With the seats extended in round 3, we expect to now be at capacity for the 2026/27 school year. However, we typically have a few seats open in April and/or June.
Our next communication with you will be on Tuesday, April 14th. At that time, we will ask if you are still interested in remaining on the waitlist for Innovation Academy and potentially extend more seats. Please ensure that you look for this communication on April 14th and respond accordingly.
Innovation Academy is a magnet school serving all of the learning zones in north Fulton County Fulton (Learning Zones 4, 5, 6, or 7.) To attend IA, you must be a Fulton County resident living in Fulton Learning Zone 4, 5, 6, or 7.
Students must apply to IA while they are in 8th grade. We only accept rising 9th grade students for admission.
Students zoned to attend the following high schools can attend IA: Alpharetta, Cambridge, Centennial, Chattahoochee, Johns Creek, Milton, North Springs, Northview, Riverwood, and Roswell.
When Do I Apply?
The applications window for the 2026-27 School Year closed on January 9th, 2026.
You must complete an application to apply. We recommend reading through all instructions before clicking on the application link since students will need to prepare essays and a video that will be added to the application.
The application deadline for the 2026-27 School Year closed January 9th, 2026.
*You do not need to do the Change of School Assignment (COSA) process to apply to IA.
Student Short Answer Questions or Video - Required
To help students think about whether or not FCS Innovation Academy is the right place for them, we ask them to answer two short answer questions or submit a short video of themselves.
These responses or the video should be ready to add to the application when you apply.
Plan Ahead – Short Answer Prompts
Students should prepare answers to the short answer questions or create their video before starting the application. These are the prompts they will be answering.
Question 1:
At FCS IA, we celebrate taking chances and applying our knowledge. With this in mind, reflect on a project or assignment you have done, either on your own or in school of which you are proud. Think about the project and pick one of the traits of an IA student and talk about how you exemplified or showed growth in that characteristic. The list of traits to choose from includes inquisitive, collaborative, creative, analytical, well-rounded, empathetic, flexible, and driven. Maximum words - 250.
Question 2:
What would you change about the project? Maximum words - 150.
Video Prompt
Video Length - No longer than 30 seconds.
What to Include in Your Video:
1. For the video, students must start by introducing themselves and stating their names.
2. Next, students should answer this question: Why do you want to attend FCS Innovation Academy?
Video File Specifications
You can choose to upload a file or share a link that is open to anyone in the public to view. If your file is larger than 10 MB, you will have to share a link and not upload a file. Videos taken on a PC or laptop, are usually smaller in size than videos taken on a phone.
File formats that we can accept include: mp4, wma, mpg, mpeg, avi, mov, and wmv.
FCS Students Can Use Microsoft Stream
If you attend Fulton County Schools and have access to ClassLink, you can use Microsoft Stream to record your video. You can find Microsoft Stream under the Microsoft 365 folder.
IMPORTANT: Make sure that when you share your video, that you choose to share it so ANYONE can view the link. Otherwise, we won't be able to watch your video.
Completion of Application Steps: Once your child has completed the online application, their name will be entered into a random lottery. This lottery is conducted to ensure a fair and equitable selection process for all applicants.
Acceptance Emails: Following the lottery, FCS IA will send out an acceptance email on January 15th to the first group of students on who have been selected. We are thrilled at the prospect of welcoming new students to our community and are eager to see the unique contributions they will bring.
Wait List: Students not included in the initial group of acceptances will be placed on a wait list. Please be assured that being on the wait list does not reflect on your child’s qualifications or potential.
Enrollment Decisions: The first round of students will have the opportunity to either accept the invitation and enroll or decline. We understand that this is an important decision for your family, and we encourage you to consider the opportunity carefully.
Further Invitations: Based on the number of students who accept the invitation, we will extend additional invitations to students from the wait list to enroll at Innovation Academy. Our goal is to fill our classrooms with enthusiastic learners, and we hope to offer this opportunity to as many students as possible.
Rounds of Acceptance: Typically, we conduct three main rounds of acceptance. Depending on the circumstances, there may be additional rounds. If applicable, round 2 acceptance emails will be sent on January 23rd, and round 3 acceptance emails will be sent on January 30th. We will keep you informed every step of the way.
We are delighted that you are considering FCS Innovation Academy (FCS IA) for your child’s educational journey. As a magnet school, we have a unique application and enrollment process designed to be a fair admissions process for our diverse group of student applicants.
Application Requirement: Please be reminded that completion of the application process is mandatory for all prospective students. Enrollment at FCS IA is by invitation only.
Acceptance Email: When you are accepted as part of the lottery process, you will receive an email with detailed instructions on how to proceed with enrollment at IA. This email will serve as your guide through the final steps of joining our community.
Enrollment Instructions: For those not currently enrolled in Fulton County, the acceptance email will include steps on how to officially enroll in Fulton County Schools. If your child is already a Fulton County student, the instructions will facilitate the transfer of their official enrollment from their home school to Innovation Academy.
