Student Registration and Enrollment Information
WHO CAN REGISTER FOR SCHOOL?
Children planning to attend kindergarten in the Fall of 2010 must be 5 years old on or before September 30th. The child’s birthday must be on or before September 30, 2005.
Kindergarten Registration begins in April. Registration for grades 1-12 begins during the summer and continues throughout the school year.
Visit the Early Childhood Web pages for more information about kindergarten and prekindergarten programs.
WHERE CAN I REGISTER MY CHILD FOR SCHOOL?
Parents/Legal Guardians may register children at any neighborhood school. See the school directory for a list of schools, addresses and hours. Students also may be registered at the Office of Student Assignments, 1440 Lakeside Avenue, 523-6347, 523-7957, 523-7960 or 592-7226.
There are some exceptions:
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Students with special needs (IEPs – Individualized Education Plans) or those with suspected disabilities must contact the Special Education Office, 1440 Lakeside Avenue, 592-7391.
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Students who speak a language other than English or live in a household where another language is spoken must register at the Multilingual Multicultural Assessment Center, 3101 W. 25th St, 621-5339.
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Families who are homeless, doubled-up with other families or in some other type of transition, may contact Project ACT, 1440 Lakeside Avenue, 592-7405.
WHAT TO BRING WHEN YOU REGISTER
The following documents are required for registration:
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Birth Certificate
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Immunization Record
(Baby Shots)
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Proof of Address
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Guardianship/Custody Documents (if applicable)
Parents/Guardians are encouraged to print the Enrollment Form. The completed form should be taken to the registration site along with all required documents.
DO YOU NEED HELP LOCATING DOCUMENTS?
Birth Certificates for children born in the Cleveland area may be secured from the Cuyahoga County Bureau of Vital Statistics, City Hall, 601 Lakeside Avenue, 664-2317. The cost is $25.
Your child’s doctor, clinic or previous school may have copies of Immunization Records. Students will need to retake shots if immunization records cannot be located. Some clinics offer free shots. Clinics Flyer-English | Clinics Flyer-Spanish
Several forms of address verification are accepted. Some examples include mortgage or lease agreements, recent utility bills, payroll documents or recent tax statements. Contact Project ACT, 592-7405, if you are staying with another family and don’t have proof of address.
Copies of any documents pertaining to guardianship must be presented at the time of registration. Court documents may include divorce decrees, Juvenile Court orders, or Probate Court orders.
Please call the Student Assignments Office if you have any questions about documents required for registration, 523-6347, 523-7957, 523-7960 or 592-7226.
MY CHILD HAS SPECIAL NEEDS.
Contact the Special Education Office if your child has been identified for special education services or if you suspect that your child has a disability, 592-7391.
Contact Health Services or the School Nurse if your child has any health-related or medical needs.
Contact the Multilingual Multicultural Assessment Center if your child speaks a language other than English or lives in a household where another language is spoken, 621-5339.
HOW ARE STUDENTS ASSIGNED TO SCHOOLS?
Students are assigned to schools based on the address of the parent/legal guardian. Addresses/streets in the district are joined together to form school attendance areas. The “Home School” is the term used to designate the school that is linked to a specific attendance area.
Sometimes a student may be placed at a school other than the “Home School” to receive special education and/or language services.
I MOVED. HOW DO I CHANGE MY ADDRESS?
The parent/legal guardian may take proof of a new address to the current school. Acceptable documents include mortgage or lease agreements, recent utility bills, payroll documents or recent tax statements.
WHAT IF I WANT MY CHILD TO ATTEND A SCHOOL DIFFERENT THAN THE HOME SCHOOL?
The Cleveland Metropolitan School District has an open enrollment policy that lets families apply for other schools.
The application process begins in early spring. Open Enrollment Applications are available on the website and at all schools. (application: Spanish | Arabic)
Transfers are granted if space is available at the requested school and grade level. Students will be assigned by random selection (lottery) if there are more applicants than available seats.
The district has a large number of specialized schools and programs. Parents may use the same Open Enrollment Application to apply for most of these schools as well. (showcase: Spanish)
In most cases, students granted open enrollment transfers do not receive transportation.
I LIVE OUTSIDE OF CLEVELAND. MAY MY CHILD ENROLL?
Parents who live outside the boundaries of the district may apply for an Interdistrict Open Enrollment Transfer (K-12). These requests will be granted if space is available at the requested school and grade level. Parents will not be charged tuition. Transportation will not be available for these transfers.
I’M NOT THE LEGAL GUARDIAN. HOW CAN I ENROLL A CHILD?
Sometimes there are extenuating circumstances where a child is living with someone who is not the legal guardian. Here are some examples:
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If the Department of Children and Family Services has custody the social worker or foster parent should have journal entries or emergency custody papers that verify the custody arrangements.
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If children are living with grandparents, the grandparents may obtain a Grandparent Caregiver Affidavit or a Grandparent Power of Attorney These documents must be filed with Juvenile Court to secure temporary custody.
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If a parent/legal guardian is hospitalized, incarcerated, or in rehabilitation, Project ACT may be able to assist the family.