## Summary

**Waitlist priority** (also called **enrollment priorities**) helps your center rank applications fairly. Families answer priority questions on your waitlist form; Kiddo uses their answers plus your ranking rules to order the waitlist.

## Before you start

- You need admin access to **Settings**.
- Priorities work best after you add **Schedules** and review your default ranking rules.

## How priority works

1. **You define priorities** — Each priority has a name your staff sees and a question parents answer on the form (for example, "Does your family already have a child enrolled here?").
2. **You set the order** — Drag priorities in **Settings → Enrollment & Waitlist → Enrollment Priorities** to set which answers rank higher. Top of the list = higher priority on the waitlist.
3. **Families answer on the form** — When someone applies, they see your questions. Their answers become priority badges on their application.
4. **Kiddo sorts the waitlist** — Applications with higher-priority answers appear above others with the same schedule and age group. Priority does not guarantee a spot — it helps you fill spots in the order you choose.

### What families see

- Priority questions on your public waitlist form (worded in plain language).
- No numeric score or internal rank — just the questions you configured.

### What your team sees

- Priority badges on each child in **Waitlist**.
- Filters to find applications by priority.
- The same ranking when you send offers or review open spots.

## Common questions

### Do siblings automatically rank higher?

Many centers add a priority for current or returning families. You control the order — place sibling or alumni priorities at the top if that matches your policy.

### Can I change priority order later?

Yes. Reordering updates how **new** sorting is calculated. Existing manual changes you made on individual applications stay as you left them.

### What if I do not use priorities?

You can keep default priorities or deactivate ones you do not need. Applications still sort by submission date when priorities tie.

### Does priority override my manual waitlist order?

No. Priority is the starting order. Staff can still adjust individual applications when needed.

## Related articles

- In the app: **Settings → Enrollment & Waitlist → Enrollment Priorities**
- [Go-live checklist — what to configure before sharing your link](https://help.joinkiddo.com/hc/centers/articles/go-live-checklist)
- [Share your parent waitlist link](https://help.joinkiddo.com/hc/centers/articles/parent-waitlist-link)
- What your parents see: [How to join a center's waitlist](https://help-families.joinkiddo.com/hc/families/articles/join-waitlist)