Choice windows open for schools

The 2008-09 school year is months away, but for families interested in sending their children to schools outside their neighborhood in August, it’s time to consider options.

Choice windows open this month in three local districts; another opened in November.

In Colorado, students can attend school outside neighborhood boundaries, as long as there is room and students provide their own transportation.

Some districts have specific times when families can apply to schools outside their neighborhood, including the following school districts.

Academy District 20

D-20’s choice window opens today and continues until 4 p.m. Feb. 22.

The district made two changes to the process — adding two weeks to the window and allowing outside students to remain in the same school without re-applying each year.

Students must re-apply if they move to a different school. For example, a student moving to middle school from elementary must re-apply.

The program is not first come, first served, so district officials encourage anyone interested to look into available schools and programs. Schools will hold information meetings beginning Monday.

Once the window closes, lotteries are held if there are more students interested than spaces available.

Falcon District 49

The choice window opens Saturday and runs until Feb. 4.

This is the first year students from outside the district can apply to attend a D-49 school, said Erica Mason, in the district’s school support department. “We do have some room at the schools,” she said.

It’s also a chance to let people see the variety of programs in D-49, she added. Several schools are working to become International Baccalaureate schools; others focus on topics such as space or engineering.

IB offers an “internationally minded” program and has a reputation of being academically rigorous, especially at the middle and high school levels.

D-49 will hold a “showcase of schools” from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Jan. 14 at Sand Creek High School, 7005 N. Carefree Circle. Officials from each school will be at the event.

Lewis-Palmer District 38

The choice window opens Tuesday and ends at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 1. Students who want to attend a school outside their neighborhood — including those who plan to attend Monument Academy charter school — must apply.

Students who will be a ninth- or 10th-grader in August can also make a choice. D-38 will open its second high school, and underclassmen can attend Lewis-Palmer or Palmer Ridge next school year regardless of where they live.

Other Districts

The choice window in Colorado Springs School District 11 opened Nov. 1 and runs through Feb. 1.

In Manitou Springs, applications are due in June and July, depending on whether the student has been attending Manitou schools or wants to attend for the first time.

To attend a school outside the neighborhood boundaries in Widefield School District 3, a boundary waiver form must be completed by Feb. 15.

CONTACT INFO

Find applications and more information for each district’s choice program on the Web or by calling the district.

- Academy School District 20 - www.asd20.org or 234-1200

- Falcon School District 49 - www.d49.org or 495-3601

- Lewis-Palmer School District 38 - www.lewispalmer.org or 488-4700

- Colorado Springs School District 11 - www.d11.org or 520-2000

- Manitou Springs School District 14 - sd14web. mssd14.k12.co.us or 685-2024

- Widefield School District 3 — www.wsd3.org or 391-3000