Enrollment Services

1. ​​​​​Determine the grade of your child based on past educational experience. 
   • Elementary - grades preschool through five
     • Preschoolers must be three years old before September 1
     • Kindergarteners must be five years old before September 1
     • First graders must be six years old before September 1
   • Middle School - grades six through eight
   • High School - grades nine through twelve
2. Create an account through the online system: An account should be created by an adult family member, one per household so that the system can save and access information correctly. An email address is required, and all follow up communication will be sent to the email account provided.
3. Submit an online enrollment application: A separate application is required for each new student, you may save your progress and your family information will auto-populate in sibling applications. The following documents can be uploaded:
   • Two pieces of address verification
     • Acceptable verification if you rent or own your residence: current utility, cable, or satellite bill; landline or mobile phone bill; mortgage statement in your name showing the residence address; copy of the Lease/Rental agreement in your name showing the residence address, dates, and signature page; property tax bill for the residence; insurance documents; official mail from a public agency such as DSHS or the courts; real estate purchase contract.
     • Not acceptable: Copies of envelopes are not acceptable for address verification.

     • If you are sharing a home with another individual or family within the district’s boundary: A Proof of Residency form is required along with any two proofs of residency from above with the homeowner/lease holder’s name and address.

   • Documentation to Verify Age: This only applies to students who are entering kindergarten or 1^st grade, or are enrolling in a preschool program. Documentation may include any one of the following:  a religious, hospital, or physician’s certificate showing date of birth; an entry in a family bible; an adoption record; an affidavit from a parent; a birth certificate; passport; previously verified school records; or any other documents permitted by law.
   • Medically Verified Proof of Immunizations, which include:
     • A Certificate of Immunization Status (CIS) printed from the Immunization Information System (IIS)
     • A physical copy of the CIS form with a healthcare provider signature
     • A physical copy of the CIS with accompanying medical immunization records from a healthcare provider verified and signed by school staff
     • A CIS printed from MyIR

New Student Enrollment

Families Experiencing Homelessness: Students experiencing homelessness are not subject to provide address verification or required documents. Visit our McKinney-Vento Program webpage for more information or call the McKinney-Vento office at (253) 571-1054.

McKinney-Vento Website

Enrollment into a school other than your neighborhood school is based on space availability and parents/guardians must provide transportation. To begin the non-neighborhood choice process, parents/guardians need to ​​​​​complete an application to attend a non-neighborhood school. 

Application to Attend Non-Neighborhood School

While the Tacoma Online name has been around for a while, it became the home for Tacoma’s innovative pandemic response program during the 2020-2021 school year where it offered over 4,000 Tacoma students in grades K-12 a safe and completely online educational opportunity. Based on the demonstrated success of the program, Tacoma Schools is pleased to launch the next version of Tacoma Online. Beginning in the 2021-2022 school year, Tacoma Online will be a standalone school and we are pleased to open our enrollment.

Learn how to enroll in Tacoma Online, and other important information for families by visiting the Tacoma Online website below. 

Tacoma Online 

Find your neighborhood school by using the bus lookup tool. 

Students entering all grades (Preschool-12) must meet immunization regulations as set forth by the State of Washington at the ages and intervals consistent with the national immunization guidelines for their age or grade. Children may begin school only if they received all of the required immunizations they are due to receive and submitted medically verified records on or before the first day of attendance.

Medically verified immunizations include:

• A Certificate of Immunization Status (CIS) printed from the Immunization Information System (IIS)
• A physical copy of the CIS form with a healthcare provider signature
• A physical copy of the CIS with accompanying medical immunization records from a healthcare provider verified and signed by school staff
• A CIS printed from MyIR

Find further information on specific vaccines required for school attendance: 

• ​​​​​Complete a Non-Neighborhood Choice Application during the Open Enrollment period.  
• Approved transfers for the current school year are only implemented during the first 15 days of a trimester or semester.
• Approval of applications are based on space availability at the requested grade level at each school.

Getting your application in before the posted deadlines helps us to ensure we hire the appropriate number of teachers and other staff for each school. Applications received prior to the deadlines are considered on time and processed first when considering where to place each student.

Please check the next tab on this page, "Important Enrollment Dates" to review important dates and deadlines. 

Non-Neighborhood Choice Applications

See our Home School website for the requirements for home schooling your child. 

Home School

• ​​​​​If you are moving within the boundaries of the Tacoma School District your student may finish the school year at their current school, but you will become responsible for transportation to and from school. Please notify your student's school of any change of address.
• If you prefer your child transfers to the new neighborhood school at the time of the move, first officially withdraw from your current school and then go to your new neighborhood school to begin the transfer process.
• If you are moving outside of the Tacoma School District and your student wishes to stay at their current school of attendance, you must obtain a Release of Attendance (via OSPI Choice Transfer Request Portal) from your new school district and submit a Tacoma Non-Resident Admissions Application​. Return the application to your student's school, directly to the Enrollment Services office via fax at 253-571-3491, or at Professional Development Center Building A, Room 206, 6501 N 23rd Street. You may also scan and email the form to enrollmentservices@tacoma.k12.wa.us
• If you are moving out of state or out of the country, go to your school and officially withdraw your child from Tacoma Public Schools.

