Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment allows families to apply for admission to a school of their choice, even if it's out of their designated boundary, as long as space permits and they provide transportation.

Families applying for open enrollment must complete an Open Enrollment form during the registration process. 

The required Open Enrollment form for our specialty schools: McKemy Academy of International Studies, Meyer Montessori, and Ward Traditional Academy is part of the specialty school application.

Application  Window

Per Board Policy JFB - Open Enrollment - With the first day of the enrollment season, the first window for application begins and runs for two (2) weeks. The open enrollment application must be completed and submitted to the school of which the student seeks to enroll. Applications received after this application window will be subject to review in the order applications are received.

If an application window ends on a holiday where the District office is closed, the window will end on the next date in which the District office is open.

A student placed on a waiting list but not accepted during a school year will be required to reapply for open enrollment for the following school year.

Some of our specialty schools also require students to meet minimum entry requirements (see next question for additional information).

Up-to-date capacity at each school for the current school year can be found on our Open Enrollment Status page.

The following only applies to schools without attendance boundaries – our specialty schools:  McKemy Academy, Meyer Montessori, and Ward Traditional Academy.

Upon the first day of the application opening, the District will hold a first open enrollment application period for two weeks with a lottery-based system for priority categories identified below.

A.  Returning students. (Returning students are not required to complete the open enrollment form annually.)

B.  Siblings of resident transfer and nonresident students currently enrolled at the school.

C.  Children of a District employee.

D.  New resident transfer student or new nonresident student.

If the number of applications received during the first open enrollment application period is greater than the number of available seats, a lottery will take place utilizing the priority categories listed above.

Yes. In addition to Open Enrolling to any of our neighborhood schools, Tempe Elementary Schools has five specialty choice schools that require ALL students to Open Enroll:

• ASPIRE Academy at Arredondo* (25-26 SY: Grades 3-5; 26-27 SY: Grades K-5)
• ASPIRE Academy at Connolly* (Grades 6-8)
• McKemy Academy of International Studies* (Grades 6-8)
• Meyer Montessori (Grades PreK-5)
• Ward Traditional Academy* (Grades K-8)

*Students must meet entry requirements to be admitted

The required Open Enrollment form for these schools is part of the specialty school application.

Aguilar Elementary’s Dual Language program only requires Open Enrollment if the student lives outside the Aguilar Elementary boundary. 

Open Enrollment applications for neighborhood schools for the 2026-2027 school year will open on January 15, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. both online and on school campuses.

Open Enrollment applications for all specialty schools (except ASPIRE Academy at Arredondo) for the 2026-2027 school year will open on December 12, 2025.

More information about enrollment at ASPIRE Academy at Arredondo (gifted school) for the 2026-2027 school year will be announced soon. Keep up to date at arredondo.tempeschools.org.

No. Once your child is accepted through Open Enrollment, they can continue at the same school each year without reapplying.

Please note: 

• If your child plans to attend a different school through Open Enrollment (for example, moving from an elementary to a middle school) you will need to submit an Open Enrollment application for the new school. 
• If your family moves out of your current school boundary and you would like your child to continue attending the same school, you will need to submit an Open Enrollment application. 

Please refer to Governing Board Policy for additional information on Open Enrollment procedures.

For specific information about your situation, please contact enrollment@tempeschools.org.

Typical bus transportation is not offered for families who Open Enroll. 

Select specialty programs provide regional transportation within district boundaries. Please contact the school you’re interested in attending or Tempe Elementary Schools Transportation for more information.