Enrolling in School
Early Childhood Education
While Colorado State law mandates education beginning in grade 1, research has shown that children who are given the opportunity to attend a quality preschool perform much better academically. Denver Public Schools is now increasing the number of schools that offer ECE (Early Childhood Education). Most are 1/2 day programs. Check with your neighborhood school to see if they offer this option. Most programs are for four year olds but there are also a limited number of "early ECE" programs for 3 year olds. All DPS elementary schools begin with at least ½ day kindergarten for 5 year olds and many now have the option of a full-day (tuition based) kindergarten.
Choice Process
You have choices
Denver Public Schools recognizes that each child learns differently. To help meet students' unique needs and ensure their success in school, the district offers a wide array of programs and special schools.
Students may enroll in any school in the district regardless of where they live if there is space available. As you decide where you want your student to attend school, think about these questions:
- Does your child have a specific talent or interest?
- Is your child gifted, or does he/she need some extra help and attention?
- How does your child learn best (highly structured environment, hands-on learning, etc.)?
- What are your daycare needs?
- Is transportation available to your school of choice or can you provide it?
So many choices...
There's a world of choice in Denver Public Schools. Like children, no two neighborhood schools are alike. There may be some similarities on the outside, but the programs and themes in each school offer incredible variety. The best thing to do is visit a few schools that are of interest to you or your child. You will quickly note the differences and as a parent you will know which seems right for your child. Don't be afraid to trust your instincts as a parent as to which school would be the best fit for your child.
Enrollment Information
Visit your neighborhood school
Most students choose to enroll in their neighborhood school, where many excellent programs are offered. Start by calling your neighborhood school to find out if it meets the needs of your child. If you need help locating your neighborhood school, call the School Boundary Hotline at 720-423-3400, or search online by entering your home address at http://www.dpsk12.org/boundary.
Explore the Choice process to attend another neighborhood school
First Round
If you are interested in a school other than your neighborhood school, Choice allows you to apply for a transfer to another neighborhood school. For the best chance of securing a seat for your child in another school, completed enrollment forms for the school year need to be returned in late January prior to the end of First Round Choice. A firm deadline is set each year for the end of first round Choice. Be sure to confirm with the school when this date is and be sure to have all materials in by this date. This date is firm and exceptions are not made. The Choice forms are available at schools in early January. Forms may be returned to any school for central processing. A lottery will be conducted if there are more applicants than space available in a school. Families will receive acceptance letters or waiting list notification following the close of First Round Choice. For more information contact the School of Choice Office at http://soco.dpsk12.org.
Second Round
After the first round Choice ends, you have the opportunity to complete an application for Second Round Choice. You will need to return Choice forms to the specific school or schools that interest you. These may be completed in August. Students are enrolled during this second round of the Choice process on a first-come, first-served basis. The decision is made before school starts. Waiting lists are maintained for schools with more applicants than space available. For more information contact the School of Choice Office at http://soco.dpsk12.org.
Choose a magnet school or the Highly Gifted Magnet Program
Magnet schools may emphasize a particular style of learning or serve students with a common area of interest such as Dual Language, Montessori, and International Baccalaureate. Some Magnets are located within a school. Others are the school. Transportation generally is provided to designated sites; eligibility for transportation is subject to general district guidelines.
Each Magnet school manages its own application process. Ask for application information from the Magnet school that interests you. The deadlines for the Magnet schools is usually earlier than for regular Choice so be sure to check with the school you are interested in and know that deadlines are closely adhered to.
The district provides the Highly Gifted Magnet Program for first-through eighth-grade students with extraordinary academic needs, abilities and potential and an Advanced Kindergarten Program. Note that the deadlines for kindergarten, elementary and middle gifted and talented magnet applications is earlier than for regular choice. Check with the school you are interested in to confirm the deadline date. Applications are available in schools, online at http://gt.dpsk12.org or from the Gifted and Talented Education Department at 720-423-8272.
Title 1 schools
If your child attends a Title I school that has been designated as being "on improvement", you will receive a letter in January which gives you the option to send your child to a selected higher performing school with transportation provided. Complete the enclosed form and return it by the deadline noted in the letter. The form can be mailed in the self-addressed envelope provided, or can be returned to any Denver Public School.
A note about transportation and Choice or Magnet Schools
Transportation to another neighborhood school is not provided through the Choice process. Transportation to Magnet schools is provided in most cases. Transportation may also available if you choose to attend another school under the Title 1 unsatisfactory schools process. In all other cases, you must provide your own transportation through the Choice process.
Consider charter schools or other schools
DPS offers charter schools and other choices such as the Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning and online education. Charter schools manage their own applications and there is no transportation provided through DPS.
What you'll need to register
If you are enrolling for the first time in Denver Public Schools, you will need to bring:
- Verification of child's date of birth (birth certificate or other documentation)
- Your child's immunization records
- Proof of your home address (something mailed to your address, such as utility bill or copy of a lease)
- Name and address of your child's previous school (if you are transferring from another school district) so that your child's academic records may be obtained
Before school starts in the fall, new and returning students are asked to register with schools and verify personal information on file. Some schools will send home information for families to verify and return. If you do not receive information at home, elementary students should visit their school the week before school starts to register. Students moving to middle or high schools must register at their new school. Registration for middle and high school students is in early August.
Age Requirements
On or before October 1, your child must be: 4 years old for early childhood education; 5 years old for kindergarten; or 6 years old for first grade.
When to begin the application process
When beginning school, the birth date of the child determines the grade they placement. For kindergarten, children must turn five years old on or before October 1 of a school year to participate that year. Check with the schools you are considering to confirm the date.
The process of applying for an Early Childhood (ECE) placement is the same as for any other "choice" applicants. The choice period begins in January and usually ends in late February. It is important to know the deadlines and have your application in by that time as space in ECE is very limited and demand is very high. To apply through the choice process it is necessary to complete an application which will be available at all DPS schools during the choice period beginning in January. It is a lottery system and deadlines are strictly adhered to. You can obtain a choice application and confirm deadlines at the main office of any Denver Public School.
If Your child is currently in a Denver Public School and you want to transfer schools
Depending on your situation, the process may vary. If you are moving to a new area and want to attend your new neighborhood school, simply go to the school with the needed registration forms and register your child.
If you want to transfer your child at the start of the next school year to a new school outside of your attendance area, you will apply during the regular choice period in January and February. For schools within DPS this process is taken care of by the choice office. See http://soco.dpsk12.org for additional information. If for some reason you need to move your child to a new school during the year and you want to move to a school that is not in your neighborhood, the process becomes more difficult. It is best at this point to talk to the principal of the school you are leaving and the principal of the school you hope to have your child attend and see if that move can be accomplished. This is called an Administrative Transfer and requires Principal signatures from both schools.
Pick a school and stick to it
In an ideal world, we want to provide as much stability as possible for our children. Understandably, there are often very valid reasons to move your child to a new school, but, evidence shows that for each move a child makes within the school year, critical instructional time is lost. The time you put into researching and finding the right school before enrolling your child will cut down on the number of moves your child will have to make. This translates into better academic performance!