OSPI Choice Transfer Request Portal (Release of Attendance)

Non-Resident Admissions Application

Before a non-resident can apply to attend a school in the Tacoma School District, a Release of Attendance (via OSPI Choice Transfer Request Portal) must be granted by the district of residence. Permission must be granted annually by the district of residence.

1. Complete the OSPI Choice Transfer Request Portal (Release of Attendance). Once completed, an automatic email will be generated to your Non-Resident District to release the student. Enrollment Services will receive an automatic email, which will be sent to the school to review for possible placement. Continue to step 2 if you are a first-time applicant or returning but moving up a building (transition to middle or high school).
2. Once a release has been obtained, complete the Non-Resident Application Form, and return the application to Enrollment Services.

Submit Your Non-Resident Application Form Via:

• Email: enrollmentservices@tacoma.k12.wa.us
• Fax: (253) 571-3491
• In person to the Enrollment Services Department

• To attend school in a non-resident district, the resident district must first release the student to start the transfer process. Whether you are wishing to attend another school in another district, pursue a G.E.D., or some other path to high school completion, or seeking a renewal for a previously granted release, please complete a request through the Choice Transfer Request via the Washington State Choice Transfer Request Portal (CTRP). When you have completed your application through the CTRP, your request will be sent to the Enrollment Services team for review.

OSPI Choice Transfer Request Portal

• If you wish to use a paper form, complete the Choice Transfer Request Form. Return the form directly to the Enrollment Services office via fax at 253-571-3491 or at Professional Development Center Building A, Room 206, 6501 N 23rd Street. You may also scan and email the form to enrollmentservices@tacoma.k12.wa.us.

Choice Transfer Request Paper Form

The Tacoma School District offers a complete four year high school program for students in grades 9-12. For more information, please contact the Willie Stewart Academy at (253) 571-3270.​

Willie Stewart Academy

 Please visit the Kindergarten Early Entrance Testing website for more information.

Kindergarten Early Entrance Testing

There two public charter schools in Tacoma. These schools are not affiliated with Tacoma Public Schools and have a separate enrollment process.

Summit Olympus

• Grades 9-12
• Website: https://summitps.org/our-schools/summit-olympus-tacoma/

Impact Commencement Bay Elementary

• Grades K-1
• Website: https://impactps.org/schools/impact-tacoma

Go to your neighborhood school to enroll. Prepare for your school meeting by downloading the necessary enrollment forms. Take the completed forms with you to the school. You will need to complete a set of forms for each student you are enrolling. Please note, the paper application process may add time to the registration process.

Paper Enrollment Application

Parents/guardians may apply for their student to attend a school that is not their assigned neighborhood school. Acceptance for non-neighborhood school enrollment is dependent upon building capacity, seats at various grade levels and program availability. Families are encouraged to explore their neighborhood school options. 

Application to Attend a Non-Neighborhood School

A parent who intends to have their student(s) receive home instruction in lieu of attendance or enrollment in a public or private school must complete this form annually, as described in Chapter 28A.200 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW). 

Declaration of Intent to Home School Form

Home School Information

Chapter 28A.200 RCW

Before a non-resident can submit a Non-Resident Application to attend a school in the Tacoma School District a Release of Attendance must be granted by the district of residence. Contact your resident school district for the release. Permission must be granted annually by the district of residence.

Non-Resident Admissions Application

The transfer of students from one Tacoma Public School to another that is not their neighborhood school is determined by building capacity, seats at various grade levels, and program availability. Families are encouraged to communicate with the current school principal before applying for a transfer. If the transfer is granted, transportation to the new school is the responsibility of the parent/guardian. 

Parent Initiated Transfer

If you are sharing a home with another individual or family within the district’s boundary, a Proof of Residency form is required along with any two proofs of residency from above with the homeowner/lease holder’s name and address.

Proof of Residency

1. To attend school in a non-resident district, the resident district must first release the student to start the transfer process. Whether you are wishing to attend another school in another district, pursue a G.E.D., or some other path to high school completion, or seeking a renewal for a previously granted release, please complete a request through the Choice Transfer Request via the Washington State Choice Transfer Request Portal (CTRP). When you have completed your application through the CTRP, your request will be sent to the Enrollment Services team for review.

OSPI Choice Transfer Request Portal

2. If you wish to use a paper form, complete the Choice Transfer Request Form. Return the form directly to the Enrollment Services office via fax at 253-571-1223 or at Professional Development Center Building A, Room 206, 6501 N 23rd Street. You may also scan and email the form to enrollmentservices@tacoma.k12.wa.us.

Choice Transfer Request Paper Form