The application window for students interested in attending Phoenix International School of the Arts (PISOTA) next school year is now open. PISOTA is the first public charter school with Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) and opened in August 2023. The facility is located in La Plata and serves students in Grades 6-8. 

Current PISOTA students do not need to re-apply; however, students on the current waitlist for the 2024-25 school year will need to submit a new application for the coming school year. PISOTA has a blend of arts-focused courses and Cambridge curriculum courses which both meet Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) and CCPS course and assessment requirements. 

The application will be available on Wednesday, Nov. 27, on the PISOTA website. Students/families must complete an online application for PISOTA enrollment consideration. For students to be considered during the open enrollment, an application must be submitted by 11:59 p.m., Friday, Jan. 10. PISOTA will hold a public lottery selection process on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

PISOTA is hosting a virtual information session at 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 5. Meeting details are below. Participants will need an active Zoom account to join the session. Spanish interpreting will also be available during the virtual session. 

• Meeting link: https://ccboe.zoom.us/j/89298000876?pwd=iltTakSdt1AifbXEAv8wnkblNIkzmD.1
• Passcode: 051429
• To hear the audio in Spanish, participants will need to choose the interpretation setting once they join the session, select Spanish, and then turn on the “mute other audio” option. 

Topics for discussion during the session include art disciplines offered through PISOTA, core academic subjects taught, and other unique opportunities available for PISOTA students. 

Any applications received after Jan. 10 will be placed on a waiting list and considered for enrollment on a space available basis following the lottery selection process. 

Since 2019, PISOTA founders – students, parents, teachers, education researchers and community leaders – have been consulting and collaborating with the Charles County community to design PISOTA. PISOTA is subject to all expectations set out in a charter agreement with the Board of Education of Charles County but overseen by a governing board and chief executive officer. 

In Maryland, public charter schools are part of their local school system with oversight of the local Board of Education. Maryland public charter schools are held accountable to the communities they serve, their local Board of Education and MSDE. Charter schools are also publicly funded and do not require tuition or an entrance exam for students. 

To learn more about PISOTA, visit https://pisota.org/.

About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 28,162 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 38 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Mike Blanchard, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.  CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).