What is Open Enrollment?
Open Enrollment provides an opportunity for students who reside
permanently within the boundaries of the Sacramento City Unified
School District to apply for enrollment in schools or programs
(Grades K-8) within the district, when space is available.
Who is eligible to apply?
Only students who live within the SCUSD attendance area are
eligible to participate in the Open Enrollment process.
Do all schools participate in Open Enrollment?
No, not all district schools participate in Open Enrollment. Some
programs reach their grade level enrollment capacity before the
Open Enrollment period begins.
What are the requirements for applications to enter the lottery?
Applicants must:
- Live within the district boundaries
- Complete school-specific screenings, if required
How many programs can my student apply to?
Students may apply to up to two open enrollment programs.
Are translation services available during the application
process?
Yes, the SchoolMint application uses Google Translate, which can
translate text into over 100 languages. Guardians can select
their preferred language from the menu at the top of the page to
view translated information.
The district’s Matriculation & Orientation Center (MOC) can also
provide interpretation services to assist families with the
application process. MOC staff are available to assist at the Enrollment Center.
Are computers available for families to use to apply?
Yes, the Enrollment Center
has Chromebooks available for families to use in filling out the
online application.
Which programs have additional requirements for admission?
- Camellia Basic Elementary School (for incoming first graders)
- Phoebe Hearst Elementary School (for incoming kindergarten
students)
Do any of the programs require a report card or attendance at
mandatory meetings for eligibility?
No.
What schools do not have an attendance area boundary assignment?
- A.M. Winn Public Waldorf TK-8 School
- Alice Birney Public Waldorf TK-8 School
- Bowling Green Charter Chacon Language & Science Academy
- Bowling Green Charter McCoy Academy
- Camellia Basic Elementary (Grades 1-6)
- Leonardo da Vinci TK-8 School
- New Joseph Bonnheim Elementary
- Phoebe Hearst Elementary
- School of Engineering and Sciences
How will we know you received my student’s application?
After submitting an application, parents/guardians will see a
confirmation screen and receive a message in their SchoolMint
Message Center. They will also receive a confirmation via email
or text, depending on their SchoolMint preferences.
Parents/guardians can log into their SchoolMint account anytime to
view messages in the Message Center.
Is transportation provided by the school district to the Open
Enrollment school?
No, transportation is not provided for Open Enrollment students.
Parents/guardians are responsible for transporting their
students.
Should I register my incoming kindergartener in their
neighborhood school before applying for Open Enrollment?
Yes, it is recommended that parents/guardians register their
incoming kindergarteners at their neighborhood school (school of
residence) before applying for Open Enrollment. This ensures a
spot in case the applicant is not selected through the lottery.
Learn how to register for
Kindergarten.
Can I use my work address for my student to apply to an Open
Enrollment program?
No.
Can I use my work address for my student to apply to an Open
Enrollment program through (using) the Allen Bill?
The Sacramento City Unified School District interprets the Allen
Bill in the following ways:
- A parent/guardian who resides outside the SCUSD boundaries,
is required to provide on letterhead a statement from the
employer verifying employment and the work address within the
SCUSD boundaries.
- Since our district utilizes addresses for school placement,
in order to establish residency the student must enroll and
attend the neighborhood school associated with the work address
for a full academic year. So for example if the work address is
associated with California Middle School the student must apply
and be approved via Inter-district permit and attend California
Middle School.
- Once this is complete and the student is attending for a full
academic year, the student can then apply for any programs
through the High School Specialty Program (HSSP) or Open
Enrollment (OE).
- Families cannot use their work address to apply for the HSSP
or OE if they are not attending our school(s) through the Allen
Bill currently.
- Residency is established by attending a full academic year.
- Students who live outside the district boundaries may apply
from April 7, 2025 at 8:00am, through April 25, 2025 at 5:00pm,
via an inter-district transfer
permit, to any school or program that still has openings.
Can I turn in a late application for my student?
All applications must be turned in by 5:00 pm on Friday,
February 21, 2025. No late applications will be
accepted.
When will I find out if my student is offered a spot?
Notifications will be sent to families via SchoolMint on March 10, 2025,
based on the communication preferences selected during
registration (email, text message, or both).
Applicants must accept the offer through SchoolMint by the
deadline specified in their offer notification.
