What is an attendance area?
An attendance area defines which households are assigned to which schools.  Each household is assigned to one elementary, one junior high/middle school and one high school. Students living in an attendance area (those whose addresses are assigned to a school) will get preference into that school. If the school is a neighborhood elementary school, you may enroll directly at that school unless your family is new to the school district.  If the school is an elementary magnet or secondary specialty school, students must apply to that school.  Acceptance to magnet/citywide option or secondary specialty schools is not guaranteed.  Some elementary magnet/citywide option schools also have preference areas which give preference to students living in certain areas if the student indicates the school as his/her first choice and turns in the application by the deadline.  For more information on attendance areas and preference areas, see page 194. If you are not sure which school is your attendance area school or you are new to the school district, call (651) 632-3760 (elementary) or (651) 632-3761 (secondary).

Can my child attend a neighborhood elementary school that is not the one assigned to our attendance area?
A transfer to a neighborhood school outside of your attendance area is possible as long as there is space available at the school you are choosing and the transfer complies with school district and state policies. Transportation is not provided.  For more information, call (651) 632-3760.

Can my child attend the elementary school nearest to his or her day care rather than our attendance area school?
In most cases when the day care is in Saint Paul and you want your child to attend an elementary neighborhood school near your day care, your child will be able to attend that school.  Often it is more convenient for an elementary-age child to attend a neighborhood school close to day care rather than close to home, so the school district makes this option available for students.  Parents who want their children to attend a magnet or citywide option school near their day care must apply to the school, but are not guaranteed acceptance.  Day care transfers are issued to neighborhood schools only and are valid only for the year in which they are issued.  Day care transfers are not guaranteed, and there is a possibility that transportation will not be provided by the school district.  For more information, call (651) 632-3760.

Can my child remain at the same school if we move during the school year?
Once your child has attended a Saint Paul Public School, he or she may remain at that school unless there are special program considerations. If the student continues to live in Saint Paul, transportation will continue to most elementary magnet/citywide option and secondary schools. Transportation is generally not available to students at neighborhood schools who live outside their attendance area or students who live outside the city limits of Saint Paul. Ask the school for more specific information about transportation. If your child is accepted to a magnet/citywide option school or a secondary school and the child moves out of the city before he or she starts school, your child most likely will NOT be able to attend that school if the school has a waiting list of students who live in Saint Paul. For more information, call (651) 632-3760 (elementary) and (651) 632-3761 (secondary).