This process is managed by SchoolAppSTL.Enrollment is the SECOND step in our two-step process. We collect detailed information needed to serve your student (custody documents, medical needs, transcripts, any IEPs, etc) as well as the documents required to attend school in Missouri (proof of residency, proof of identity, and immunization records). This process is managed by Kairos.Your student is not ready to attend Kairos until you've completed the application, accepted your admissions offer, and submitted your enrollment form.

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“My coach is Nilesh, and he’s always been a steady rock for me at Kairos. The check-ins help me stay grounded and it really helps to know that there’s someone in a teaching staff position that knows me and will be on my side.

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Frequently asked questions

Who can enroll at Kairos?

Are there admissions requirements, preferences, or lotteries?

Does Kairos Academies charge tuition?

Does Kairos select who their students are?

Why a year-round schedule?

What is the difference between public charter schools and other public schools?

How can I enroll my child?

Can unhoused/homeless students apply to Kairos?

What is SchoolAppSTL?

How do I apply?

What's the difference between the application and enrollment?