Student open enrollment begins this month
The Student Open Enrollment period begins this month with high school kicking off first next week, followed by elementary and middle school later this month.
“It is critical that students new to kindergarten, rising to middle school and entering high school take this opportunity to submit their rankings for the school assignment lottery,” said Rob Spicker, spokesperson for the School District of Lee County. “It is even more critical for middle school families at a school outside of their proximity zone complete the continuation form before Jan. 25. Missing this window of opportunity means they will be assigned to a school without their input.”
The district’s website, leeschools.net, has level specific pages to guide parents through the school assignment process.
“As long as their applications are in before 4 p.m. on Feb. 29 they have the same chance as another student of being assigned to their first-choice school,” Spicker said.
The Student Open Enrollment process can be completed through a FOCUS Parent Portal account, at leeschools.net/our_schools/focus. The school assignments will be released in early April.
The window for elementary school open enrollment is from Jan. 26, through Feb. 29.
“For incoming kindergarten parents, this is their opportunity to rank the schools in their attendance zone for the school assignment lottery,” Spicker said. “First, if they have not done so already, they must register their incoming student with the Student Enrollment Office.”
Registration can be managed entirely online by creating, or logging into their FOCUS Parent Portal.
“Parents who want to visit Student Enrollment in person to register need to make an appointment,” Spicker said. “Register now if you have not already so that you have plenty of time before the Student Open Enrollment deadline to submit your choices for the school assignment lottery.”
Once a student is registered, parents use their FOCUS Parent Portal to rank the schools in their proximity zone and submit them for the student assignment lottery.
“The deadline is 4 p.m. on Feb. 29. There is no benefit to submitting an application early and no penalty for submitting one on the last day. All applications are processed at the same time after the end of Student Open Enrollment,” Spicker said.
The Open Enrollment for middle school is also from Jan. 26, through Feb. 29, but includes a new proximity-based student assignment plan.
All middle school parents will receive an email from the district explaining to them what actions, if any, need to be taken.
“Students who are attending a school outside of their new proximity zone need to complete a Middle School Continuation form by Jan. 25 to acknowledge they will stay in their current school next year and will provide their own transportation,” Spicker said. “If they need transportation, they instead select to enter the student assignment lottery for a seat in a school in their new zone.”
The Middle School Continuation Form can be found in the FOCUS Parent Portal.
“It is important that parents read that email and respond appropriately, so they do not miss the opportunity to stay in their current school or rank the schools they prefer in their new zone,” Spicker said. “Current fifth graders in an elementary school should us the interactive map on our website to confirm what schools are in their proximity zone and use their FOCUS Parent Portal to rank their choices for the school assignment lottery between Jan. 26 and Feb. 29.”
Approximately 4,500 students who are currently attending a middle school are not in their new proximity zone.
Open enrollment also includes the middle school art program applications, which will be accepted Jan. 16 through Jan. 26. Spicker said the application requires two letters of recommendation and an audition. The three academies for the arts schools are Cypress Lake, North Fort Myers and Veterans Park. The applications are available on the schools’ websites.
High school open enrollment is from Jan. 16 through Feb. 29. The advanced program applications will be accepted from Jan. 16 through Jan. 26.
“Advanced programs in high school are Arts, IB and Cambridge/AICE. Students first complete the Student Open Enrollment Choice Application form in FOCUS. Staying in FOCUS they then must fill out the Advanced Program application,” Spicker said. “Arts programs will require an audition. Students will receive notice if they are accepted into the program and confirming that acceptance will automatically enroll them in that school. High schools are placing this information on their website.”
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email news@breezenewspapers.com