A Resource For All Your Questions

As you consider elementary school options for your child, we want you to know about the Saint Paul Public Schools Student Placement Center, a one-stop information resource for parents. Whether a student is entering kindergarten, moving into the district, or changing schools, the Student Placement Center provides year-round services to help parents explore and select a school or program for their child. The staff also provides excellent service to non-English speaking students and parents.             

What about Kindergarten?

Please click on the following link for more information if you have a child who will be starting kindergarten or a Pre-kindergarten/4-Year-Old Program. You can also call the Student Placement Center at (651) 632-3701 or (651) 632-3760 for more information.

What are Neighborhood Elementary Schools?

Neighborhood schools are available to students based on their home addresses. Students who attend neighborhood schools live within the boundaries (attendance area) for that school or are reassigned from magnet school attendance areas. If you would like your child to attend your neighborhood school, please call that school directly. Students not currently enrolled (2008-2009) who will be in grades 1-6, please contact the Student Placement Center at (651) 632-3701 or (651) 632-3702 to schedule an intake appointment.

New Application Process: ALL students must fill out the Elementary School Application to attend a Neighborhood Elementary Schools.

What are Magnet and Citywide Option Elementary Schools?

Elementary magnet and citywide option schools offer a particular program focus in addition to the basic curriculum that all schools offer. Magnet and citywide option schools draw students from all parts of the city and are part of the school district’s voluntary desegregation efforts.

Applying for a Magnet and Citywide Option Elementary School

Please complete the Elementary School Application and indicate your choice of magnet or citywide option schools for the fall of 2009. This includes families applying for their child to attend kindergarten and those wanting to change schools. Students already enrolled in a magnet/citywide option school do not need to reapply if they will be attending the same school next fall.  If you want your child to attend a neighborhood school contact the school directly.

Apply to Capitol Hill only if your child qualifies

In order to apply to Capitol Hill Magnet School, students must have been on the waiting list in past years or have been identified as eligible to receive gifted services by the school district’s Naglieri Non-verbal Abilities Test second edition (NNAT2). Capitol Hill is only one option for students who have been identified as gifted. It is important to remember, that most elementary schools have gifted services at the school.

Choose only from the list of qualifying magnet/ citywide options

If you are applying for your child to attend a magnet/citywide option school beginning fall 2009, choose only from the schools listed in the Magnet and Citywide Option Schools section when writing down your first, second and third choices. If you are interested in having your child attend a neighborhood school not on the list, contact that school directly. Sign the form - An application is complete only if it is signed by the child’s parent or guardian.

Wait for your school acceptance letter

Parents of students accepted into a school are notified in early May about the school they will attend the following September.  Acceptance to a school is determined by a random process, but does take into consideration whether the student has siblings who will attend the school and sometimes other preferences such as if the student lives near the school. Find out more about preferences.