Who Can Apply to ECA?
You are eligible to apply if you reside in one of the following ECA districts. You can also apply through Schools of Choice if you do not reside in one of the ECA districts or you reside in a county adjacent to Washtenaw County.
- Ann Arbor Public Schools
- Chelsea Public Schools
- Dexter Community Schools
- Lincoln Consolidated School
- Manchester Community Schools
- Milan Area Schools
- Saline Area Schools
- Van Buren Public Schools
- Whitmore Lake Public Schools
- Ypsilanti Community Schools
If the number of applicants exceeds the number of available slots, a lottery is conducted in accordance with the procedures established by the WEOC Joint Steering Committee. In addition to the required grade level, all applicants will be required to complete a series of skill assessments, participate in a student/parent interview, and complete other ECA requirements.
For more enrollment information, please click here.
ECA 2026-27 Application Information
Enrollment Information
Attention Parents & Students:
The ECA & ECA Academy enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year is now open! Enrollment applications can be submitted by CLICKING HERE.
Enrollment applications should be submitted by Friday, March 20, 2026, to be included in the initial enrollment lottery. The ECA & ECA Academy will continue to accept applications after the initial lottery on a first-come, first-served basis until all slots are filled. Students will be added to the waitlist if all are filled for their grade level.
For more enrollment information, please click here.
Shadow Day
The ECA is hosting formal Shadow Day experiences for prospective students and families. This will be a chance for students to shadow a student in ECA high school classes for either a morning or an afternoon. We will provide special programming for parents/guardians while students are in class, including a Q&A session with the Principal and current students, parents, & guardians.
Shadow Day is for CURRENT 8th, 9th, or 10th-grade students. Students are only allowed to attend ONE Shadow Day per school year.
Please CLICK HERE to sign up for Shadow Day!
For more enrollment information, please click here.
IN-PERSON Information Meetings
Click on a meeting to sign up.
Mrs. Jackson, our Sr. Executive Assistant, will contact you via email a week before your visit regarding the campus location and parking information - please be sure to include a valid Parent/Guardian email address.
VIRTUAL Information Meetings
Click on a meeting date to register.
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 ~ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Monday, January 26, 2026 ~ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Monday, February 23, 2026 ~ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
You must register in advance for these meetings. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
ECA Lottery Information
ECA Admission & Lottery
If the number of eligible enrollees for any district during the Enrollment window exceeds the number of available openings, a lottery will be conducted to determine the 2026 Fall cohort for that district. The lottery will be conducted in accordance with the enrollment policies and procedures as developed and approved by the Washtenaw Educational Options Consortium Joint Steering Committee (WEOC JSC). Letters will be sent to all applicants notifying them of their status.
For the 26-27 school year, we will accept 160 students, with 115 being 9th grade Academy students. The number of available slots is determined by the policies set forth by the Washtenaw Educational Options Consortium Joint Steering Committee. For purposes of the initial lottery, 30% of a district’s initial available slot allocations are reserved for applicants who receive or are eligible for free or reduced lunch. Eligibility verification will be required.
The ECA will continue to accept applications after the initial lottery on a first come, first served basis until all slots are filled. Students will be added to the waitlist if all are filled for their grade level.
Please note: All students/applicants selected in the initial lottery are provisionally accepted into the ECA program. Final acceptance/approval is granted by Eastern Michigan University and the student’s ECA District’s Administration upon receipt of all required registration documents.
Students who are not initially accepted into the ECA District of their choice have the option to participate in the ECA School of Choice Pool. Participation in the ECA School of Choice Pool can potentially maximize the probability of acceptance. By completing this form you acknowledge that the student is willing to enroll through a district that participates in the School of Choice Pool (Lincoln, Manchester, Milan, Whitmore Lake, and Ypsilanti) that has available openings.
Students who apply to the ECA through the School of Choice option as a new student in one of the ECA districts are subject to final approval from the district’s superintendent. All required registration documents must be submitted directly to the ECA during the district’s School of Choice window.
Eighth, Ninth and Tenth grade applicants on the waitlist for the 26-27 enrollment cycle will be given first preference for the 2027 Fall cohort.