Irvine Chinese Immersion Academy

ICIA is the first public charter immersion school authorized by Irvine Unified Schools District (IUSD). The first day of school was August 24, 2023. The school campus is located at 1 Liberty, Irvine, CA 92620 (Westwood campus & located in the same parking lot as Sierra Vista Middle School).

ICIA is a free, public charter school. There is no fee for admission. Enrollment is lottery based before the beginning of each academic year. 

Yes, please join our waitlist through the community portal. You can access the Portal Link Here. We will contact you when a seat is available.

Yes! ICIA follows a year-round calendar, designed to keep students engaged and energized throughout the year.
Our balanced schedule offers shorter, more frequent breaks, helping students retain learning, reduce burnout, and return refreshed and ready to thrive. Families also appreciate the flexibility for travel and enrichment opportunities outside of peak seasons — it’s learning that fits life, not the other way around. Please refer to our School Calendars also found in our resources tab. 

At this time, we are not able to offer in-person campus tours. Due to the high volume of requests, providing tours for all interested families would result in frequent disruptions to our students’ learning environment—something we work hard to protect.
The good news? We’re creating a virtual video tour that will showcase our classrooms, programs, and school culture. We expect to have it ready by February, and we can’t wait to share it with you!

Yes. We have childcare options for all ICIA (TK - 5th) students. More information can be found on our childcare page or email childcare@iciacademy.org

At ICIA, our Chinese Immersion Program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive and engaging learning experience in both Mandarin and English. From an early age, students are immersed in a dual-language environment, fostering bilingual proficiency and cultural understanding.

For more detailed information, please refer to the California Department of Education TK requirements. The TK requirements will change again for the 2026-2027 academic year. 

We follow state public school guidelines.  No exceptions. 

<p><img alt="Table outlining the ICIA Full Immersion Program, detailing Mandarin instruction percentages and core subjects for grades K-5." src="https://files.smartsites.parentsquare.com/8503/Screenshot2024-05-09160339_1750906895.png" /></p>
 

New students interested in enrolling at ICIA must submit a lottery application through Apollo before the published deadline. After the application window closes, a public drawing will be held, and families will be notified of the results.

The lottery process for the 2026–2027 school year will begin in December 2025. Please stay tuned for detailed instructions and dates, which will be shared at that time.

As a public charter school, ICIA follows the California Department of Education’s age and birthdate guidelines to determine the appropriate grade level for each child. No exceptions can be made.

For more information about Transitional Kindergarten (TK) eligibility and requirements, please review the official CDE TK Guidelines

Classroom sizes will vary by grade level. Currently, TK - 5th grade are averaging approximately 22-26 students. 

Currently, the school does not provide transportation.

Yes — please create an online community portal for your family. Once your portal is set up, you can submit a waitlist application for each sibling within the same account.

Please note: this is a waitlist submission, not an enrollment application. You can find the link to the community portal on our Enrollment page

In the most recent CAASPP results, 85% of ICIA students met or exceeded standards in English Language Arts (ELA), and an impressive 91% met or exceeded standards in Math. These results reflect our commitment to academic excellence, bilingual mastery, and joyful learning. You can learn more about our test scores here!