Lake Washington School District holds an open enrollment period once each year for parents who want their children to attend a school other than their neighborhood school. To take advantage of open enrollment for students in grades one through 12, parents may apply for a change to that school assignment, also known as an In-District Variance, between Feb. 1-26.

This open enrollment option only applies to schools that have space available. The list of schools that are closed to students outside their neighborhood will be available on the district website prior to open enrollment at: http://www.lwsd.org/Parents/Student-Registration/Pages/In-District-Transfer-Options.aspx. Schools are closed if current and projected enrollment indicates that school capacity will be reached with those students who live within their attendance boundary. Because of the rapid increase in enrollment districtwide over the last five years, it is likely that very few schools will be on the list of open schools.

For kindergarten students, parents must request the In-District Variance at the time of registration. Kindergarten registration begins Feb. 4 from 1-7 p.m. at the schools.

In-District Variance forms can be picked up at any school during the open enrollment period. The completed request must be submitted to the student’s home school. Acceptance is based on space available in a school, grade or program. In the event that there are more requests than can be accommodated, date of request will determine admission.

Students from outside the district who wish to attend Lake Washington’s schools can apply for enrollment at any time by initiating a Choice Transfer request with their home school district. Please refer to our district website for schools that are listed as closed for transfers. However, students within the district have priority for available spaces. Students from outside the district will be placed after the in-district students are accommodated, if space is available.

Parents who live in the district will be notified of the result of their In-District Variance request as soon as possible. Kindergarten and Choice Transfer (out of district) requests may not be notified until later this summer.

The Student Placement Office, at (425) 936-1283, can answer any questions on this process.