Important Information – Change in School Zones for 2014-15

Attendance Family Letter

       Office of Schools

901 Walnut Street

Des Moines, Iowa 50309

Dear DMPS Families:

We want to thank all of our elementary school families for your input and attention to the new attendance areas adopted for our elementary schools in Des Moines. This was a major undertaking by the school district – one that hasn’t been done in more than 30 years – and it would not have been without the involvement of many parents and neighbors.

Our new attendance areas will bring several advantages for students.  More neighborhood students will be able to attend their neighborhood school and participate in building activities.  Enrollment will be better balanced between school buildings to allow additional space for classrooms or programs, if needed.  In addition, elementary schools will be more aligned with our secondary schools.  Students will benefit from the cohesive transition from elementary school through middle school with peers and staff.

These boundary changes will go into effect for the 2015-16 school year.  Because this change is being “grandfathered” into effect, we have done everything possible to minimize any short-term changes for families while implementing a long-term benefit for the school.  For more information about this, be sure to visit our web site http://www.dmschools.org/elementary-school-attendance-areas/.

For the 2015-2016 school year, incoming kindergarten students will attend their new elementary school.  Students currently enrolled in grades 1-5 may remain at their current school.  Families impacted will receive additional information in the fall and will be asked to complete a form to confirm their child’s attendance at their new neighborhood school.   We will ask for this information to be submitted to your child’s current school no later than March 1, 2015.

For all students, parents are reminded that through the Within-District Transfer process, all DMPS students may apply to attend an elementary school of their choice.  Applications are due to the district no later than March 1^st.  Approval will be based on current within-district transfer guidelines and space availability.  More information is provided at http://www.dmschools.org/enrollment-registration/.

Finally, for some of our families there will be a slight change to the school start and finish times starting this next school year. This ten-minute change in the bell times for these schools will help our transportation of students be more efficient, saving tens of thousands of dollars in the process.

The new schools hours of 8:45 AM to 3:30 PM will apply to the following schools only: Brubaker, Cattell, Findley, Garton, Hillis, Jackson, Lovejoy, Madison, Monroe, Morris, Moulton, Perkins, Pleasant Hill, River Woods, Samuelson, Studebaker, Windsor and Wright.

Thank you for your support of Des Moines Public Schools.  We are excited about the benefits of the boundary changes and the opportunities it will give students.  If you have any questions about the boundary changes, please contact your school principal or visit our district website.

Sincerely,

Susan Tallman, Elementary Executive Director