Open Enrollment

Enrollment of students into another district outside of Davenport Community Schools

Please note: If your family wants to remain in the Davenport Community School District but would like your child to attend a school outside of your boundary area, this is considered an in-district transfer option, and differs from Open Enrollment. To request an in-district transfer please visit the Transfer Options page.

Parents or guardians requesting open enrollment in or out of their resident school district must complete a State of Iowa application form. An application must be completed for each child and filed with both the resident and receiving school districts.

If you are seeking to apply for open enrollment out of Davenport Schools, you may do so by completing the application form linked below. State law requires that you send the application to both school districts. The decision to accept or reject your applications resides with the receiving school district.

Open Enrollment Applications

Open enrollment applications are due annually on March 1st for grades 1-12.

2024-2025 & 2025-2026 School Years

For additional information on open enrollment, please visit the Iowa Department of Education’s website.

If you have questions, please contact Ivy Rostenbach at rostenbachi@davenportschools.org or by calling (563) 336-7407. or open_enrollment@davenportschools.org.

Open Enrollment Frequently Asked Questions

What is open enrollment between districts?

How & when do I apply?

How do I apply?
The application is linked near the top of this page. You may request an open enrollment form from any DCSD school, from any Iowa school district, area education agency, or the state department of education. An application must be completed for each child and filed with both the resident and receiving school district. You may file your application with DCSD by printing and mailing it to Davenport Community School District, Attn: Open Enrollment, 1702 N. Main Street., Davenport, IA 52803. You may also scan your completed application and attach in an email to open_enrollment@davenportschools.org.

When do I apply?
Students wishing to open enroll beginning in the 2022-23 school year will need to submit the application form linked above.

May I choose which school my child will attend?

While open enrollment is approved into a district rather than a particular school, you may indicate your first, second, and third choice of elementary or junior high school using the "attendance center" line on the application. Every effort will be made to enroll your child in their school of first choice.

High school students open enrolling into DCSD may choose their preferred school.

What are the procedures for placement of open enrolled students into an elementary school?

Open Enrollment Limitations & Stipulations

Transportation

Transportation
In general, parents/guardians of students approved for open enrollment are responsible for transporting their student to the new school.

State code allows for a parent to request transportation assistance. Specific income guidelines, separate from those for the free/reduced lunch program, must be met to qualify for this assistance. You can learn more about applying for transportation assistance here.

Special Education Students

Open enrollment requests for special education students are reviewed by the receiving district to determine if the student’s special needs can be accommodated. The pupil/teacher ratios required by state law or District policy shall be maintained for all special education programs. The receiving district is not required to hire additional instructional or support staff to accommodate an open enrollment student.

Continuation of Educational Program

Students moving from one district to another may remain in the original district for the duration of their career with no interruption of their education program. To do so, parents must complete an open enrollment application for continuation within 60 days of the date of the move. This request will be approved by receiving and resident district if submitted timely. Parents assume responsibility for transporting students approved for continuation.

Interscholastic Athletics

The General Transfer Rule (Iowa Admin. Code r. 281-36.15(3)) prohibits a student athlete from participating in varsity athletics for 90 school days (not including summer school) after transferring from one Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) or Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) member or associate member school or school district to another.

House File 847 guidance from Dept. of Education

Additional Open Enrollment FAQ's

Additional Open Enrollment FAQ's

Do I need to file an application for each child?
Yes.

Is there a cost involved?
Your resident school district will be responsible for paying the cost of tuition each year for your child to attend school in the receiving school district. However, all miscellaneous registration fees for participation in the educational programs will be the parent’s responsibility.

Do I need to file a new application each year
No. Once an application is approved, your child may continue in the receiving district until they graduate, or you move from your resident district.

Will the district provide transportation for my child?
If a parent/guardian meets the income eligibility guidelines for transportation assistance, application for that assistance should be filed with the resident district. Transportation assistance is available only between contiguous districts.

Can my request be denied?
Open enrollment is dependent on the receiving school district accepting the application. This often is determined by the space available in the grade level to which your student is applying, and is a local district decisions.

Do we need to open enroll if we move and want to remain in the same school district?
Yes. If the application is to continue in a school district because of a move to another school district, the application must be completed within 60 days of the date of the move.

What if we move to another district after we file for open enrollment and want to continue to attend in the current district?
Simply send written notification to the new district, the resident district, and the current district that you wish to transfer your open enrollment to the new district. This applies to a move within Iowa only. Out of state residents are not eligible for open enrollment and would need to pay tuition to continue.

May an 11th or 12th grade student complete his/her education at the resident district if his/her family moves to another district?
Yes. See Iowa Code 257.6(d). 11th and 12th grade nonresident students who were residents of the district during the preceding school year are enrolled in that district until they graduate. An open enrollment application is not required.

Does open enrollment apply to pre-kindergarten?
Parents may open enroll students for a pre-kindergarten program if the student is age 5 by September 15 and the pre-kindergarten program is part of the regular school program with established curriculum and an appropriately certified teacher. Special education students under the age of 5 are eligible to open enroll if the receiving district has the appropriate program and the student has a current IEP.

Whom should I contact with further questions on open enrollment?
By phone, call 563-445-5000 or email open_enrollment@davenportschools.org.

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