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 7, 2026, at 6 p.m.
Families Living Outside of Norwalk
Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy is open to families living outside of Norwalk. Families can apply via the Cooperative Educational Services (CES) Lottery. Please click below for additional information.
Families Living Outside of 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 the Cooperative Educational Services (CES) Lottery process. Here's how it works:
Lottery Process:
If you're interested in Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy, you will enter the CES Open Choice Lottery, where you can apply to the program your child is interested in.
Important Dates:
- Lottery application opens: January 15, 2026
- Lottery application closes: October 1, 2026
- Lottery drawing: Rolling
- Notification of acceptance: Rolling
- Note: The CES Open Choice lottery will follow the same process as the district's middle school lottery.
How To Apply
How It Works:
Parents will complete an application 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.
Important Dates:
- Lottery application opens: October 7, 2026
- Lottery application closes: November 20, 2026
- Lottery drawing: December 7, 2026
- Notification of acceptance: Rolling