 When
Where
What to Bring
How
The Boston Public
Schools offer a variety
of academic, social and cultural
experiences that is
hard to match
anywhere else. Families can make choices
from a customized list of schools
that
typically includes more than 20
elementary
schools. When you register,
you will need to pick at least five schools,
but you may list as many as you wish.
Since the schools differ a lot, it is
helpful to
think about what factors are important to
you and your child. The best way to get to
know the schools is to
visit; however, you
can also pick up a copy of
"Introducing the
Boston
Public Schools 2008" at any Family
Resource Center, or view it online at
www.bostonpublicschools.orgto read up
on each school's offerings.
What's
New
Wait List- There is no longer a cap on the
waitlist.
Previously waitlist were capped
at 25%.
Cross-zone assignments within walk zone:
Families can apply to any school within their “walk zone” (one mile for
elementary schools), including schools located in other assignment zones.
Families who live within a school’s walk zone receive priority for 50
percent of all available seats during the first assignment round – for
students applying to Kindergarten and Grades 1, 6 and 9.
Additional K1 seats: Over
the past three years, Boston Public Schools has added
84 Kindergarten 1 classrooms
(kindergarten for four-year-olds). Please note that while these seats more than double the
availability of seats for children who will be four by September 1, capacity
is still limited. Applicants for K1 seats should still consider alternative options as
assignment to one of these seats is not guaranteed.
When
Registration is ongoing; however, for
your best chance at a school assignment of your choice, it is
important to register during Round 1.
Round 1 Registration: January 5, 2009- February 6, 2009
Round 2 Registration: February 11, 2009 - March 20, 2009
Round 3 Registration: March 23, 2009-May 1, 2009
Round 4 Registration: May 4, 2009- June 5, 2009
During Round 1, to
avoid long lines, a queuing system is implemented and you will be asked to
register during the week assigned to your last name (parent's last name):
A-I....................January 5-9, 2009
J-Q................... January 12-16, 2009
R-Z................... January 20-23, 2009
Open to all.........Jan 26 - Feb 6, 2009
All first-round applications, regardless of
the day or week they are completed, will be processed together at the end of
the round.
Where
You can register at any of the following Family Resource Centers.
All sites are open the following days and times:
Mon- Fri.
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
times available at the East Zone (ONLY) 9:00 am -12:00 PM
 East
Zone:
1216 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester
(617) 635-8015
North Zone:
55 Malcolm X Blvd, Roxbury
(617) 635-9010
West Zone:
515 Hyde Park Ave. Roslindale
(617) 635-8040
Satellite registration site:
East Boston
First Round open Mon- Fri during First
Round Registration January 5-February 6, 2009
Tuesdays, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Umana /Barnes Middle School
312 Border Street
East Boston, MA *
This site is not open during school closings and vacation weeks.
Allston/Brighton
First Round Open all
Week during January26, 2009-January 30, 2009
Thursdays, 8:30 am-5:00pm
Jackson/Mann Community Center
Brighton, MA
City Hall
One Week only during First
Round Registration
January 12, 2009-Hanuary 16, 2009
What to
Bring
- Your child's original birth certificate
- Proof of current immunizations
- Three proofs of
residency
from the official BPS list
- Additional documents are required for legal
guardianships
How
The application form lists all the schools you may choose. You must choose
at least five schools; more is better. You can also
visit
www.bostonpublicschools.org for this information.
You are much more likely to get assigned to one of the schools you have
chosen if you register during the first round of registration. Try not to choose
only schools that lots of other families choose. Don’t assume that every
school other parents put first is the one you would like. People choose
schools for many different reasons.
Talk with people
about the "hidden gems" in the system – good schools that aren’t well known
or schools that have been improving recently. Schools can -- and often
do -- change in just a few years time.
Consider how likely you are to get in to a particular school, there are some
things you can find out:
- How many K-1 or K-2 seats will the school have
open for the following years? The Family Resource Center staff can tell
you whether there are younger children in the school who will move up from
K-1 and take a lot of the K-2 slots. Principals or parent liaisons may be
able to tell you whether a significant number of seats will be filled by
siblings of older children who attend the school and get priority.
- Is the school in your walk zone? Half of the seats at each school are set
aside for students within the walk zone – a mile from the school in any
direction.
- How many families tend to put that
school down as one of their choices? It helps to know how many
people you might be competing with for the schools you want. Family
Resource Center staff can provide you with this information based on last
year's registration data. Remember,
though, a school's popularity can and does change.
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