Additional Requirements for Acceptance for New Students to the
District
New students to the district must also complete a full
registration form. A link to this form will be included in the
notifications sent to families. Additionally, the following
documents will need to be provided: photo identification, address
verification, proof of birth, and immunization records.
Applicants will be automatically removed from the open
enrollment program acceptance list if they do not complete
registration by the offer deadline.
What is the SchoolMint Message Center and where is it located?
Log onto your SchoolMint Parent/Guardian account and click the
Messages button in the top green navigation bar. The Message
Center has all messages sent to you from the platform organized
by date.
On a mobile device, the Message Center is a gray text bubble at
the top of the screen. If you only receive text message
notifications, you can log into SchoolMint and read full messages
in the Message Center.
Does my student have the right to return to their original
neighborhood school after registering in Open Enrollment?
Once you accept a placement, the Open Enrollment school becomes
your student’s neighborhood school for grades K-12. When your
student moves to the next school level (e.g., elementary to
middle school or middle school to high school), they will be
enrolled at their neighborhood school based on your residence.
If you want to return to your original neighborhood school, you
must apply for an intra-district
permit through the Enrollment Center between April 7, 2025 -
April 25, 2025. Please note that intra-district permits are
requests, not guaranteed placements.
My family is moving outside of the SCUSD boundary. What will
happen to my student’s acceptance?
If you move outside the SCUSD boundaries, your Open Enrollment
placement will be voided. You will need to register your student
with the new school district.
I live within the SCUSD boundary, but my student attends a
private school. Can my student apply through Open Enrollment?
Yes.
If my student is attending a SCUSD School on an inter-district
permit (i.e., you live outside the district boundaries) can I
apply through Open Enrollment?
No. Students who live outside the district boundaries are not
eligible. Students who live outside our district boundaries can
apply for a permit April 7, 2025 -
April 25, 2025.
I live outside of the SCUSD boundary. Can my student apply
through Open Enrollment?
No. Students who live outside the district boundaries are not
eligible. Students who live outside our district boundaries can
apply for a permit April 7, 2025 -
April 25, 2025.
I live outside of the SCUSD boundary and one of my students
already attends a SCUSD school. Do my other students have sibling
preference?
No.
I am a SCUSD employee and live outside of the SCUSD boundary.
Does my student have preference to attend the school I work at?
No. However, students who live within our district boundaries
whose parent/guardian’s primary place of employment is at the
selected school are given lottery priority.
How does the lottery work?
Open Enrollment is not a first-come, first-serve basis. You may
apply anytime during the application window to be considered.
SCUSD uses a computerized, third-party lottery system to place
students at their specialty program of choice. A lottery must be
implemented if applications exceed the grade capacity at the
requested program.
One of the following lottery scenarios will occur:
- Your student is selected for their first school of choice and
receives a notification communication to register.
- If your student applied to only one school of choice and was
not selected, they will be placed on a waiting list.
- If your student applied for two schools of choice and was not
selected for their first choice, the computer will look for their
second choice. Note: Second choice selections are placed behind
all first choice selections.
- Your student is selected for their second school of
choice and receives a notification communication to register.
- Your student is not selected for their first or second
specialty program choice. They will be placed on a waiting
list for their first choice only.
What happens if my student doesn’t get accepted to the first or
second school of choice?
Your student will only be placed on the waiting list for their
first choice. Placement from the waiting list occurs only if
space becomes available.
SchoolMint will send out an automatic notification if space
becomes available.
Students who apply to a school and have not met the admissions
requirements will not be included in the lottery. If the student
hasn’t applied to another school of choice, the student must
attend their neighborhood or current school.
If my student is accepted to their 2nd choice, will they be put
on the 1st choice waiting list?
No.
Who has priority in the lottery selection process?
Lottery Selection Priorities
- First priority
- Siblings of students already in attendance at the
selected school and will continue to be enrolled in the
upcoming school year.
- Second priority
- Students whose parent/guardian’s primary place of
employment is the selected school.
- Third Priority – Current SCUSD TK Students Only
- Students who apply for kindergarten at the school they
attended for TK will receive priority.
Schools without Attendance Boundaries
- First priority
- Siblings of students already in attendance at the school
and will continue to be enrolled in the upcoming school year.
- Second priority
- Students whose parent/guardian’s primary place of
employment is the selected school.
