Apply by February 23, 2024, for the best opportunity to get into the school of your choice.

1. Consider
   Consider schools that have services you need and if bus transportation is available from your home or daycare address. Review how community and magnet programs continue from elementary to middle to high schools.
    
2. Review
   Enter your home address in School Finder to confirm your Area and Community School Zone, then review your school choice options.
    
3. Visit
   An open house or school tour is a perfect opportunity to learn more about schools that interest you. Meet staff, tour classrooms and discover the programs, activities and services available to your child. Go to spps.org/openhouses for dates and times of each school’s winter open house.
    
4. Prioritize
   List up to two schools on your application. Your school choices are considered in the order you list them. Students who are not accepted at their first choice school will be placed on the school’s waiting list. Please note that due to several factors, students may not be accepted at either of their school choices.
    
5. Apply
   Apply online, complete a paper application, or visit the Student Placement Center at 2102 University Avenue West, Saint Paul, MN 55114.
    
6. Notification
   Families who apply by the priority application deadline will be notified of acceptance or placement on a waiting list in March. Applications submitted after the priority application deadline will be notified on an ongoing basis.
    

Who Should Apply?

An application is required if:

• Your child is currently enrolled and requests a different school
• Your child is new to Saint Paul Public Schools

Applications are typically not required for students who are:

• Continuing at their current school or magnet program to the next grade level
• Residents of Saint Paul currently enrolled at SPPS who are entering kindergarten, grades 6 or 9, and are following their school’s enrollment pathway. To view school pathways, review the school charts in the 2024-25 School Selection Guide (English, Espanol, Hmoob, Soomaali, ).
   

Admission Priorities

During the enrollment process, students are given a ranking based on several criteria (known as priorities) before acceptance to a school. The priorities do not guarantee acceptance.
 

Waiting Lists

Waiting lists are created for schools and programs that receive more applications than they have room available. Students will only be added to a waiting list for their first-choice school. If room becomes available, students will be admitted to their first-choice school. Waiting lists expire two weeks after the start of the school year for most schools and programs (does not include Pre-K programs, language immersion programs, or Capitol Hill Gifted and Talented).

Please note: Students identified as advanced learners are not guaranteed enrollment at Capitol Hill Gifted and Talented.