Choice Questions
How do parents/guardians get their children into the Schools of Choice program?
Parents/guardians wishing to have their students attend a school outside of their regular attendance boundary must go through the application process. Beginning December 1st, an online application will be available from the Choice Application tab. In addition, applications are available at all Five Star schools for those families without computer access.
What are the due dates for applications?
There are two due dates for acceptance of the applications, one for priority consideration and the other for secondary consideration. The deadline for priority consideration of choice applications for the 2013-14 school year is the last business day before January 31, 2013. Parents and students submitting an application for priority consideration will be notified of the results of their application the third week of February 2013.
The second deadline to submit a choice application for the 2013-14 school year is the last business day before March 31, 2013. These applications, which are received between February 1 and March 31, 2013, will be considered based upon the date of the application, facility capacity, staff availability and budget of the school being requested. Notification of approval or denial will be made no later than the third week of April. Applications for Choice received after March 31, 2013 will not be considered for the 2013-14 school year.
In addition to the two deadlines above, in some years a third choice window during the month of August is held for our under-enrolled schools. The district will publicize the names of schools that are open for walk-up choice students no later than the first Monday in August. An application for Choice must be completed and filed with the requested Choice school during the August Choice window. These applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis by the district’s School’s of Choice Office. Parents/guardians will be notified by the Choice school after the School’s of Choice Office's decision.
How many schools may a student request?
Each applicant can select a first, second, third and fourth choice. If the first requested school is filled, then the second choice request will be considered. If the second requested school is filled, then the third choice school will be considered. If the third requested school is filled, then the fourth choice school will be considered. An applicant does not have to request multiple schools.
Can we change our requested schools after we have submitted an application online?
Yes, in order to change your requested choice schools, simply resubmit a Choice application via our online application or via a paper application. You may do so until the end of the round (January 31 for first round and March 31 for second round) at which point your requests will be locked in.
What happens if the number of requests exceeds the spaces available for priority consideration?
If the number of requests exceeds the spaces available for priority consideration in a given school, a lottery will be held.
What are the criteria for acceptance to a Choice school?
Acceptance to a Choice school outside of a student's attendance area (boundary school) is based upon several criteria: availability of space, sufficient teaching staff, appropriate programs, and necessary facilities for special needs students. Furthermore, any student expelled or in the process of expulsion is omitted from consideration per Colorado state law.
I have applied to multiple magnet schools. How are the admissions and wait list managed?
All students who apply for multiple magnet schools (Hulstrom Options, STEM Lab, STEM Launch or The Studio School) are placed on the wait list for each magnet school that they are not accepted to. We will only allow movement from the wait list once. That is, once a student accepts a spot at a magnet school from the wait list, they are then removed from the wait lists for other magnet schools. Wait lists are kept for only the current school year for which a student applied applied. Parents must re-apply each year for possible placement at the magnet schools.
Does approval for the Schools of Choice Program guarantee acceptance into a school's extended day, tuition-based kindergarten?
No. Once you are approved for Choice, it is for the half-day program only. Extended-day tuition-based kindergarten programs have a tiered acceptance priority: first priority is for students living within the school's attendance area; second priority is for students outside of the boundary attendance area but who reside within the school district; third priority is for students who reside outside of the district. Contact the school's registrar directly for more information about space available in extended-day, tuition-based kindergarten programs.
Also, if you are placed in an extended-day, tuition-based kindergarten program at a school that is not your boundary school, you will have to return to your boundary school for first grade or you can apply to any school that is open for Choice. However, keep in mind that your kindergarten school may not be open to the Schools of Choice program. The only exception to this is magnet schools. If a student is accepted into a magnet school for kindergarten, they are approved to attend the school through all grades served by that school.
Is the Schools of Choice program available to new residents of the district?
New residents to the district may apply to the Schools of Choice Program, and the same criteria for consideration and acceptance apply: space, facilities, etc.
Who is responsible for transportation of students to and from a Choice school?
Students who receive approval of their Choice application and attend schools outside their assigned attendance area are responsible for their own transportation to and from the school. Boundary information can be viewed here.
How long is Choice approval valid?
The duration of a Choice placement is valid for all grades which that school serves. For example, if a student is approved to attend am elementary school, the approval is valid to the end of grade five. However, students must reapply through the Choice Program to attend a middle school that is out of their school boundary area. The same applies for the transition from middle school to high school. If they do not apply, the students' placement automatically reverts to their boundary school.
Secondly, continuous enrollment must occur for the Choice status to remain valid. If a student withdraws from a Choice school, the Choice status becomes null and void; the student would have to return to his/her attendance boundary school.
Lastly, approval of an application for Choice becomes the student's assignment to that school for all grades served by the school, as long as there are no significant changes in that school's enrollment or facilities. Parents need to note that the school district is experiencing growth, and that may impact capacity and consecutive year choice placement.
What happens to a student's Choice status if the family moves within the district?
There are two options: 1) The student can remain at the current Choice school, but parents must continue to provide transportation to that school. OR 2) The student can enroll in the new boundary school and must provide proof of residency within that school's boundary. If option two is selected, the Choice status becomes null and void.
