Seattle – Seattle Public Schools Open Enrollment for the 2010-2011 school year will begin Monday, March 1 and run through Wednesday, March 31, 2010. During Open Enrollment, families may register their child to enter SPS in fall 2010 and /or apply for a school other than their assigned school.
Initial Assignment Letter: End of February
For the first time this year, current students in grades PreK-11 – and those who will be new to the district in fall 2010 and pre-registered before Jan. 15 – will get their assignment at the end of February. Under the District’s new student assignment plan, students currently enrolled are "grandfathered" through the highest grade of the school they currently attend, providing that services they need are available at that school. Students in the highest grade at their current school (rising from elementary to middle school or middle school to high school) will receive an assignment to their attendance area school, or another school based on availability of services.
Open Enrollment, March 1 – 31, 2010: Final Assignment Letter End of May
If the family wants the assignment noted in the February letter, no other action is needed. If the family wants to apply for a different attendance area school or an Option school, they may do so during Open Enrollment, March 1 – 31. Note that all applications received during this time are processed together at the end of March. While we encourage families to turn in their forms as soon as they can, there is NO ADVANTAGE to applying on March 1 vs. March 31. Families who apply during Open Enrollment will receive their assignment at the end of May.
New Student Assignment Plan
The new student assignment plan and new attendance area boundaries were approved by the School Board in 2009, and transition plan rules for 2010-11 were approved in January. The new plan will be implemented in phases beginning in 2010-11, with most students entering grades K, 6 and 9 assigned to their attendance area schools. For additional information on the new student assignment plan and transition plan, please visit the Enrollment Services website.
School open houses, school visits
All schools offer at least one open house and at least one school-day visit opportunity. Information is available on the Seattle Schools website.
Option Schools: Option Schools Fair Saturday, March 13, 10 a.m. – Noon
Option Schools are the schools that, in the New Student Assignment Plan, do not have a specific attendance area boundary. Students may apply for any Option School in the city, and transportation is provided to specific linked option schools based on attendance area. Option Schools include a number of schools that follow an alternative curriculum (for example, expeditionary learning). Option Schools at the elementary and middle school level include: AS#1 (K-8); Thornton Creek (K-5); Jane Addams (K-8); Salmon Bay (K-8); TOPS (K-8); ORCA (K-8); Pathfinder (K-8); and South Shore (PreK-8). High School Option Schools include The Center School; NOVA; and the new Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) School at Cleveland. For more information about each school, please visit the “SCHOOLS” portion of the Seattle Schools website.
Families from our Option Schools are hosting a “Family to Family Option School Fair” from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, March 13 at the John Stanford Center, 2445 3rd Ave. S., Seattle. It will be an opportunity for those interested in option schools to learn more from families with students attending those schools.
Enrollment Services Information
Families enrolling students for the 2010-11 school year may visit the Enrollment Services website for forms and detailed information, or contact an Enrollment Specialist at Enrollment Services at John Stanford Center, located at 2445 Third Avenue South (3rd and Lander). Tel: (206) 252-0760. Fax: (206) 252-0761. Recorded Information Line: (206) 252-0410. Registration and application materials may be mailed, faxed, or submitted in person. Mailing address is:
Seattle Public Schools
Enrollment Services
MS 11-161
PO Box 34165
Seattle, WA 98124-1165
The Bilingual Family Center at Aki Kurose Middle School (Room 104) is open for families needing assistance in a language other than English. Aki Kurose is located at 3928 S. Graham St. Telephone: (206) 252-7750. Fax: (206) 252-7751. Both locations are open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with extended hours on March 31 until 8 p.m.
To be eligible for Kindergarten for the 2010-11 school year, children must be five (5) years of age by August 31, 2010. Documents required for new students include: proof of the child’s birth date (through Grade 1), photo I.D. of the parent/guardian, two additional documents for proof of address, and immunization records. An Admission Form and Certificate of Immunization Status (CIS) form are also required.
Current students wishing to change schools must submit a School Choice Form. If the student's address has changed, a Registration form and two address verification documents are also required.
Community Locations
As part of our continuous commitment to providing quality customer service to our families, Seattle Public Schools enrollment staff will be at the following libraries and community centers from 5:30-7 p.m.on the days shown so parents may enroll new students and/or submit School Choice Forms for the 2010-2011 school year. Please be sure to bring all necessary documents to register your child. Locations with an * will have bilingual staff in attendance.
• Beacon Hill Library* March 2
• Ballard Library March 3
• Broadview Library* March 4
• Delridge Library* March 8
• New Holly Community Center Gathering Hall* March 9
• Douglass-Truth Library March 15
• Green Lake Library March 16
• Magnolia Library March 22
• Queen Anne Library March 30