FAQs
Who can apply?
Any incoming 9th grader is eligible to apply for admissions. Students apply in their 8th grade year for acceptance the following fall to the four-year program
Do you have to live in Tacoma School District to apply?
No, out-of-district students are welcome to apply. We accept up to 20% of students from outside of Tacoma Public Schools service area, however, student residing in the school district take priority over students living outside of the school district.
I can’t make it to an Information Night. Can I still apply?
Yes! Information Nights are to learn more about the school and application process. You do not need to attend to apply. See www.applytoidea.com/apply to fill out to schedule an appointment, and download the application. You are required to attend the Campus Conversation appointment to turn in your application and complete the process.
How do I learn more? How do I get help on my application?
Call us at (253)571-7911 or email sotasamiidea@tacoma.k12.wa.us
Can my son/daughter play sports while attending SOTA SAMI or IDEA? Can my son/daughter play sports for Stadium since it is the closest to SOTA?
Yes, it is possible to play sports. Your son/daughter would need to take an early dismissal each day and travel to their resident high school for sports.
WIAA regulations dictate that students attending alternative school programs like SOTA SAMI IDEA are eligible to play sports for their resident high school. Your son/daughter could play for Stadium if you live in the Stadium service area. If you live in another high school service area, your son/daughter would be eligible to play for your neighborhood school. If your student is from outside of the Tacoma School District and wants to apply to play sports in Tacoma, they can contact the athletic and activities director in Tacoma Schools (James Neil) and they will be placed into an athletic program based on availability and need (see WIAA policy below)
I’m not sure your schools are right for my son/daughter, can we apply and then decide later?
Yes, if your son/daughter is interested, we ask that you complete the application process. In early January we will notify you if your son/daughter is accepted. We then ask you to commit to your spot, or release it to another student on the waiting list no later than the middle of February when we host our New Student Celebration. Because our schools are in high-demand, we ask that you commit to your decision in mid-February.
How do students get to school?
SOTA, SAMI and IDEA provide each student with a free ORCA card for use on Pierce Transit (one-zone). There are also school bus shuttles from transit locations around the district including Tacoma Mall, NE Tacoma and Downtown.
What kind of fines and fees are there for your schools?
We are part of Tacoma Public Schools and don’t charge tuition. We do have minimal course fees for supply heavy classes that can be in the $10-20 per semester. The all-school retreat also has a fee for room, board that is in the $155 range. The retreat fee includes a year-book, t-shirt, room, and board, lanyard. There is also a fee for mini-term and micro-term in the $25 range because these are material heavy classes. Students who receive free and reduced lunch qualify for reduced fees on all of these items.
Where are the schools located? Is it safe?
As place-based schools, SOTA, SAMI, IDEA are school campuses that are integrated into the community. SOTA’s campus goes from 9th & Broadway in downtown Tacoma to 21st and Pacific. Students take classes in many buildings throughout the day including the Music Box (302 Broadway), Ted Brown (1117 Commerce), Ted Brown Extension (1124 Broadway), 1950 (1950 Pacific), UW Tacoma, and the YMCA. SAMI students take classes throughout Point Defiance Park including the PDZA, the Environmental Learning Center, portables at Camp Six, the Pagoda, the MPT Boat House, Owen’s Beach, Fort Nisqually and on the trails at Point Defiance. IDEA students take classes at Park Avenue (6701 Park), the Eastside Community Center, and LeMay America’s Car Museum. All three schools have both Tacoma Police Department School Resource Officers, and dedicated campus security officers who monitor student safety all day.
How do you select students? Do you look at grades, attendance, test scores?
Student selection is based on a regional lottery system based on Tacoma Public Schools middle-school attendance. See the Admissions Protocol for a flow-chart that describes the selection process. Grades, attendance, test scores are not considered. All students who complete the application process are entered into the regional lottery.
Can students who are currently in high school apply?
We are a four-year high school program based on a cohort model, as such, we only accept students as incoming 9th graders.
My student is a homeschool student. Can they apply?
Yes, any incoming 9th grade student can apply during their 8th grade year.
When is the application due and when can we expect to hear if our student was accepted?
The application is due December 15, 2023 by 6pm. The lottery will take place in January 2024. Both accepted and waitlist letters will be mailed and emailed home to the address you provided mid January.
What percentage of students go on to college and which colleges they are going to?
At SOTA and SAMI, each year over 60% of our graduates go on to higher-education at either four-year or 2-year institutions, and 52% of all high school graduates earn a post-secondary degree within 8 years of high school graduation. Graduates enrolled in both public and private four-year institutions in and out of state, including the University of Washington-Seattle, University of Washington-Tacoma, Washington State University, and Tacoma Community College. SAMI and SOTA graduates have attended Rhode Island School of Design, Columbia University, Berklee College of Music, Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, Howard University, Cal Poly, UC Davis, Olin College of Engineering, Rice University and many others. The official data from the Education Research & Data Center is not yet in for IDEA’s first graduating class (2020), but our own student alumni report that about 57% went on to higher education after high-school. Source: https://erdc.wa.gov/data-dashboards/high-school-graduate-outcomes
Can my son/daughter enter the high school early as a 6th or 7th grader?
Please contact your school administrator or principal to discuss special circumstances and options for your student.
Is there more than arts at SOTA? Can my student take math and science at SOTA?
