The Application Process
Families Living in Norwalk
Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy is a middle school open to students entering grades 6, 7 and 8. If you live in Norwalk, your child can apply directly to our school via the district’s enrollment process.
Lottery application opens October 8, 2025, at 6 p.m.
Families Living Outside of Norwalk
Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy is open to families living outside of Norwalk. We follow the Middle School Choice Lottery. Please click below for additional information.
Families Living in the Norwalk District
Eligible towns: Darien, New Canaan, Weston, Westport, Wilton
Students from these towns are eligible to apply to Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy through the School Choice Lottery process. Here’s how it works:
Lottery Process:
If you’re interested in Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy, you will enter the Middle School Choice Lottery, where you can apply to multiple programs your child is interested in.
Important Dates:
- Lottery application opens: October 8, 2025, at 6 p.m.
- Lottery application closes: December 5, 2025
- Lottery drawing: December 15, 2025
- Notification of acceptance: December 19, 2025
- Note: The School Choice lottery will follow the same process as the district’s middle school lottery.
How To Apply
How It Works:
Parents will log into the lottery system to apply for their child. The lottery uses an algorithm to randomly select students for each program based on district prioritization, including sibling preference.
What Happens Next:
Once the lottery has been run, an acceptance list and a waitlist will be generated for each program. Families will be notified by email regarding their child’s application status and acceptance.
What is the Middle School Choice Lottery System?
The Middle School Choice Lottery is an online, centrally-managed system that is connected to PowerSchool. Once applications are submitted, an algorithm will randomly generate the list of accepted students and waitlists for each program.
For more information about the lottery system and timeline, please visit the Norwalk Public School District official enrollment page.