School Choice
PSD's School Choice program allows families to select the school that best meets their child's educational needs based on space availability and eligibility requirements. A school choice application is required to attend a school that is not a student’s neighborhood school or to attend a choice only school.
PSD offers diverse schools and programs
Neighborhood schools offer a rigorous standards-driven curriculum, and gifted, enrichment, and accelerated options. Other schools may have a specific curriculum or focus like International Baccalaureate, Core Knowledge, hands-on learning, dual-language immersion and online learning (see the left-hand menu for more information about options).
The 2022-23 school year application period is now closed. We are no longer accepting applications.
School Choice applications for the 2023-24 school year
The school choice application for the 2023-24 school year will be available in late fall 2022. The current online system used for the school choice application, Smart Choice, is sunsetting at midnight on Monday, Aug. 15, and will not be accessible after this date. After Aug. 15, please contact the school directly regarding the status of a school choice application.
PSD has selected ScribChoice, from Scribbles Software, as the new system for the online school choice application. More information about how to use this system will be provided soon.
PSD also revised policy JFBA-Choice/Open Enrollment, effective July 1, 2022. Please note the following changes to the timing of the School of Choice application period and lottery:
- The first-round application period is anticipated to open in early November 2022 and close at noon MST on Dec. 15, 2022.
- The first-round lottery will occur and seat offers will be made shortly after winter break, in January 2023.
Please review the FAQ’s below for information about the school choice application process and changes to the policy. Questions about School Choice can be sent to choice@psdschools.org.
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Some schools shifted their start and end times in the 2022-23 school year. Please visit the Start and End Times web page to see bell schedules for schools. |
Virtual education option
For more information about this option, visit the Poudre Global Academy Virtual (K-12) website.>>
School transfers
Once a school year begins, open enrollment (school choice) for that school year is over. Applying to attend another school is considered a transfer and must be approved by either the assistant superintendent of elementary or secondary schools.
Those who would like their student to transfer should submit a School Transfer Request form.
FAQs about the 2023-24 application
Why is PSD changing its school choice system/vendor?
- PSD was notified in mid-December 2021 that its current vendor, Smart Choice, was sunsetting its system at the end of the 2021-22 school year.
- After reviewing what surrounding school districts in Colorado use for school choice application processing to help determine our next steps, PSD submitted an RFP (Request for Proposal) to see what other options are available for an online school choice application system.
3. Will there be changes to PSD’s school choice process and policy?
Yes, there are changes to PSD’s school choice process and school of choice policy JFBA-Choice/Open Enrollment effective July 1, 2022.
Among other reasons, the district’s intent behind changing its previous process was to:
• Streamline the school choice application process; and
• Make the school choice application process less complicated.
What new vendor will PSD use?
In early June 2022, PSD selected ScribChoice, from Scribbles Software.
Will there be changes to PSD’s school choice process and policy?
Yes, changes to PSD’s school choice process and school of choice policy JFBA-Choice/Open Enrollment are effective July 1, 2022.
Among other reasons, the district’s intent behind changing its previous process was to:
- Streamline the school choice application process; and
- Make the school choice application process less complicated.
What are the changes?
- The first-round application period is anticipated to begin in early November 2022.
- The first-round application period will close at noon MST on Dec. 15, 2022.
- All first-round applications will continue to be processed in a lottery.
- Seat offers for first-round applicants will be made shortly after winter break, in January 2023.
- The second-round application period will begin approximately two weeks after the first-round lottery is complete and will be open until the first day of school in August 2023.
- Second-round applications are still based on priority ranking, then by date and time of application submission.
- Sibling status for applicants will now be effective once the other sibling has been accepted at that same school.
- If a parent receives a seat-offer notification, they must either Accept or Reject the seat offer within five business days.
- Previously parents had two business days to respond.
- Parents will be notified by email, text, and phone regarding a seat offer from a school.
- More detailed information regarding how the seat offer and waitlist process works will be communicated to families once the district completes the implementation process with ScribChoice.
- For students currently on a school’s waitlist, the option to renew a student’s current application for the same school for the following school year has been eliminated. Students will no longer remain on waitlists for the following school year.
- Students will need to re-apply for each year to be considered for enrollment.
- This change to the renewal process aligns to those in place in surrounding school districts, streamlines the process, and creates equity for all families when applying for school choice.
Please note: Some aspects of this process may change as PSD implements its new school choice online application system. We are committed to communicating changes and updating our school choice information as the implementation process continues.