GALA APPLICATION
APPLICATION INFO
ADMISSION UPDATE
LAUSD has completed its initial randomization/lottery for qualified applicants for the 2024-2025 school year. Please see below for frequently asked questions.
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"I did not receive an email from LAUSD with my status." - Log into your LAUSD Unified Enrollment Application portal to check your status. Click "Track Application" and scroll over to "Letters" and click on your LAUSD letter. If your status is not there, we respectfully request that you not call the GALA main office as GALA does not have information on when LAUSD will be posting your status.
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"My daughter got waitlisted, now what?" - If you qualified for the LAUSD lottery and your student was wait listed, if GALA gets openings, we will reach out to your family via email. Historically, wait list notifications have gone out May through August.
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"My daughter was disqualified or we have not heard a decision yet, what does that mean?" - The first step is to check that you submitted the LAUSD Unified Enrollment application (selecting GALA as your school choice) AND that you submitted the GALA website application by November 17, 2023 AND that all 3 checklist items on the GALA website application were complete by December 1, 2023. If you were wait listed in a previous year, a new application is required for each year. If you do not see GALA in your LAUSD Unified Enrollment portal, it is likely that you did not submit an eChoices LAUSD application indicating GALA as your school choice. For additional questions, contact admissions@galacademy.org.
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"My daughter was accepted to GALA, but we have made other school plans and we are not accepting our spot at GALA." - Thank you for considering GALA this year. Please let LAUSD know by logging into your LAUSD Unified Enrollment Application portal and click "Decline" under "Parent Decision." In addition, please send a quick email to admissions@galacademy.org to let GALA know. We respectfully ask that you do this as soon as you know so that we can offer your spot to another girl on the wait list who is eagerly awaiting news of an opening.
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"My daughter was selected for admission to GALA and we plan to accept." -
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Please consider your school options carefully before you click "accept" in the LAUSD system. All decisions are final.
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LAUSD is relocating GALA starting August 2024 to 2328 St. James Place 90007. Because that location is currently a construction zone, we can not offer any tours of the new location. Your student will see the campus at New Student Orientation on August 9, 2024.
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GALA will follow up with our own emails AFTER LAUSD has completed their admissions notifications, which could be after March 16th. Please check your inbox as there will be a LOT of information that you will need to know in order to register at GALA, including new family Zoom calls and Registration Day requirements.
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If your student has an IEP, do not "accept" in the LAUSD system until our RSP teacher has approved your IEP so that you can be confident our services meet your daughter's needs. Check your email inbox for a description of our services. Our teacher will approve your plan before the LAUSD deadline. If your student has an IEP and you reported in the GALA application that she does not have an IEP, please reach out to admissions@galacademy.org ASAP to let us know.
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There are 3 steps to complete your registration. 1) Accept in the LAUSD Unified Enrollment portal by April 12. 2) Submit the GALA Intent to Register form to RSVP for a registration time by April 1. 3) Register at GALA on Registration Day on April 20th. If you are not able to register on April 20th, you must come in-person to register in the GALA office April 22-26. If any of these steps are not complete by the deadlines, your application will be withdrawn and filled from the waiting list..
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IMPORTANT DATES
2023-2024 School Year: We are not accepting any applications. If you were waitlisted, we do not anticipate adding any additional students.
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2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR: Applications for the 2024-2025 school year are now closed. Because we have hundreds more applications than spots available, we are not accepting any additional applications.
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October 1, 2023 - LAUSD Unified Enrollment application is opened on October 2nd AND the GALA application opened October 1, 2023. Both deadlines were November 17, 2023. Applications are NOT first-come-first-served.
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November 17, 2023 - Deadline for the LAUSD Unified Enrollment application and the deadline for the GALA application to the 2024-2025 school year.
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Mid-February - LAUSD sends out qualification emails to your email inbox and posted in your LAUSD application account. This LAUSD notification will let your family know if your applications qualify for the randomization/lottery. If you did not submit BOTH the LAUSD application AND the GALA application by November 17, 2023 and ALL checklist items by December 1, 2023, the application is automatically withdrawn.
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March 11-15, 2024 - Notifications are now sent by LAUSD. Applicants are emailed their status via LAUSD eChoices Unified Enrollment. LAUSD does rolling notifications so if you don't hear on March 11th, you will hear from LAUSD by March 15th. Log into your LAUSD Unified Enrollment application portal for status updates. GALA will follow up with an email AFTER LAUSD sends out their notifications. If you have not received an email from LAUSD, we kindly ask that you not call the GALA office as we do not know when LAUSD will be sending out individual emails. Also, check your SPAM folder or your LAUSD Unified Enrollment Portal. Please do NOT call the main office, email admissions@galacademy.org with questions.
