Middle School Registration

Neighborhood schools

If your child goes to a neighborhood elementary/middle school and you want your child to stay at the school through 8th grade, you're all set. Your child is automatically enrolled at your school. 

If you're new to the district and would like to enroll your child in a middle school close to your home, find your neighborhood school and stop by to find out what you need to register.

Feeder schools

A few neighborhood elementary schools are "feeder" schools for nearby schools with middle grades. This means that 5th-grade students at the neighborhood elementary school are automatically enrolled in a nearby school for 6th grade. Check with your neighborhood school for more details.

Charter schools

Most charter schools have a different admissions process. Contact the school for information.

Middle school choice

All 5th-grade students can choose their school for 6th grade — and those whose school does not have middle grades and does not feed to another school must fill out the choice application. Options include elementary/middle schools with special academic programming, schools that serve only grades 6 to 8, and combined middle/high schools.

The school choice application is typically due in January. To help students and families figure out what schools might be right for them, there are open houses and a school choice fair every fall, and a "school choice liaison" at every elementary school can answer questions.

Some middle school programs have academic entrance criteria  — meaning you need to do well in 4th and 5th grades to be accepted. (Entrance criteria include results on a standardized test; final 4th-grade results in math, English language arts, social studies, and science; first-quarter 5th-grade results in those subjects; and first-quarter 5th-grade attendance.)

Here are some tips to make sure you keep options open and are ready to make the best choice for you.

3rd grade:

• Join after-school clubs so you’ll have lots of different experiences and can find out what you like best
• Think about your talents and what interests you most
• Visit middle and high school websites
• Talk to friends, neighbors, and family members about where they go to school
• Find out about special programs like TWIGS, Ingenuity Project, Gateway to Technology, and gifted and advanced learning, and what’s required for each one

4th grade:

• Talk with the choice liaison at your school about options for middle grades
• Think more about your interests and talents and what kind of school would work best for you
• Go to open houses at different types of schools, so you can see the range of options available
• Stay focused on doing well, so you’ll meet requirements for special programs

5th grade:

• Narrow down your choices by visiting schools you’re interested in, going to the school choice fair, and talking to current students, parents, and staff members
• Stay focused on doing well, so you’ll meet requirements for special programs
• For the Ingenuity Project, register for the test; for charter schools, make sure you know the application deadlines
• Meet with your choice liaison to get your questions answered and for help with your choice application