The school has open enrollment and accepts non-English-speaking students throughout the academic year.  Each year between 500 and 600 children attend the school, with an average of roughly 300 to 350 students at any one time. These young people come from all over the world, particularly from centers of conflict in developing countries.  At any given time between 35 and 40 different languages and dialects are spoken at the SBOC. 

Each student is placed into one of three levels based on the results of a site-developed entrance exam.  Students who test into Level 1 usually stay one full year.  Students in Level 2 stay one or two semesters.  Students placed into Level 3 transfer to neighborhood schools after one semester.