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April 1, 2024: If accepted, the deadline to sign the GALA intent-to-register at Registration Day form is April 1, 2024. The link to this form is in the GALA acceptance email (not the LAUSD email).
April 12, 2024: If accepted to GALA, this is the LAUSD deadline to accept or decline your offer in the LAUSD Unified Enrollment system. If you do not 1) Sign the GALA intent AND 2) The LAUSD accept form by the deadline, your spot will be forfeited and filled with a student from the waiting list. As you are considering your school options, if you have questions about GALA, please contact admissions@galacademy.org before you fill out this form. Please note that GALA is moving for the 2024-2025 school year. New location info below.
April 20, 2024 - If accepted, first day to register at Registration Day for accepted students.
April 22-26, 2024 - If accepted, Registration drop off in the office for anyone not attending the April 20th Registration Day. Hours 8:30-11am. April 26, 2024 -is the deadline for accepted students to submit registration paperwork in the GALA office. Any accepted student who have not registered by this date will automatically forfeit their spot at GALA.
June 1, 2024-September 1, 2024 - Any open spots opened to the waiting list.
APPLICATIONS
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2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR: There is a 2 step process to applying to GALA. STEP #1) Families will need to fill out the LAUSD Unified Enrollment application and indicate GALA as their school of choice under "Admission Criteria Schools" by November 17, 2023. AND STEP #2) Families submit the GALA website application by November 17, 2023 and all checklist items must be submitted by December 1, 2023. Any applications that have not completed both the GALA and LAUSD website are automatically withdrawn. If your GALA website application checklist items are not complete, your application is withdrawn. If your student's name on the LAUSD application and the GALA application do not match, your application could be withdrawn.
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LATE APPLICATIONS: If you start an application before the deadline but you do not complete the application by the deadline, your application is automatically withdrawn. Because we have hundreds more applications than spots available, we do not accept late applications.
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INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS BY THE DEADLINE: If you submitted your GALA application but did not complete the 3 checklist items by the deadline, your application is withdrawn. If you submitted a GALA website application but did not indicate GALA on the LAUSD Unified Enrollment application, your application is automatically withdrawn. If you submitted an LAUSD Unified Enrollment application but you did not submit the GALA website application, your application is withdrawn. If you used different names for the same student on the GALA and LAUSD applications, your application could be withdrawn.
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SIBLING APPLICATIONS: All siblings of currently enrolled GALA students must apply to both LAUSD Unified Enrollment AND the GALA website application during the regular applications period from October 1-November 17. Siblings of current students are not automatically enrolled.
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PREVIOUS APPLICATIONS: If you were waitlisted in a previous year, LAUSD does not roll over wait lists from year to year. A new application needs to be filled out. There is no priority for previously applications submitted.
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OTHER INFO: There is no separate testing needed for the application, there are no interviews, and we do not do "shadow" days.
NEW GALA LOCATION
We are elated to announce that the LAUSD Superintendent announced May of 2023 that GALA would be moving to its own campus for the 2024-2025 school year. After being co-located on a co-ed campus for the first 8 years, as an all-girls model, we believe our mission and vision will be fully realized on our own all-girls campus. Our new location is nestled and surrounded on three sides by the beautiful Mount. Saint Mary's Doheny Campus (the only all-girls college in Los Angeles), the area's historic Victorian mansions, and conveniently located within walking distance from the Expo train line. We have already partnered with Mount Saint Mary's and USC on multiple projects and we can't wait to continue those relationships. The location is just 4.5 miles from GALA at 2328 St. James Place. GALA is not displacing any other students. The location used to be a high school, closed, and then became a district employee office site. In September 2023, the School Board also approved a 2-Phase campus improvement project that includes painting, upgrading, and adding bungalows. Click HERE for a pic.
For the first time, LAUSD will be providing transportation to GALA via school buses from select areas, including a bus from our current location at LA High School. For questions, LAUSD Transportation is in charge of routes and busing. We hope you are as excited as we are that we finally have a campus to call our own!
Faq
APPLYING TO GALA
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​I SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR BUT MY STUDENT WAS WAIT LISTED. DO I HAVE TO APPLY AGAIN?