Yes, all three schools are full-high school programs and your students will study all required high school courses, plus extended courses in the area of focus for their school (IDEA – engineering; SOTA – arts; SAMI – life & physical sciences)
SOTA, SAMI and IDEA offer a rigorous academic program including a science program with four years of science classes available, four years of mathematics, three years of social studies/history, four years of English Language Arts, four years of World Language, visual arts, performing arts, engineering, computer science, career exploration including year-long internships, health, career & technical education.
All three schools offer a rigorous course of study in defined pathways, similar to a college major.
Are your schools for college-bound students?
Yes! Students who attend SOTA SAMI and IDEA pursue many different opportunities post-high school, including four-year universities, two- year universities, technical colleges, military, apprenticeship programs, etc… Our Next Move program helps students explore career options and define their post-high school plans. The Next Move includes supported career exploration, developing professionalism skills, and extended internships.
Where do students eat?
Without a traditional cafeteria, students eat throughout the school in classrooms, common areas, etc… School District lunches are provided at each school for students wanting to purchase lunch and breakfast. Free and Reduced lunch benefits are available. SOTA service is at 1950 Pacific, SAMI is at the ELC, IDEA is in the lobby.
What Classes Do you Offer?
SAMI, SOTA and IDEA offer a rich learning experience for students, including academic learning in all areas, deep dives into a particular pathway of study, a year-long Next Move internship experience, and social-emotional learning through our Mentor Group and BRIDGE programs. After taking exploratory classes in 9th grade, all students select a specific pathway of study for 10th to 12th grade. SAMI, SOTA and IDEA each offer pathways specific to their school lens for learning.
Students at SAMI choose from one of two pathways: Life Sciences or Physical Sciences. Classes in Life Sciences include Environmental Science, Animal Behavior, Marine Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, Advanced Biology, and Advanced Chemistry. Classes in Physical Sciences include Physics, Advanced Physics, Computer Science, Maker Space, Calculus, Multivariate Calculus, and Statistics.
SOTA students choose from Performing Arts (Dance, Songwriting, Theatre, Vocal Music, Instrumental Music, Audio Recording) or Visual Arts (Illustration, Painting, Graphic Design, Photography, Film). Specific classes in each of these areas provide in-depth skill progression specific to the pathway. Students often take classes across multiple specialty areas as they develop their artistry.
At IDEA, students choose between Engineering and Design pathways. Students take a series of engineering & design basic courses that develop their skills and knowledge relative to their chosen pathway, while incorporating applied computer science principles. These essential pathway courses are complemented by pathway electives, including robotics, marine engineering, game design, electronic music, painting & drawing, applied engineering sciences, and computer graphics.
I was on the waitlist last year, can I apply again?
No, we only accept students as incoming 9th graders
My student has a sibling who attends SOTA, does my student need to apply?
Yes, all students desiring to be part of the class of 2027 at the school need to apply. Siblings are automatically accepted but still need to complete the whole application process.
What math classes are offered at SAMI? Is it possible to accelerate in math at SAMI?
SAMI offers a wide range of math classes. Most 9th graders begin with second-year Algebra, then continue to Geometry in 10th grade. Students in 11th and 12th grade then choose from a variety of math classes including Pre-Calculus, CiTHS Calculus, AP Calculus BC, Statistics, Financial Literacy, Math & Culture, and Bridge to College Mathematics. Tacoma Public School students take first year algebra in middle school. Students needing first year Algebra are able to take the course as 9th graders. Students can choose to take multiple math classes per year by special arrangement with the school co-directors and mentor teachers in order to accelerate.
Do you accept applications from students with IEPs and 504s?
Yes! We are a full-inclusion school and gladly accept applications from students who receive special education services.
Can my student take AP or College in the Highschool?
Yes, all three schools offer advanced classes including AP and CITHS classes that provide students opportunities to earn college credits. Advanced courses are especially offered in the pathways of study at each school. Examples: AP Music Theory at SOTA, AP Environmental Science at SAMI, AP Computer Science at IDEA; CITHS technical writing at IDEA, CITHS Calculus at SAMI, etc…
Can my student take Running Start in junior and senior year?
Yes, Running Start is possible but because SAMI SOTA and IDEA are four-year cohort programs, we recommend that students wishing to pursue full-time Running Start in junior and senior year attend a comprehensive high school. Part-time Running Start is possible but often difficult to schedule.
Can I “try it” for a few weeks in 9th grade, and then decide?
No. We ask that you commit to a high school decision in mid-February. This helps us as a district to provide the right number of staff at each school in order to support the best learning environments for all. Committing to a spot at SOTA SAMI and IDEA is a four-year high school commitment.
WIAA Policy on Athletics
A student who has first opted or enrolled and/or turned out for an interscholastic sports activity at a school, in his/her 9th grade year, has established his/her athletic eligibility in that school.
Pursuant to WIAA regulation, a full-time high school student in a private school or public alternative school without athletics shall participate at the resident public school that the student would normally attend.
Out-of-district students optionally enrolled in a Tacoma Public Schools alternative school without athletics, during the window of transfer (8th-9th grade), may apply to participate at a Tacoma Public Schools comprehensive high school. Placement will be determined based on an earnest analysis of several factors, including but not limited to, team roster, coaching, facility, budget, location, and other pertinent considerations.