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Open Enrollment

2027-2028 Intra-District Open Enrollment

Note: Application period opens Jan. 19, 2027

Every student in Lakewood City Schools is assigned a home school based on the attendance area for the family’s address. Families who would like their child to attend a different Lakewood school may request a transfer through intra-district open enrollment. Here’s what families need to know about the process, including eligibility, available space, and how to apply:

  • The application window for the 2027-28 school year is Jan. 19 through Feb. 26, 2027. Applications must be completed and submitted through the Lakewood City Schools website during that window.
  • To be eligible, students must be residents of Lakewood, Ohio, and already enrolled in Lakewood City Schools. Applications for students who are not registered with the District will not be considered.
  • Children of an active-duty member of the U.S. armed forces stationed in Ohio may be eligible for inter-district (between different school districts) open enrollment. Families must provide the District with a copy of the parent’s official written orders verifying the assignment.
  • Families who enroll in the District after the application window closes will have five days from their enrollment date to submit an application. Those requests will be reviewed based on enrollment numbers and building balance at that time.
  • Once approved, an open enrollment transfer remains in effect for the student’s entire time at that school. If a family later wants to change the student’s placement, a new application must be submitted during the next open enrollment window.

The District has approved open enrollment requests for many years, and historically, those approvals have allowed students to remain at the new school through fifth grade.  Because of upcoming redistricting, all families with previously approved open enrollment will need to reapply if they would like their student to attend a school other than the one assigned under the new boundaries. Approvals moving forward will allow for students to stay enrolled in their new school until the completion of their fifth grade year.

How are open enrollment placements determined?

The number of available seats varies by grade level and building. The District determines openings based on class-size limits and enrollment balance across schools.

For elementary students, we recognize that redistricting has brought significant changes for many families. Students whose assigned school changed due to redistricting will receive priority for 2027-2028 open enrollment. Among applications with the same priority status, requests will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.

For middle school students, school assignments are based on the home address attendance area, not the elementary school a student previously attended. Families who would like their child to attend a middle school other than the one assigned to their address must submit an open enrollment application.

What else should families know?

Families who participate in open enrollment are responsible for providing transportation to and from school. The District does not provide transportation for students attending a school through open enrollment.

Regular attendance is an important part of maintaining an open enrollment placement. Students with poor attendance or frequent tardiness may lose their open enrollment status and be required to return to their home school.

Attendance and disciplinary history may also affect an open enrollment application. An application may be affected if the student has poor attendance, has been suspended for 10 consecutive days, or has been expelled during the semester in which the application is submitted or the preceding semester.

The District does not discriminate against students with disabilities in open enrollment decisions. If a student attending through open enrollment has a disability or develops a need for additional support, the district will work closely with the student and family to understand their needs and determine how best to provide appropriate services and accommodations. In some cases, those services may not be available at the student’s current school. If a student’s needs cannot be reasonably accommodated at that building, the District will work with the family to identify a school where the appropriate services and supports are available. Our goal is to make sure every student receives the support they need to succeed.

Questions?

Not sure which school is your child's home school, or have questions about how open enrollment applies to your family? Contact Rachel Vuyancih, executive secretary to the Assistant Superintendent, at (216) 529-4244 or rachel.vuyancih@lakewoodcityschools.org. We're happy to help you understand the process and determine what options may be available.