• All Seattle Public Schools choice assignments are subject to capacity availability. Submitting this form does not guarantee an assignment.
• If there are more applications than seats available for a particular school and grade, then certain tiebreakers are used to determine assignment and waitlist status. Learn more about tiebreakers.
• Please review the Linked School and Programs as some programs or support services may not be offered at your preferred school.
• By submitting the form, your student may be reassigned to one of their preferred schools if space is available. Once reassigned, a transfer to a different school, including your attendance area school, is not guaranteed. These requests require a Transfer Appeal and are subject to standard review procedures.
• Students with a choice assignment will be continued at that school through the highest grade served, as long as the school offers the services the student needs.
• Non-resident and Early Entrance Kindergarten students are not eligible to participate in the Open Enrollment School Choice process.

• To return to your neighborhood school from a choice school.
  • Students are guaranteed a seat at their neighborhood school if students apply by January 31, and Special Education service needs can be met at their neighborhood school. 
• If your student is currently in a dual language immersion pathway and is rising to middle school or high school. 
  • All current dual language immersion students entering their sixth or ninth grade next year who want to stay in their dual language immersion pathway must apply through School Choice during the Open Enrollment period between Jan 5-31. Late applications are subject to availability and are not eligible for tiebreakers.
• If your student is eligible for Highly Capable (HC) services, you may need to submit a School Choice Form during the Open Enrollment period if:
  • Your student is a current HC student who needs to enroll in their HC Pathway School.
  • Your student is a newly identified HC student (2025-26SY) who received HC eligibility and placement notification via The Source
  • Your student is eligible for HC services and entering ninth grade, and either:
    • Did not attend an HC Pathway School in eighth grade, or
    • Currently attends their attendance area or option high school but wishes to attend an HC Pathway High School.
• For more information about Highly Capable pathways (including elementary and middle school options), visit the district’s website or email hicap@seattleschools.org with any questions.

Families can list up to five schools on an open enrollment school choice form. During open enrollment, SPS uses a choice algorithm to place students at the first school on their list that has space/is available. If no ranked schools on the application have space, the student will be placed on a waitlist for only their top-ranked school.

Yes, you can apply to any option school or attendance area school through open enrollment as long as it offers the program your child needs (i.e., General Education, Focus, Distinct). If you are not sure of your student’s special service program, review the Linked School Chart for more details.

Yes, rank the schools in order of preference. Importantly, if you are put on a waitlist, it will be only for your first-choice school. This should be the school your student would most like to attend if you do not get in through the initial placement.

This number fluctuates annually. We encourage families to remain positive and optimistic, and to plan accordingly to attend their currently assigned school if they do not receive their choice assignment. See the historical choice data for school choice results by school and grade level.

Families applying for the EEU Kindergarten program should follow the general School Choice process and timeline. Applications submitted by January 31 receive tiebreaker consideration; late applications are accepted through March 31 but are not eligible for tiebreakers.

Families applying for the EEU PreK program follow a separate process and timeline. Students must be at least 3 years old by May 31, 2026 to be eligible, and priority will be given to students with a current IEP. The online application form will be available below on the School Choice webpage. Applications submitted January 5–31 are considered on time and receive tiebreaker consideration; late applications are accepted through May 31 but are not eligible for tiebreakers. Results will be available in the first week of June.

Please visit the Early Learning Department page for more details.

SPS is moving our enrollment timeline to better fit the district’s goal of ensuring that all families have ample time and clarity to make informed decisions about their school choices. This move sooner informs families about their assigned schools, which allows for more time to make the best choices for their students.

This change also helps schools be better prepared to welcome students on the first day of school, ensuring that staff, classrooms, and resources are ready to support a smooth and successful start to the year.

This change is designed to make the enrollment process more transparent, streamlined, and quicker for families. By adjusting the timeline, we are providing families with more time to explore their options ahead of time, ask questions, and decide what’s best for their student’s future with the knowledge of their assigned school at SPS.

This change also allows for districts to ensure schools are adequately staffed, so every classroom is student-ready by the start of the new school year, which research has shown vastly improves educational outcomes for students and supports our teachers.

Yes, this change is part of our ongoing commitment to equity. Our goal is to provide clearer and more timely access to information for families to ensure that all families, regardless of background or resources, have equal access to information and opportunities. We are especially focused on supporting historically underrepresented communities, ensuring they have ample time to explore all available educational options.

To make sure we are increasing access for families and providing resources for families furthest from educational justice, we will be providing in-person enrollment events through community engagements at multiple locations including at our annual admissions fair. Enrollment staff will also be readily available for walk-in support at the John Stanford Center, enrollment counter during normal hours of operations, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Making this choice often can be daunting, but it is important to note that each of our schools provides a unique and rigorous educational experience for your student, ensuring a high level of education no matter which school you may choose. When weighing this choice, here are some points to consider:

• An option school may offer specialized programs or a different educational focus that could better match your student’s needs or interests. We encourage families to carefully consider what aligns with their student’s learning style, growth, and future goals when making this decision.
  • Learn more about our service schools, option schools, and programs
  • Learn more about all SPS schools
• Staying at your neighborhood school can provide a sense of community within your neighborhood, with students attending the same school as their peers, often close to home.

Tiebreakers for open enrollment will stay the same as before. They are determined by several factors, including sibling attendance, proximity to the school (geo-zone) and lottery number priority. These factors help us ensure that we are allocating spots fairly while considering the needs of all applicants.

More information about tiebreakers.

At this time, the timeline change does not impact the overall number of spots available in option schools. The capacity remains the same; however, we are working to better align enrollment numbers with demand, ensuring that all families have access to their preferred options when possible. Please note that participating in open enrollment does not guarantee that your student’s school assignment will change.

The timeline change will not impact your enrollment in your neighborhood school. If you live within the designated boundaries, your student will continue to be enrolled in their neighborhood school as usual. The timeline adjustment is focused on providing flexibility and clarity for families making decisions about option schools or who are considering transferring.

Read more about general enrollment.

If your student is currently enrolled in another school, this change will not impact their enrollment status. However, if you are considering enrolling in a new school or returning to your neighborhood school, the adjusted timeline provides families with more time to decide, knowing whether their student has been admitted to their school of choice or not.

We encourage you to reach out if you have specific questions about your student’s current enrollment or potential changes by contacting our Enrollment office at admissions@seattleschools.org or by phone 206-252-0760.

Families of current SPS students will use The Source to submit their school choice application. Please review steps for submitting below.

1. Log in to your parent Source account
   • If you have not set up an account, visit the Source Setup page
   • If you have trouble setting up an account, contact the school office to confirm your email address is on record and the parent/guardian box is selected.
   • Email Source Support sourcesupport@seattleschools.org if your information is correct, but you are unable to log in.
2. After logging in, select School Choice from the left menu.
3. The SPS School Choice Application will launch, carefully read the instructions.
4. Scroll to the List Your Preferred Schools and Programs section. To select a school, click the drop-down on the left, then choose the Program from the column on the right. You may make up to 5 selections.
5. If you have at least one student enrolled at the choice school, use the checkboxes in the Sibling Keep Together section to select the other student(s).
6. If you have siblings not listed or are an employee, select the additional information check box and enter details in the field provided. Otherwise, leave the box unchecked.
7. Click Submit. A message will display after you submit.

If you have questions, please contact the Enrollment Team.

This form will be available starting January 5th at 9am.