PANAMA CITY — Open enrollment for School Choice starts Monday, but school capacity problems may narrow choices.
School Choice allows parents to have their child attend a school outside of their zone. Schools at which student capacity exceeds 90 percent will not be accepting out-of-zone students; however, hardship requests may be submitted.
Without any exception, Breakfast Point Academy, which is over capacity, will not accept School Choice requests at all, according to school district officials. And Breakfast Point fifth graders who will be in the sixth grade next year that are not zoned for the school will not be permitted to attend the school for sixth grade.
Lee Stafford, director of student services, urges parents to select more than one school to “choice” students into.
Parents want their children “to get into one particular school, so they choose that one school three times,” Stafford said. “And if it’s already over the 90 percent, they are essentially not really giving themselves the opportunity to participate in open enrollment.”
About 1,500 students participated in the option last school year, officials said.
Parents may apply for the option from Monday at 7:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. on March 4.
Applications are available online only and must be submitted online, a Bay District Schools news release stated.
Who may apply?
-Moved out of the current school zone this school year but wishes to have his or her child remain at his or her current school
-Wants to change his or her child’s school for upcoming school year
-Has a child entering kindergarten, sixth, or ninth grade and wishes to attend a school other than the zoned school (any Pre-K students who will be entering kindergarten must register at their zoned school before completing this application).
-Has a K-12 student entering Bay District Schools for the first time in the fall 2014-15.