Yes, LAUSD does not roll over wait lists from year to year. A new application is needed for each year applying with the new grade level your student will be entering for next year.
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WHEN DO I APPLY?
STEP #1) Apply on the LAUSD Unified Enrollment website and indicate GALA as your school of choice in the Admissions Criteria School area from October 2, 2023 - November 17, 2023
STEP #2) Submit an application and all required checklist items on the GALA website from October 1-November 17, 2023.
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WHAT INFORMATION SHOULD I GATHER TO APPLY TO GALA?
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LAUSD Unified Enrollment Application indicating GALA as your school choice under "Admission Criteria Schools."
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GALA Website Application (October 1- November 17)
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Submit Teacher Recommendation Email address (use only 1 teacher from this year or last year only and only a teacher that teaches math, science, social studies, or English). This email address will be submitted in your checklist item area AFTER you submit your GALA website application. Your teacher must submit our easy, online form by December 1, 2023. Please follow up with your teacher to be sure it is complete.
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Upload Report Card (Applicants for 6th-8th) or Transcript (Applicants 9th-12th).
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Note: Your student's name on your LAUSD application and your GALA application MUST match. Otherwise, your application could be withdrawn.
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I ALREADY APPLIED, HOW DO I CHECK THE STATUS?
You can always go back and log into your GALA application account to check the status of your application and your checklist items. The link to log back into your application can be found in your confirmation email. Search "GALA" in your inbox. You can also log into your LAUSD application account to check that status.
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I SUBMITTED THE LAUSD UNIFIED ENROLLMENT BUT I DID NOT SUBMIT A GALA APPLICATION:
On the LAUSD website, there is the following note. As an Admission Criteria School, GALA has a separate application that also needs to be submitted by the first LAUSD Unified Enrollment deadline, November 17, 2023. Updated application and school tour information is on the GALA Website by September 1st each year. "Admission Criteria Schools (ACS) have additional selection requirements. Los Angeles Unified offers two single-gender Leadership Academies with a focus on science, technology, engineering and math, Early-College Programs with concurrent enrollment opportunities for high school students, and Individual Honors Program (IHP). Please visit the school’s website and call the school to attend informational sessions and learn about each school’s unique criteria before submitting a Choices application." The GALA website has details on how to apply to GALA. During the October to mid-November application window, there is also a video on the GALA website with instructions how to apply and school tours where we go over the application process.
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I SUBMITTED THE GALA APPLICATION BUT I DID NOT SUBMIT THE LAUSD APPLICATION:
On the GALA website, it states that applying to GALA includes submitting the GALA application and all checklist items AND submitting the LAUSD Unified Enrollment application and indicating GALA as your school choice under "Admission Criteria Schools." If you do not submit an LAUSD application or if you submit an LAUSD application and indicate GALA and then submit a second application where GALA is not a selection, your application is automatically disqualified.
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I SUBMITTED THE LAUSD UNIFIED ENROLLMENT APPLICATION AND THE GALA APPLICATION BUT MY STUDENT WAS DISQUALIFIED:
1) If you used different last names on your 2 applications, your application could be disqualified. If you have a hyphenated last name, be sure and use the same last name for both applications.
2) If you used different first names on your 2 applications, your application could be disqualified. Use the legal first name for your student. If you use a nick name on one application and the legal name on the other application, the computer can not match your names.
3) If your GALA application does not have all 3 checklist items complete by the deadline, including your teacher submitting our online form, your GALA application is marked as incomplete and will not be matched with the LAUSD application.
4) If you submit the GALA application and all checklist items and the LAUSD Unified Enrollment Application but you later go back and add an additional LAUSD application to indicate a different school, your latest LAUSD application will cancel any prior applications.
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WHAT IF I NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE TO MY APPLICATION?
Once you click submit on the main GALA website application, you will not be able to make changes. You can log in anytime to change the email address on your application account - click "Account". If your mailing address changes, email admissions@galacademy.org. If have a question about your LAUSD Unified Enrollment Application, visit HERE.
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DO YOU TAKE LATE APPLICATIONS?
Because we have hundreds of applications, we do not typically take any late applications.
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ACCEPTED TO GALA
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IF ACCEPTED, HOW DO I CLAIM MY SPOT?:
This is a 3-step process and you must do all steps by the deadlines or your spot at GALA could be forfeited and filled from the waiting list. Please ask all questions to admissions@galacademy.org BEFORE you fill out these steps.
