The Denver Public Schools Southeast Area School Choice Fair will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19 at South High School, 1700 E. Louisiana Ave. Representatives from all southeast area DPS schools will be available throughout the evening, providing parents a convenient time and place to find out about schools and programs throughout DPS. Copies of the district’s new 2004 enrollment guide “DPS Today” will be available.

The DPS Choice Program allows students to attend a school other than one in their immediate neighborhood. Students can apply to any DPS school during the Choice enrollment period, which is the entire month of January. (Middle and high school magnet programs and elementary and middle school highly gifted nominations have an earlier deadline: Dec. 12). Beginning January 5, 2004, choice forms will be available at all schools. Forms may be returned to any school for central processing. A lottery will be conducted if there are more applicants than space available in a school.

At the Choice Fair, students and parents will be able to learn about the southeast area’s three high schools - South, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington; seven middle schools; and 22 elementary schools. Denver School of the Arts, Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning and several other magnet schools will also have representatives there.

Dave Lowry, DPS director of planning and research, will explain the Choice program at 6:15 p.m. and again at 7:15 p.m. Dr. Jerry Wartgow, superintendent, will speak to parents at 6:45 p.m.

Parents of fourth- and fifth-graders may also want to attend the Middle School Night at Palmer Elementary School on Tuesday, Dec. 2.

For more information about the Southeast Area School Choice Fair, call 303-778-9044.