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  • Now enrolling · K–12
  • Public K–12 classical school
  • 5025 Glendale Ave., Toledo
  • (567) 420-6180
For current families
Northwest Ohio Classical Academy

Admissions · 2026–27

Come visit before you decide.

NOCA is a tuition-free K–12 public charter school, open to any Ohio family. There is no tuition, no entrance test, and no religious requirement — and every year, the single best thing a prospective family can do is spend forty-five minutes inside the building. Schedule a tour. Sit in the back of a classroom. Then apply.

Schedule a tour Apply now

Key dates · School year 2026–27

What to put on the calendar.

Tours and open houses are available year-round — there's no admissions "season" to wait for. The dates below are the cycle-specific milestones for 2026–27 admissions.

  1. Feb 25

    Application deadline.

    Applications submitted by 11:59 pm on February 25, 2027 are entered in the lottery. After this date, new applications join the waitlist in the order received.

  2. Feb 26

    Lottery drawing.

    Seat offers and waitlist positions go out by email within a few days of the drawing. You do not need to be present.

  3. Spring ·

    Registration & waitlist movement.

    Families accept seat offers and complete registration through PowerSchool. We call from the waitlist throughout the spring and summer as seats open.

How to apply

Four steps, most of which take an afternoon.

  1. Tour the school.

    A NOCA tour takes about 45 minutes. You'll see classrooms in session, meet a teacher or two, and ask anything — enrollment, class sizes, what third grade looks like, how Upper School actually works. Most families decide after a single visit.

    Schedule a tour →

  2. Submit your application.

    Because more families want NOCA than we have seats, admission for the following school year is by random lottery. The application is short — about ten minutes — and there is no fee. Siblings of current and admitted students receive weighted preference.

    Apply now →

  3. Receive a seat offer, or a place on the waitlist.

    After the drawing, families receive either a seat offer or a waitlist position for their grade. Accept an offer to register; stay on the waitlist and we'll call as seats open through the summer and into the school year.

  4. Register, and we'll see you in August.

    Registration is completed through our PowerSchool enrollment portal. We do not require entrance testing — NOCA is a tuition-free public charter school, and any Ohio student may apply.

Lottery priority

Who receives weighted preference.

When a grade is oversubscribed, seats are filled by a random drawing. The lottery is weighted in favor of siblings of current NOCA students and siblings of students already admitted. All remaining seats go to other Ohio applicants at random — there is no geographic priority beyond what the state permits, and no preference by income, academic record, or interview.

Families who miss the February deadline are welcome to apply at any time; applications received after the lottery join the waitlist in the order received. Mid-year transfers are considered where seats are available.

What we teach, plainly

The seven virtues we name, teach, and practice.

The same seven words, K through 12 — from a kindergartener's morning circle to a senior's thesis defense. They are not slogans and they are not a poster. They are the vocabulary of our community life, and what we ask every NOCA student to practice, every day.

  1. Courage

    Remain steadfast when you are afraid. Practice perseverance when work is difficult.

  2. Prudence

    Deliberate before you act. Practice good judgment.

  3. Moderation

    Practice patience and self-control. Think before you speak. Keep your temper under control.

  4. Justice

    Follow the rules. Help others, and treat them fairly and with respect.

  5. Wisdom

    Cultivate a thirst for knowledge about the most important things.

  6. Friendship

    Be kind and generous. Learn how to get along well with others.

  7. Responsibility

    Take pride in your work and your duties. Hold yourself accountable even when others do not.

Apply

Apply for 2026–27.

The application is free and takes about ten minutes. If you're applying for more than one child, you only need to complete the parent information once.

Open the 2026–27 application Email admissions

Quick answers for busy parents

The questions we hear most.

Is it really tuition-free?
Yes. NOCA is a tuition-free, state-funded public charter school — the application and enrollment are free, and there is no tuition. As with any public school, some programs (uniforms, athletics, field trips, AP exams) carry modest fees, and financial assistance is available.
Is NOCA a religious school?
No — NOCA is a public charter school. We teach the classical tradition and the classical virtues, and families of every background are welcome.
Who can apply?
Any student residing in Ohio may apply. Kindergarten applicants must be five years old by September 30. Siblings of current or admitted students receive weighted lottery preference.
Is there entrance testing?
No. We do not test students for admission. If the grade is oversubscribed, seats are filled by a random lottery — not by grades, scores, or interviews.
Do you take transfers mid-year?
Yes, where we have space. Email info@nocacademy.org or call (567) 420-6180 and we'll tell you honestly what's open in your child's grade.
Is NOCA part of a national network?
NOCA is an independent Ohio public charter school. The K–12 curriculum we teach is a classical liberal-arts sequence used in classical schools across the country, and NOCA is a licensee of that program. We are not owned or operated by any outside organization; our board, our hiring, and our day-to-day decisions are local.
What about busing?
Toledo Public Schools provides transportation for eligible NOCA students living in the TPS service area. For families outside the service area, contact the admissions office to discuss options.

Talk to us

A real person answers the phone.

The admissions office is open Monday–Friday, 8 am–4 pm during the school year. If you've toured and have a question nobody answered, or if you're looking at a mid-year transfer and want to know what's open in your child's grade — call or email, and we will get back to you the same day.