Application Periods and Directions
School choice policies:
The application link is below the "School Choice Applications Directions" section on this page.
About School Choice
Not sure you need to apply? Situations when applications are required and not required
When Applications Are Not Required:
- Returning to Neighborhood School for Next School Year: Students who wish to enroll at or return to their designated neighborhood school for the next school year do not need to apply. Contact the designated neighborhood school before school begins to enroll the student.
- Moved Out of Attendance Area: A student who has moved out of a designated neighborhood attendance area can remain enrolled through all grades served at that school. Parents/legal guardians will need to provide transportation.
- Staying at Current School Choice for Next School Year: Students who intend to remain at their current school choice for the next year do not need to reapply.
- District Employees for Next School Year: District employees who wish to enroll their child in a district neighborhood school that is not their student’s designated neighborhood school for the next school year should contact the school’s registrar.
When Applications Are Required:
- School Choice Application: A school choice application must be submitted for each student and for each school to attend a school that is not the student’s designated neighborhood school or to attend a choice-only school. This includes siblings and multiple birth siblings (e.g., twins, triplets).
- Waitlisted Students: Students on a school's waitlist who have not yet received a seat offer must reapply for consideration for the next school year.
- Changing Schools Mid-Year: Students who wish to change schools or return to their designated neighborhood school after the school year has started must follow the School Choice application process.
- Changing School Levels: Students changing levels for the next school year (e.g., elementary to middle school or middle school to high school) who wish to attend a school that is not their designated neighborhood school must follow the School Choice application process.
- Rejected or Declined Seat Offers: If a seat offer is rejected or automatically declined due to no response, parents/legal guardians can reapply to the school.
- District Option School Programs: District employees who wish to enroll their child in a district-option school program that does not have a neighborhood attendance area must follow the School Choice application process. Option program schools include Harris and Traut Elementary Schools, Kinard Middle School, Polaris Expeditionary Learning School, and Poudre Global Academy.
- Changing Schools for District Employees: District employees who wish to change schools for their students after the school year has started must follow the School Choice application process.
Acceptance, Eligibility and Transportation
PSD’s K-12 school choice program lets families choose the school that best fits their child’s needs. Acceptance depends on space availability and eligibility. Applying does not guarantee enrollment.
Alternative Schools: Centennial High School and Poudre Community Academy have separate application processes. Contact these schools directly for details.
PSD Charter Schools: PSD Charter schools have their own application processes. Contact them directly for information.
Early Childhood Programs: The school choice program does not apply to early childhood programs.
Transportation: Parents/legal guardians are responsible for round-trip transportation for school choice students. For more information, see District Policy JFBA Choice/Open Enrollment or visit the PSD Transportation website.
Kindergarten and School Choice
Parents/legal guardians must register kindergarten students at their designated PSD neighborhood school, even if a choice/open enrollment application is pending. Check District Policy JEB for age requirements.
Registering at the neighborhood school does not affect pending school choice applications or potential seat offers.
Online Registration: Open for the 2025-26 school year for incoming kindergartners.
In-Person Registration: Available anytime at neighborhood elementary schools. Contact your school for hours.
Why Register Early: Early registration helps schools plan classroom sizes, staffing needs, and available school choice seats.
School Choice Application Periods
First-Round Application Period
- First-round school choice applications are processed through a lottery to determine order within the application's priority ranking.
- All first-round applications are based on space availability and eligibility requirements.
- The first-round application period for the 2025-26 school year is closed
Second-Round Application Period
- Second-round applications are based on priority ranking and the date and time of submission (not a lottery system). Applications are placed on the waitlist after any first-round applicants within their applicable priority ranking.
- The second-round application period for the 2025-26 school year is open and will close in early May 2026.
The second round is an option for families who:
- Did not participate in the first round of school choice applications.
- Rejected a seat offer or had it automatically declined due to no response and wish to reapply.
- Wish to apply to additional schools after submitting a first-round application.
School Choice Application Directions
Apply for School Choice Here |
Existing Account: If you have an account, log in and update your information if prompted.
New Account: If you don't have an account, create one.
Application Steps
New Accounts:
- Parent Profile: Complete the guardian demographic questionnaire to create a Family Dashboard.
- PSD Residents: Follow directions for entering the parent/guardian address.
- Add Students: Add students to the Family Dashboard by selecting the blue ‘Associate Student’ button.
- For multiple students or multiple birth siblings (twins, triplets), add each student. Each student must have their own profile.
- Enter PSD ID# for students currently enrolled in a K-12 PSD school. Contact the school or visit ParentVUE if you don't know the PSD ID#.
- Note: Currently enrolled students do not include those at PSD charter schools.
- New students to PSD do not need a PSD ID# to proceed.
- Single Account: Students can only be attached to one parent/legal guardian account. Duplicate accounts are not allowed.
Family Dashboard:
- Submit Applications: Submit school choice applications when the application period is open.
- You can't rank or place schools in order of preference.
- Duplicate applications for the same student are not allowed and could be denied.
- Applications are for the next grade level only, not for retaining a student in the same grade.
- You must complete the application in full. Partially filled applications can't be saved.
- Check Updates: Periodically log in to check your Family Dashboard for updates.
- Priority Ranking: Determined based on application information (Policy JFBA).
- Confirmation Email: After submitting, you'll receive a confirmation email from scribonline@scribsoft.com. Add this email to your safe senders list.
- The confirmation email is proof of submission.
- Correct Information: Ensure you apply for the correct school year and provide accurate information. You can’t make changes after submission.
- If the address or grade is incorrect after submission, email choice@psdschools.org for directions to update profiles.
- Submit a new application after updating profiles to ensure correct priority ranking.
- Incorrect applications will be withdrawn.
Notifications, Transfers and Withdrawing
Notifications and Seat Offer Process
- Seat Offer Information: Detailed information is available in the documents: Seat Offer Process | Español Seat Offer Process.
- Application Status: Contact the school directly for the status of a school choice application or space availability.
- Seat Offers: Based on space availability and continue until all seats are filled. Check email and log into your account frequently for updates.
- Responding to Seat Offers: Respond online via the Family Dashboard. On cell phones, scroll to the side to see "Accept" or "Reject" buttons.
- Response Time: Parents/legal guardians have five weekdays (M-F, including holidays and other school closure days) to accept or reject the seat offer. Day one starts on the weekday that the notification is sent.
- Accepting a Seat: Accepting a seat offer means declining the student's seat at their PSD neighborhood school for the next school year. The neighborhood school may offer the seat to another school choice applicant.
- Rejected Offers: If a seat offer is rejected or automatically declined due to no response, it cannot be reversed. Parents/guardians can reapply to the school. Respond to notifications before the deadline, no exceptions.
- Confirmation: Confirm your response to a seat offer on the Family Dashboard.
- Waitlist: If no seat is available, applicants are placed on a waitlist until a seat is offered or the list is purged annually.
- Commitment: Per district policy JFBA Choice/Open Enrollment, students must commit to remain in the school or program of choice for at least the remainder of the school year. To return to the neighborhood school or attend a different school after the school year starts, follow the School Choice application process.
Changing Schools After School Year Has Started
Students who want to return to their designated neighborhood school or attend a different school after the school year starts must follow the School Choice application process. Refer to District Policy JFBA Choice/Open Enrollment for more information.
Leaving a School of Choice School
Students who leave a school of choice during the school year and wish to return the next year must submit a new School Choice application. Acceptance will depend on space availability.