School Choice
School Choice applications are accepted through May 31.
Seattle Public Schools students are initially assigned to a designated attendance area elementary, middle, or high school based on each student's home address. To view the attendance area schools for your address, use the address lookup tool on our About Our Schools webpage.
Students may apply for assignment to a different school (or program) through School Choice.
It is not guaranteed that students will be assigned to the school (or program) of their choice; students are only guaranteed assignment to their attendance area school. Additional information about option schools, including individual GeoZone maps, is available on the school webpages linked below.
Open Enrollment Timeline
- Online registration: for new students for 2020-21 school year begins: Jan. 6, 2020
- Open Enrollment for School Choice: Feb. 3 - 21, 2020
- Open Enrollment results: April 21, 2020
- School Choice Window Closes: May 31, 2020
- Non-Seattle Resident Enrollment: June 1-August 31, 202
Proficiency language testing for Native Heritage Speakers and for new students in grades 2-5 at McDonald and John Stanford Int’l will take place as planned if schools resume in person instruction on April 27. Testing takes place after Open Enrollment results are posted in the end of April. If the school closure is extended past April 27 due to COVID-19, the proficiency language tests will be delayed or canceled. If testing is cancelled, Native/Heritage speakers and 2-5 grade levels will be assigned according to waitlist order.
Open Enrollment
The 2020-21 Open Enrollment for the 2020-21 school year is February 3 - 21, 2020.
Open Enrollment window is the annual period where students may first apply to attend a different school or program next year. School Choice applications will be accepted through May 31, but are only eligible for priority tiebreakers if received during Open Enrollment.
Please note, the Open Enrollment window was extended one week. The window closing date was February 14 is now February 21.
See key enrollment dates for 2020-21 school year.
School Choice forms are available:
- Through The Source under School Choice
- PDF format on this page
- At the John Stanford Center
School Choice (2020-2021)
When you have completed filling out your choice form and select [SUBMIT], the file will appear as an attachment in your default email application. Please be sure to include your student's last and first name in the subject line of the email.
As an alternative to hitting [SUBMIT] you may save the file as a PDF or take a picture of the form and email it to schoolchoice@seattleschools.org or fax a printed version to (206)252-0761.
If you are submitting your choice form by email, please include your student's name in the subject line as well as your school choices in the body of the email.
There have been compatibility issues with Mac users and the Safari browser - please try using a different browser, or completing the form by hand and attaching a photo of the form in an email.
Please submit your School Choice forms to schoolchoice@seattleschools.org!
Unsure which program to apply for? If your student is not receiving special education services, then you should apply as General Education. The following programs are for students who are receiving special education services:
- Focus
- Moderate Intensive
- Distinct
- SEL
- Access
If your student's service model for special education is SM1, you should apply as General Education. If you are seeking the HCC program for your student, there is an option to select it where it is available. Dual Language Immersion students should also apply as General Education.