Choice Enrollment

District outlines deadlines for 2020-2021 Choice process

Submit application by January 31st deadline for priority consideration

 Last year, Adams 12 Five Star Schools received more than 4,500 Choice applications for the 2019-2020 school year. In accordance with the state’s open enrollment law, the district’s Choice program allows for students to apply to attend schools outside of their attendance area boundary. 

Both in-district and out-of-district students can apply for Choice. Out-of-district Choice requests are considered after in-district requests.  Acceptance to a Choice school is based on several criteria: availability of space, sufficient teaching staff, appropriate programs and the necessary facilities for special needs students.  

Adams 12 Five Star Schools will publicize the schools open to Choice for the 2020-21 school year on December 1, 2019.  The Choice application and list of open schools are available online at www.adams12.org/choice. For families without computer access, a computer kiosk is available at all schools and at the Educational Support Center located at 1500 E. 128th Avenue in Thornton. 

The deadline for priority consideration is January 31, 2020 and is not first-come, first-served.  If the number of requests exceeds the spaces available in a given school, the district will hold a lottery. Parents and students submitting an application for priority consideration will be notified of the results of their application no later than the third week of February. 

The second deadline to submit a Choice application for the 2020-2021 school year is March 30, 2020. As with the first round, if the number of requests exceeds the spaces available in a given school, the district will hold a lottery.  Notification of approval or denial will be made no later than the third week of April.

In addition to the two deadlines above, in some years a third round of Choice may be held in August and September if space is available. Schools open to the third round of Choice will be posted online at www.adams12.org/choice by August 3, 2020. 

While not a guarantee, when possible, priority will be given to sibling applications so that families will attend the same school. The district encourages siblings to apply in the priority consideration round (1st round) as there are no guarantees that siblings who apply in the 2nd and 3rd rounds will be approved. Families with children already attending schools that are not open to Choice are eligible to submit an application for their existing student to remain at the school or for younger siblings to attend the school with their older siblings.

The duration of a Choice placement is valid for all grades served by the school. For example, if a student attends a Choice elementary school, the approval is valid to the end of fifth grade, as long as there are no significant changes in that school’s enrollment or facilities. When a student transitions from elementary to middle school or from middle to high school, they must reapply for Choice. If they don’t, the student’s placement automatically reverts to their boundary school.  

Students who receive approval of their Choice application and attend schools outside their assigned attendance area are responsible for their own transportation to and from the school.  Participation in the district’s Choice program will affect a student’s right to transportation afforded under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Families eligible for homeless assistance services should consult with the Student and Family Outreach Program before choosing to participate in the Choice program by calling 720-972-6015.  

Secondary programs

Admissions to high school programs with specialized admissions criteria like Horizon SOAR, Legacy 2000, Mountain Range High School of Business, Northglenn High STEM and EC@N-STEM Programs and Thornton High International Baccalaureate (IB) are managed directly by each school.   In-district and out-of-district students wishing to attend high school programs with specialized admissions criteria must apply directly with the school’s program and do not need to apply with the Choice Program.

To learn more about Choice and find answers to frequently asked questions, visit the district website at www.adams12.org/choice.  The Five Star District Planning and Admissions Department determines the acceptance of Choice requests and can be contacted via email at choice@adams12.org or by phone at (720) 972-4055.