Admissions FAQ's

Q: When does open enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year begin and end?
A: Open enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year begins on January 9, 2026, and ends on February 20, 2026.

Q: When will applications for the 2026-2027 school year be available?
A: The link to apply for the lottery will be available starting on January 9, 2026 in Lotterease, an online platform specially created for school lotteries.

Q: Can I take a tour of the campus?
A: Prospective family tours will be held monthly in October and November 2025, and weekly in January and February 2026. You can sign up for a tour date on the School Tours page on the website.

Q: Do you have a TK Program for the 2026-2027 school year?

A: Yes, we currently have a TK program. There are 20 spots available for the 2026-2027 school year.

Q: Are there any fees or tuition costs to enroll?

A: No, MATES is a public school and free to all families.

Q: What happens if there are more applicants than available spaces?
A: If the number of applicants exceeds the capacity for a grade level, MATES will hold a public random drawing, or lottery, to determine enrollment.

Q: When is the lottery?
A: The lottery is scheduled for 6:00 pm on March 26, 2026. The public is welcome to attend in person, but your presence is not required. The lottery will also be available to be viewed from home on Zoom and results will be available on the Lotterease website. Emails will go out for you to confirm your enrollment or notification of your waitlist number.

Q: How many openings will you have in the lottery?
A: The only known openings will be 46 in kindergarten and 20 for TK. For all other grades, classes are full unless a current MATES family informs us they are not able to return the next year. Any applicants that do not receive a seat will be given a waitlist number based on the random lottery. Should an opening become available, we will contact families in order of the waitlist number. Each family is given 24 hours to accept enrollment before we move to the next family on the waitlist.

Q: If we are not able to attend the lottery, how do we find out if our number is chosen?
A: All applicants will be emailed the offer of a seat or their waitlist number. Results are also available on the Lotterease website.

Q: What documents are required to apply for the lottery?
A: Every family must submit the following for each student:

Complete lottery application in Lotterease
Child’s official birth certificate
Proof of residence

Q: What forms of proof of residence are accepted?
A: Proof of residence can include:

Homeowners: mortgage statement or property tax bill plus a current driver's license, or utility bill
Apartment Renters: lease agreement, driver's license, or utility bill
Home or Room rentals (co-resident with family): Lease agreement, or letter from homeowner, plus one utility bill and a second utility bill or driver's license.

Q: How can I confirm that my application has been received?

A: In Lotterease, you can see the status of your application at any time. To be entered into the lottery, your application has to be complete and approved. You will receive an email either confirming a complete or incomplete application. If information is incorrect or missing, it will need to be corrected and resubmitted before February 20th, 2026 or it will NOT BE ADDED into the lottery. Watch for a confirmation email and confirm it is complete in Lotterease. Do not wait until February 20th if possible, as there is a risk of submitting an application that is not correct/complete by the end of the lottery. Any corrections/completions resubmitted after February 20th, 4:00 pm deadline will not be included in the lottery and will be added to the bottom of the lottery waitlist.

Q: How are applications verified?
A: Address verification is completed by office staff during Open Enrollment. This includes following up on any discrepancies, researching home ownership/rentals, contacting references, and bed checks, if necessary.

Q: Are there admission preferences for the lottery?
A: Yes, preferences are given starting at the top to:

Returning Students
Siblings of existing MATES students
Children of employees of MATES up to 1% of the classroom-based population
Children who reside within the former attendance area of Meadows Elementary School at the time the MATES lottery is held (Click here for address list)
Children of employees of MATES over 1% of the classroom-based population
Children who reside within the attendance area of Conejo Valley Unified School District
All other applicants

Q: Do I have a better chance if I submit my application before someone else?

A: It does not matter what day you submit your application during Open Enrollment. Because it is a random lottery, you do not receive preference for submitting before anyone else. However, please keep in mind if you wait until the last day, it takes us time to review it, and if there are any problems with your paperwork, you may risk not being added to the lottery if you cannot correct it before it closes. Don’t wait!

Q: What happens if I am not offered admission in the lottery?

A: Applicants not offered admission in the lottery will be placed on a waitlist in order of the lottery draw. This waitlist remains active until the close of open enrollment for the following school year (February 2027). You need to re-apply for the lottery the next year; the application does not roll over.

Q: If my student is offered admission through the lottery, how do we enroll?
A: Families who confirm their acceptance of the placement offer will be sent information and a link to enroll their student online.

Q: What is the age requirement for enrollment for kindergarten?
A: State law requires that incoming kindergarten students are 5 years of age on or before September 1, 2026. The birthdate cutoff is September 1, 2021.

Q: Can I put my child on the waitlist after the lottery?
A: Yes, applications will be closed between February 20 and March 26. After the lottery on the 26th you can submit an application for the 2026-2027 school year and it will be accepted as post-lottery applications and will be added to the bottom of the waitlist in the order received.

Q: Can I volunteer or make a financial donation to the school to increase my student’s chances in the lottery?
A: No. While you are always welcome to volunteer at MATES (subject to the MATES Volunteer Policy) and to participate in any community or fundraising event, it is illegal for MATES to accept volunteer time or financial contributions in exchange for lottery preference.

Q: What should I do if I want to be added to the waitlist for the current 2025-2026 school year?
A: You can submit an application for the current school year until February 20, 2026. Applications can be submitted via email to [email protected] or by mailing them to MATES at 2000 La Granada Dr., Thousand Oaks, CA 91362. We do not admit new students for the current year after the close of open enrollment on February 20, 2026.

Q: How can I contact the school for more information?
A: For any additional questions, sign up for a school tour, you can call the front office at 805-495-7037 or email [email protected]. Our office hours are 7:30 - 4:00.