If a family wishes to remain at their Choice school, they should submit a Household Change Form at their Choice school. If a family wishes to enroll in their new boundary school, they should submit a Household Change Form within two weeks of their move at their new boundary school and notify the registrar that they wish to attend their new boundary school rather than remain at their Choice school.
What happens to a student's Choice status if the family moves out of the district?
For traditional schools, Choice is valid for all grades served by the school regardless if the family moves out of the district. If there is a growth in enrollment, the district does reserve the right to revoke Choice approval beginning with out-of-district families.
For magnet schools, Choice is valid for all grades served by the school as long as the family resides in-district. If a family moves out-of-district, they shall write a letter to the Principal and Schools of Choice/Enrollment Office requesting permission to remain. The Schools of Choice/Enrollment Office, in consultation with the Principal, will determine if the student will be approved to stay. The history of enrollment at the school and length of the in-district wait list will be factors used in the decision. Once a family who moves out-of-district is approved to remain at a magnet school, they are approved for all grades served by the school.
What happens if the school district changes school boundaries and current Choice students want to go to a new boundary school?
There are two options: 1) Students can remain at the current Choice school and parents must continue to provide transportation to that school. OR 2) Parents must notify the current Choice school by March 15th of that school year that the student will not return in the fall. In addition, parents must contact and register at their new boundary school. If option two is selected, the Choice status becomes null and void.
Will Choice affect a student's athletic eligibility?
Students' athletic eligibility status is determined in accordance with the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) rules. For specific information, contact the district athletic director at the Educational Support Center.
How and when does Adams 12 Five Star Schools determine the schools that are open for Choice?
The district will determine the specific schools open to choice by December 1 of each year. A list of the schools will be published on the district Web site and through other district publications. That decision is based upon space, adequate budget, and sufficient staffing at each school to accommodate additional students.
If siblings attend a Choice school, does an applicant automatically get into that school?
No. However, when possible, priority will be given to siblings' applications so that families will attend the same school.
What happens if a sibling applies to a school closed to Choice?
Because of crowded conditions, when possible, first priority will be given to students with a sibling currently enrolled at the desired school where approval for choice will result in concurrent enrollment. Second priority will be given to students with a sibling currently enrolled at the desired school but will not result in concurrent enrollment because of the continuation or graduation of the sibling. There are no guarantees that siblings of existing students will be granted choice.
What happens if our family moves outside of our current school's boundary and the school is not open for Choice?
If the school your children attend is closed to Choice, and you move during the school year prior to March 31st but would like your children to stay at their current school for the next school year, you may apply for Choice even though the school is closed.
How are applications from special needs students handled?
Applications for Choice from special education students will be approved if the requested school has adequate space, staff, facilities, budget, and if the requested school can meet the requirements of the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP) within the existing resources.
Will applications from out-of-district students be considered?
Applications for Choice from out-of-district students will be considered within each deadline period only after the requests of in-district students have been considered.
If students apply for Choice then receive approval and change their minds, what happens?
Since the new Choice school officially becomes the home school, the students have to reapply to go to another school or back to the original boundary school.
Can the District make physical changes or staffing changes to a school to accommodate Choice students?
No. The District cannot change the physical building or make alterations to the arrangement or function of rooms; it cannot expand programs, add staffing, or waive eligibility requirements to accommodate Choice students.
Are special programs in the district part of the Schools of Choice application process?
That depends on the program and whether or not a student resides in or out of Adams 12. For in-district students, high school programs that are not school-wide like International Baccalaureate, Legacy 2000, and Horizon SOAR are not part of the choice process. For out-of-district students, they will only be allowed to apply to a program if that school is open to choice for out-of-district students.
The Middle Years Program at Century Middle School follows the same guidelines as the high school programs in reference to in and out-of-district families.
Extended-day, tuition-based kindergarten programs, charter schools and alternative programs are not part of the choice process. K-8 programs like STEM Lab, STEM Launch and Hulstrom Options are part of the choice process. K-5 programs that are school wide like The Studio School, Leroy Drive PYP, Coronado Hills PYP, McElwain PYP and Thornton PYP are part of the choice process.
Can Choice placement be revoked?
Yes. Choice approval can be revoked if a student is recommended for expulsion, is expelled, or engages in conduct which would support expulsion. In addition, the choice approval can be revoked if the district determines the choice application included material misstatements or omissions.
We are outside of the choice timelines but would like our student to attend a different school, what are our options?
If you live outside of the the Adams 12 Five Star School boundaries, the only way to gain admission to Adams 12 is via our choice program. You must wait until choice opens and apply for your student to attend a different school.
If you live inside of the Adams 12 Five Star School boundaries, you can apply for a family-initiated transfer. Please learn more about the transfer process by clicking here.
Schools open to the Schools of Choice Program
By Dec. 1 of each year, Five Star Schools will publish a list of schools in district publications and online that are open to Choice for the following school year.
Click here to view the list of schools open to choice.
Choice Application
Please click here to access the online choice application.
Solicitud para Opción
Favor de hacer clic aquí para la solicitud para opción
Contact Information:
Schools of Choice/Enrollment Office
Nancy Bunjes
720-972-4055
nancy.bunjes@adams12.org