Open Enrollment

District policy states that any student shall be allowed to attend any school of their choice for which they are eligible on a space available basis, subject to district policy.

Open Enrollment policies:
Board File: JCA/JFB: ASSIGNMENT OF STUDENTS TO SCHOOLS, SCHOOL CHOICE AND OPEN ENROLLMENT

Board File: JCA/JFB-R: ASSIGNMENT OF STUDENTS TO SCHOOLS, SCHOOL CHOICE AND OPEN ENROLLMENT

The first round window is open from November 1 to December 1. annually unless either day is not a school day, in which case the next regular school day will be the opening or ending day, respectively. The second window is open from January 22 to August 1. Open Enrollment applies to the following school year annually unless either day is not a school day, in which case the next regular school day will be the opening or ending day, respectively.

To access the Open Enrollment Tool locate the Open enrollment button on the district website. The button will go live and will appear on November 1, annually unless this day is not a school day, in which case the next regular school day will be the opening day.

Applications filed with the district in the first window will be notified of the results (application accepted, denied, or put on the annual prioritized list) by December 10th. Parents must then go in and accept any open enrollment offers made by schools by December 17th. Applicants not accepted during the first Open Enrollment period are automatically placed on the annual prioritized list and shall have priority over second round applicants.

Where the number of eligible applicants exceeds the space available in a school, applications are prioritized by grade level according to the priorities set forth in district policy. The annual prioritized list is purged August 2nd annually (unless the closing day was adjusted due to non business day, in which case the next regular school day will be the purge date respectively.

Neither the Choice Programming Office, or the School share information about a student's position on the annual waitlist. When the School has availability, they will reach out to families based on the student's position on the waitlist. 

Applications filed with the district in the first window will be notified of the result through the open enrollment tool, to accept round 1 offers parents will log back in in mid December. Applications submitted during round 2 may receive notification through the open enrollment tool as well as an email at any time between January 22nd and August 1st depending on space availability at that school, to accept round 2 offers parents need to reply to the email to accept the offer.

Your application is valid until wait lists are purged on August 2nd, all offers will be made by 4pm on 8/1. You will need to reapply each year during the Open Enrollment period annually unless either day is not a school day, in which case the next regular school day will be the opening or ending day, respectively.

Applications received during the second window are time stamped and processed on a “first come, first served” basis. However, First Round Open Enrollment applications that were not accepted during the first Open Enrollment period are automatically placed on the annual prioritized wait list and have priority over second round applicants.

You can apply for up to four schools.

Yes you may accept an offer from any of your chosen school's and still remain on the waitlist of the school(s) who have not made you an offer of enrollment.

Most Charter schools are a bit different, in that each charter school may maintain a wait list per grade, depending on the space available, and conducts a lottery each year for available seats. The Open Enrollment time frames also apply to charter schools, but each charter has its own enrollment policy. Contact the charter school directly for more enrollment and lottery information, with the exception of Aspen View Academy, Ben Franklin Academy, Challenge to Excellence, Douglas County Montessori, Leman Academy Stroh Ranch and Bayou Gulch, Parker Performing Arts, Platte River Academy, Sky View Academy, and World Compass Academy, as they are all using the open enrollment tool.

Your "school of choice" is the school your student attends based on acceptance of an Open Enrollment or charter school application. Your "Neighborhood/ address assigned" school is the school that you are assigned to based on your residence address.

No. Your student will be enrolled at the neighborhood school throughout the years that school serves. If you move within the district, you may also elect to stay at this neighborhood school by filing an "Intent to Remain" form with the neighborhood school, per district policy. If you wish to attend your new "address assigned" school you must reach out immediately after your move. If you move out of the district you must apply for Open Enrollment for the school year following your move.

No. an open enrolled student at any level may always return to their neighborhood school by filing a Notice of Intent to Return form by Jan. 5th (unless otherwise stated above, due to holidays) to return for the fall semester of the next school year.  If you miss that date, yes you must try and open enroll.

No: Elementary students will automatically be enrolled in your neighborhood middle school after the last grade served at their current Elementary school. If the Elementary school is a K-6 school and you wish your student to start 6th grade at your neighborhood 6-8 Middle School, you will need to file an "Intent to return" form with your neighborhood Middle School by the January 5th deadline in order for your rising 6th grader to attend your neighborhood Middle School. Charter school students will need to file the "Intent to Return" form with that school, if they wish to return to their neighborhood middle school. If your student wants to attend a middle school other than your neighborhood middle school, you will need to open enroll in that other middle school.

No. Your student will automatically be enrolled in the middle school's feeder high school. If your student wants to attend a high school other than the feeder high school, you will need to open enroll in that other high school.

No. Your middle school student may attend your neighborhood high school by filing an Intent to Return form with that neighborhood high school by 1/5 (unless otherwise state above due to Holidays). If you miss that date or If your middle school student wishes to enroll in any high school other than that middle school’s feeder high school (not your neighborhood school), you will need to Open Enroll.

Students may not change their assigned school during a school year. Please reach out to your current Principal to discuss options for your student.

Possibly. Requests from parents of special education students are reviewed in accordance with state and federal law. The student’s IEP will be reviewed by the school’s IEP team to determine whether the requested school can meet the student’s educational needs and or they have availability in the required special programming.

Families who move to Douglas County outside the Open Enrollment windows should fill out a New Student School of Choice Form. The form is linked here. Families may also contact your neighborhood school for the form. If the new student wishes to attend a school other than their neighborhood school, the New Student School of Choice Form should be submitted to the requested school. Forms are approved as soon as practicable if space is available.

No. So long as your student wishes to attend the feeder high school, no Open Enrollment application or other form is required.

No. Approved applications are valid throughout the grades served at that school. (Elementary level or secondary level)

Yes, the online application form must be completed for each child.  If you are adding a new student to your current account, hit the plus button and add your new student.

Please refer to Article 18 in the CHASSA Bylaws.

An application will be denied if:

• There is a lack of space or teaching staff;
• The requested school does not offer appropriate programs for the student or does not offer a requested program;
• The school is not structured or equipped with the needed facilities for special needs;
• The student does not meet the established eligibility criteria for participation in a particular program, including age requirements, course prerequisites, and required levels of competence; 
• The student has already graduated from 12th grade or holds a GED;
• The student has been expelled within the prior 12 months;
• The student’s behavior was detrimental to health and safety in another district;
• The student fails to comply with District policy with regard to immunization 

The parent or legal guardian may appeal the denial of an open enrollment, second round enrollment or administrative transfer by filing a statement of the grounds for appeal with the appropriate Director of Schools within five school days of the receipt of the principal's decision. The Director of Schools will consider the appeal and may request additional information from and/or a meeting with the parent or legal guardian, student and/or affected principal(s). The Director of Schools’ decision will be communicated to the parent or legal guardian within 10 school days after receipt of the appeal and will be final and not subject to further appeal.

Yes, you may enroll in the neighborhood school associated with your new address. Enroll as soon as possible after your move by contacting that neighborhood school. If you decide to remain at your current school for the remainder of the school year and then attend your neighborhood school associated with your new address, you must reach out to the new neighborhood school as soon as you move into your new address to notify them you want to attend for the following school year.

Kristin Schmidt, Choice Programming Coordinator
kristin.schmidt@dcsdk12.org | 303.387.9744

Julie Naab, Administrative Assistant
janaab@dcsdk12.org 303.387.9746

or email us at open-enrollmentusergroup@dcsdk12.org.