Enrollment Services
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I enroll my student?
- How do I look up my neighborhood school?
- What immunizations does my student need to attend school?
- What do I do if I want my student to attend a different school within the district?
- How do I home school my student?
- What do I do if we are moving?
- How do I enroll my student if we live outside of the Tacoma School District boundary?
- What do I do if I want my student to attend a school (including virtual learning) outside of the Tacoma School District?
- How do I enroll my student in a re-engagement program?
- How do I find information about Kindergarten Early Entrance Testing?
- How do I contact Enrollment Services?
How do I enroll my student?
- 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
- Elementary - grades preschool through five
- 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.
- 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 (dated within the past eight weeks)
- Acceptable verification: current telephone, utility or cable bills; mortgage information; insurance documents; or documents from public agencies such as courts or the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). Lease or rental agreements can be used if you include the first page and the signature page
- Not acceptable: Copies of envelopes are not acceptable for address verification.
- Birth Certificate or Passport: This only applies to students who are entering kindergarten or 1st grade, or are applying to our Preschool program. A birth certificate or other document is required to verify age. Acceptable alternatives include, baptismal certificate, hospital records or insurance records.
- 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
- Two pieces of address verification (dated within the past eight weeks)
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.
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.
How do I look up my neighborhood school?
What immunizations does my student need to attend school?
Children 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:
What do I do if I want my student to attend a different school within the district?
- Complete an Application to Attend Non-Neighborhood School 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.
Important Dates and Deadlines
- Applications to Attend a Non-Neighborhood School for the next school year are typically available at the beginning of October.
- For grades six to twelve the deadline is the second Friday in January.
- For grades kindergarten to five the deadline is the first day of March.
Getting your application in before these deadlines helps us 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.
How do I home school my student?
What do I do if we are moving?
- 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 253-571-1223, or at 601 South 8th Street, Room 220. 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.
How do I enroll my student if we live outside of the Tacoma School District boundary?
- 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.
- First time applicants: Once a release has been obtained, complete the Non-Resident Admissions Application and return the application to your student's school, directly to the Enrollment Services office via fax at 253-571-1223, or at 601 South 8th Street, Room 220. You may also scan and email the form to enrollmentservices@tacoma.k12.wa.us
- Returning applicants (annual renewal): Complete the non-resident application and return it to the school your child is currently attending.
What do I do if I want my student to attend a school (including virtual learning) outside of the Tacoma School District?
- 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 601 South 8th Street, Room 220. You may also scan and email the form to enrollmentservices@tacoma.k12.wa.us.
How do I enroll my student in a re-engagement program?
How do I find information about Kindergarten Early Entrance Testing?
How do I contact Enrollment Services?
Important Enrollment Dates
Important Enrollment Dates for the 2021-2022 School Year
- All new student registration for the 2021-2022 school year opens in January.
- Applications for District Choice for grades 1-12 have closed. The deadline was January 13, 2021.
- Applications for District Choice for Kindergarten are due March 17, 2021.
- Oakland, SAMI, SOTA, and iDEA have a separate application process.
Forms
- K-12 How to Enroll in a Tacoma Public School
- K-12 Online Enrollment Application
- K-12 Downloadable Paper Enrollment Application
- Preschool Registration
- Application to Attend a Non-Neighborhood School
- Non-Resident Admissions Application
- Release to Attend Another District
- Declaration of Intent to Provide Home-Based Instruction
- Parent Initiated Transfer
K-12 How to Enroll in a Tacoma Public School
K-12 Online Enrollment Application
Enroll your student online with PowerSchool Enrollment by using the English or Spanish form.
An account should be created by an adult family member, one per household so the system can save and access information correctly. An email address is required. All follow-up communication will be sent to the email account provided. A separate application is required for each new student; you may save your progress and your family information will auto-populate in sibling applications.
K-12 Downloadable Paper Enrollment Application
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.
Preschool Registration
Application to Attend a Non-Neighborhood School
The application is now closed for the 2020-2021 school year.
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.
Non-Resident Admissions Application
Release to Attend Another District
- 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 601 South 8th Street, Room 220. You may also scan and email the form to enrollmentservices@tacoma.k12.wa.us.
Declaration of Intent to Provide Home-Based Instruction
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).
Parent Initiated Transfer
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.
Contact Us
Enrollment Services is located at:
601 South 8th Street Tacoma, WA 98405
enrollmentservices@tacoma.k12.wa.us
PowerSchool family support line is available for Applicants
866-752-6850,
6 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday