Seattle Public Schools | - Frequently Asked Questions for Elementary Enrollment

Frequently Asked Questions about Elementary Enrollment for 2009-2010

What's a "reference area"?
A "reference area" is a geographic area surrounding an elementary school. Every student has one elementary reference area school based on the student’s home address. Students who apply during Open Enrollment will receive assignment priority if they choose their reference area school. (Priorities for special programs may vary.) To find out your reference area, contact Enrollment Services or the Bilingual Family Center. Maps are also available online at www.seattleschools.org.

What's a "cluster"?
Elementary schools are grouped into nine geographic clusters: North, Northeast, Northwest, Queen Anne/Magnolia, Central, South, Southeast, West Seattle North, and West Seattle South. Each cluster has four or more elementary schools, and each school within a cluster has a reference area.

Do alternative schools have a reference area or cluster?
The “reference area" for alternative schools might include a combination of elementary school clusters. Regardless of where they live, students can apply for any alternative school. Students in certain clusters get priority for those schools, and may also get yellow school bus transportation. More information is available on page 37 of the 2009-2010 Elementary Enrollment Guide.

What happens when a school doesn't have space for all the students who want to go there?
Sometimes a school’s target enrollment cannot accommodate all students who list that school as a choice. When this happens, tie-breakers determine which students will be assigned to the school. Tiebreakers apply during the Open Enrollment period in the following order:

1. Sibling: A child gets priority to attend a school where a brother or sister living in the same household attends in 2008-09 and will continue to attend in 2009-10.

2. Reference Area: Students who live in the school’s reference area get priority over those who live outside the reference area. (For Spectrum, the elementary school cluster is used. This does not apply for APP—see page 36 of the 2009-10 Elementary Enrollment Guide for more information.) For alternative schools, a grouping of clusters forms the geographic area for this second priority. See page 37 of the 2009-10 Elementary Enrollment Guide for more information.

3. Special Program Preference: Students reassigned to a different school for 2009-2010 because their school closed will receive priority. See “My child’s school is closing” on page 35 of the 2009-10 Elementary Enrollment Guide for a list of who is eligible for this priority.

3. Distance: Students who live closer to a school are assigned before students who live farther away. (This tiebreaker is not used to make assignments to some alternative schools or to APP and Spectrum programs.)

4. Lottery: Each student is given a random three-digit lottery number. If tiebreakers 1-3 do not break the tie, then the student's lottery number determines the assignment.

What happens if I don't get my first choice school?
This answer applies ONLY for applications received during the Open Enrollment period. You are more likely to be assigned to one of your designated choices because both the ORDER of your choice AND the tiebreakers are considered at each stage of the assignment process. Here is how the process works:

1. All applications received during Open Enrollment (March 2 - 31) are processed together.

2. We attempt to place all children at their first choice schools. When there are more applicants than spaces, we apply "tiebreakers" to determine the assignment.

3. If your child is not assigned to the first choice school during this first round, he or she is put on a waiting list for that first choice school.

A child may be on only one waiting list. If you would rather have your child on the waiting list for one of your choices other than your first choice, you can indicate your preferred waiting list school on the school application. Your child will be placed on the waiting list for your preferred waiting list school only if assigned to a school ranked lower on your application than the waiting list school. Otherwise, the waiting list school will default to the first choice school.

4. Applications for children who have not been assigned to first choice schools are processed again based on the second choice school. At this time, the computer reviews all children assigned to that second choice school. Your child will be assigned to this second choice school if he/she has a higher priority (based on tiebreakers) than other children requesting the school.

5. This process continues until all children have been assigned.

6. If we can’t assign your child to any of your choices, he/she will be assigned to your reference area school if space is available, or to the cluster school closest to your home address with available space. This is called a mandatory assignment. (If you list a child care address on the application and a mandatory assignment is needed, the assignment will be made to a school in the cluster where your child care is located.)

7. This process is repeated for applications received early in April. Applications received during that time will be processed only after all of the Open Enrollment applications have been processed.

When will I find out my child's school assignment?
If you submit an Early Sibling Application in the fall for an eligible student, you will receive assignment information toward the end of February. If you apply during Open Enrollment, we will mail your assignment information (and waiting list information if applicable) at the end of May.

My child has been placed on a waiting list. What does that mean?
If space becomes available at the waitlisted school, we will contact you to offer admission. Once assignment letters go out at the end of May, you can check waiting list status on our Automated Assignment/Waiting List Line at (206) 252-0212. You will need your child’s birth date and student ID number. Waiting lists for 2009-10 are maintained until September 30, 2009. After that, waiting lists are dissolved and reassignments end.

Can I use my child's after-school child care address to enroll my child?
No. Assignments are always based on your residence address. A child care address is considered a service address and is used only for transportation or mandatory assignments. If you want transportation based on a child care address, apply for schools in the cluster where the child care is located.

Do siblings get priority to be assigned together? What about twins?
Sibling Priority is given to a student with a sibling who is already attending (at the time of application) and anticipated to continue in the requested school next year. The sibling in the requested school must be listed on the application, and siblings must live in the same household with the same verified address on record.

Sibling Linkage occurs when two (or more) siblings are requesting the same new school during Open Enrollment. If a younger student is assigned to a ranked school choice first, the older sibling receives linkage priority for that school. If an older sibling is assigned first and a younger sibling is waitlisted for the same school, the waitlisted sibling receives linkage credit to improve his/her status on the waiting list.

Sibling priority has higher ranking than sibling linkage. While both priority and linkage increase the chances of siblings being assigned together, neither guarantees assignment to the same school.

Twins or multiples (same birthday) will be assigned together during Open Enrollment when sibling information is provided on the application and the same school choices are ranked in the same order for both children. The results for the child with the highest SPS student ID number will determine the school assignment for both students. This does not apply in cases where the students have different program needs.

Can I appeal the assignment?
In exceptional circumstances, parents or guardians may appeal their student’s school assignment. For more informa¬tion, visit our Web site or contact En¬rollment Services or the Bilingual Family Center. If you are asking for priority con¬sideration for a school based on a stu¬dent’s medical or psychological condi¬tion, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act assists students with disabilities. To find out more about requesting accom¬modations under Section 504, contact Enrollment Services, the Bilingual family Center or the Seattle Public Schools General Counsel’s Office at (206) 252-0110. For information about appealing special education assignments, please contact the Special Education department at (206) 252-0058. Transfer appeals for special education assignments are only for concerns about building assignment. If you have concerns about or disagree with your child's program, you should raise those concerns with your child's IEP team.

Do I have to go through this process every year?
No. Once a student is assigned to a school, the student is automatically continued at the same school through the highest grade unless a change is requested. Even if you move within the District, your child may continue at the same school (but may not be eligible for transportation service from the new address). For students who live or move outside the District boundaries, please see our nonresident student information.

I'm moving to Seattle and missed the Open Enrollment period. What do I do?
Many families relocate to Seattle and we enroll children throughout the year. We'll be happy to work with you whenever you move. It's a good idea to take a look at the Enrollment Checklist (before you pack!) so you know what documents and information you'll need for school enrollment.

Do I have to live in the Seattle School District for my child to attend school in Seattle?
Nonresident students can attend Seattle Public Schools under certain circumstances. For more details, see our nonresident student information.

Last updated: February 18, 2009