1) On your LAUSD acceptance email or in your LAUSD Unified Enrollment portal, you should find instructions how to "accept" your offer from LAUSD. You must do this by April 12, 2024. With LAUSD Unified Enrollment, our understanding is that if you are accepted to multiple LAUSD schools, once you "accept" at your school choice, you will be dropped from the other schools in which you have been accepted.
2) ON your GALA acceptance letter/email, you will find a link to fill out our intent-to-register form. This form lets us know if you plan to attend Registration Day and will allow you to make an appointment to register. Please fill this form out by April 1, 2024.
3) Submit all of your registration forms and copies of required personal documents by the deadline on your GALA acceptance letter.
WHAT IF WE MAKE OTHER SCHOOL PLANS AND WANT TO WITHDRAW OUR APPLICATION, ACCEPTANCE, OR WAIT LIST STATUS FROM GALA?:
We know finding the right school for your daughter can be a lengthy process. If you submit an application to GALA and then make other school plans, move, etc., please let us know ASAP so that we may remove your application. Likewise, if you are accepted or wait listed... and you have committed to a different school, please let us know ASAP at admissions@galacademy.org so that we can open your spot to another girl.
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IF ADMITTED, WHAT DO I NEED TO PROVIDE?
If you are admitted and you decide to enroll, the following documents will need to be submitted on Registration Day in April: LAUSD Registration Forms including the media waiver form and the Device/Chromebook form, GALA policy forms, a copy of your driver's license or state ID, utility bill (not telephone), immunization records (Tdap required for 7th grade and above), report card, transcript (high school), student birth certificate, and, if applicable, your IEP plan, 504 plan, inter-district permit (if coming from outside of LAUSD), and any court custody agreements. A full list and details will be on the Registration webpage in the acceptance email. Please see the deadlines at the top of this page to submit registration paperwork.
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IF ADMITTED, DO YOU HAVE A REGISTRATION DAY OR ORIENTATION DAY TO SEE THE CAMPUS?
We do have a Registration Day in the Spring and a student orientation in August.
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WAIT LISTED TO GALA
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WHAT IF MY DAUGHTER IS ON THE WAITING LIST?
We typically fill from the waiting list from May through August as spots become available.
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​I SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR BUT MY STUDENT WAS WAIT LISTED. DO I HAVE TO APPLY AGAIN?
Yes, LAUSD does not roll over wait lists from year to year. A new application is needed for each year applying with the new grade level your student will be entering for next year.
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OTHER QUESTIONS
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I HEARD YOU WERE MOVING?
Yes, in Spring of 2023, the LAUSD Superintendent announced that GALA would be moving to their very own campus! This campus will only have GALA and we will not be co-located with any other school. After being co-located with a co-ed campus for eight years, we are elated to finally be able to fulfil our true mission of an all-girls school by having our own campus. We will be surrounded on three sides by the only all-girls university in Los Angeles, the Mount Saint Mary's Doheny campus. Our campus is 4.5 miles south east of our current location. You can see a picture HERE.
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HOW DO I FIND OUT ABOUT TRANSPORTATION TO GALA?
As of the 2023-2024 school year, LAUSD does provide transportation (school buses) to students depending on your location. This is administered by LAUSD and NOT by GALA. Contact LAUSD transportation to find out if your family qualifies for transportation. Because our students come from 100 different zip codes, LAUSD usually sends out bus route information a week or two before school starts. Pick-up and drop-off is at select LAUSD schools throughout Los Angeles. There are no "late" buses for the 2023-2024 school year. We are moving for 2024-2025 so please plan your school choice accordingly.
Website: https://lausd.org/transportation or call (213) 241-1000.
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I HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, WHO CAN I SPEAK WITH?:
Please email admissions@galacademy.org
DATA:
All data collected is for internal GALA use only for the application process. The admissions committee consists of all LAUSD employees, including administrators and teachers.
FIND OUT MORE
GALA is an LAUSD Admission Criteria School. To explore additional LAUSD ACS schools and other LAUSD programs, visit the LAUSD website.
“GALA has given me the opportunity that many do not have... We are able to spend time in a nurturing environment that allows us to have a voice and the confidence to use it. Our voices can change the world and we need to utilize the voices we have to their full potential so we have the opportunity to impact others. We need to be the voice for others that do not have the privilege to use theirs.”
- GALA Class of 2024 Student
GALA: Where girls love to be SMART, SELF-CONFIDENT, and SUCCESSFUL!
