Now is the time to begin thinking about enrolling students for the 2004-2005 school year. The deadline to submit applications for all middle and high school magnets is Friday, Dec. 12. The deadline for elementary magnet school applications is Friday, Jan. 30.

Magnet schools may emphasize a particular style of learning or serve students with a common area of interest. Some magnets are located within a school. Others are the school. Transportation is generally provided to designated sites; eligibility for transportation is subject to general district guidelines. Each magnet school manages its own application process and deadlines. Families should ask for application information from the magnet school that interests them.

Magnet schools include: Academia Ana Marie Sandoval De Lenguaje Dual Montessori (3 yrs-2nd); American Indian Focus Schools (K-12); Computer Magnet Programs (9-12); Denison Montessori (3 yrs-6th); Denver School of the Arts (6-12); Fairmont Elementary Dual Language Program (ECE-K); CEC Middle College of Denver (9-12); Garden Place Denver Baccalaureate Preparatory Magnet (1-5); George Washington International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB) (9-12); Gilpin Extended Day (ECE-5); Hamilton Middle School International Preparatory Program (6-8); Hamilton Middle School Montessori Program (7-8); Knight Fundamental Academy (K-5); Lincoln Elementary Montessori Program (3-5 yrs); Smiley Middle School International Preparatory Program (6-8); Traylor Academy (ECE-5); and the West High School Center for International Studies (CIS) (9-12).

The district also provides a magnet program for first- through eighth-grade students with extraordinary academic needs, abilities and potential. Elementary and middle school highly gifted nomination forms for 2004-2005 are due Friday, Dec. 12 and are available in schools, online at http://gt.dpsk12.org or from the Gifted and Talented Education Department at 303-405-8272.

Students who qualify as “high achieving students” through the same nomination process may attend the Highly Gifted Program Magnet on a space-available basis at Carson, Crofton, Gust or McGlone elementary schools and Morey Middle School.

Enrollment Guide Now Available
DPS offers a wide variety of choices including neighborhood schools, magnets, charter schools and gifted magnet programs. Descriptions are published in the 2004 issue of DPS Today available in the DPS Welcome Center, 900 Grant St., or online from the DPS website, http://www.dpsk12.org.

DPS Today is published annually for parents and community members to provide useful information about the district’s schools and resources. It helps parents determine the best way to meet their child’s educational needs through the many options available in DPS.

About Neighborhood Schools
Most students choose to enroll in their neighborhood school, where many excellent programs are offered. Start by calling your neighborhood school to find out if it meets the needs of your child. If you need help locating your neighborhood school, call the School Boundary Hotline at 720-423-3400, or search online by inputting your home address. Access http://dps.schools.net and choose “search by address.”

About The Choice Process
First Round - Interested in a school other than your neighborhood school? Choice allows you to apply for a transfer to another neighborhood school. Access http://dps.schools.net for detailed school profiles. For the best chance of securing a seat for your child in another school, completed enrollment forms for the 2004-2005 school year need to be returned by Friday, Jan. 30. Beginning Monday, Jan. 5, 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.
Second Round - After Friday, Jan. 30, you will need to return Choice forms to the specific school or schools that interest you. These may be completed through August 2004. Students are enrolled during this second round of the Choice process on a first-come, first-served basis.

Note - transportation is not provided through the Choice process.

About Charter Schools or Other Schools
DPS offers charter schools and other choices such as the Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning and online education. Charter schools manage their own applications. Electronic versions of comprehensive school report cards are posted online at http://dps.schools.net.

December School Information Nights
Students who want to attend the Denver School of the Arts (DSA) next year should plan to attend the school’s annual information night on Monday, Dec. 1. Prospective middle schoolers will meet at 6 p.m. and high schoolers at 7 p.m. at the school. DSA is located at 7111 Montiview Blvd. (corner of Montview and Quebec). For more information, call DSA at 303-321-9435.

Palmer Elementary School will host a middle school night for fourth- and fifth-graders from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2 at Palmer Elementary School, 995 Grape St. Information about the following schools will be available: Gove, Grant, Hamilton, Hill, Merrill, Morey and Place middle schools; Denver School of the Arts; and the Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning.

An information meeting about the Choice process is scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3 at East High School, 1545 Detroit St.

School-By-School Reports
Looking for dual language or Montessori programs? Are English Language Acquisition programs important? What about special education centers or a certain calendar type (continuous year or traditional)? Is all-day kindergarten a must-have?

Find the best fit possible. Electronic versions of comprehensive school report cards are posted at http://dps.schools.net. Or, click on “schools” from our web site, http://www.dpsk12.org. The reports allow parents to choose a grade level (elementary, middle and high), enter a home address, and begin searching the entire database for a variety of school offerings and programs. The reports expand considerably on the data provided in the state’s accountability reports. They provide general information about the school, awards and achievements, a three-year trend of achievement progress and detailed test scores for various categories of students.

For more information, contact the Choice Hotline at 303-405-6696.