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 2. The second window is open from January 22 to August 1. Open Enrollment applies to the following school year.

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.

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 11th. Parents must then go in and accept any open enrollment offers made by schools by December 18th. 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 each year.

Applications filed with the district in the first window will be notified of the result through the open enrollment tool. 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.

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.

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.

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, Sky View Academy, STEM School, 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. 

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. Charter school students will need to file at that school an Intent to Return form, 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.

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 school does not offer appropriate or requested programs;
• The school is not structured or equipped with the needed facilities for special needs;
• The student does not meet eligibility criteria, such as age, prerequisites, etc.;
• 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 immunization requirements

A parent can appeal an Open Enrollment denial by filing a statement of the grounds for appeal with the Director of Schools for that level within 5 school days of receipt of the principal’s decision. The Director’s decision will be communicated to the parent or guardian within 10 school days after receipt. The Director’s decision is not subject to 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 adress 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
 

Email Open Enrollment with questions