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Posted January 15, 2025
Read this information in Arabic here.
Read this information Dari here.
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Lea esta información en español aquí.
Đọc thông tin này bằng tiếng Việt tại đây.
SchoolChoice is the Denver Public Schools application process designed for any student who wants or needs to attend a new school next school year. Families complete a SchoolChoice application to sign up for a space at their preferred school. Round 1 of the 2025-2026 SchoolChoice program runs from January 15, 2025 to February 18, 2025. Applications are due by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
New this year, McKinley-Thatcher is part of the Southwest Central Elementary Enrollment Zone. To read about our transition to the enrollment zone model, check out our November 2024 Principal’s Update (available in English, Arabic, Dari, Spanish, and Vietnamese).
| I have an incoming ECE-4 student. | Yes, you must complete a SchoolChoice application and a Universal Pre-K (UPK) application (due Monday, February 3) for this student. See the UPK section below for more information. |
| I have an incoming kindergarten student. | Yes, you must complete a SchoolChoice application for this student. |
| I have a kindergarten – 4th grade student currently enrolled at McKinley. | No, current McKinley students in kindergarten through 4th grade do not need to complete a SchoolChoice application. These students are guaranteed a spot at McKinley until they graduate. |
| I have a 5th grade student currently enrolled at McKinley. | You are strongly encouraged to complete a SchoolChoice application for 6th grade. |
| I have a kindergarten – 4th grade student at a different school but I would like them to attend McKinley next year. | Yes, you must complete a SchoolChoice application for this student. |
All incoming ECE-4 families must submit two separate applications:
Please note:
Colorado’s Universal Pre-K (UPK) Program helps families pay for their child’s ECE tuition. In order to receive tuition assistance and to be placed in an ECE program, families must complete a UPK application.
Families must also complete a SchoolChoice application in order to enroll in a DPS school for the 2025-2026 school year.
The Universal Pre-K (UPK) program gives families 15 hours per week of FREE, state-funded preschool for children in ECE-4. After UPK funding is applied, the remaining tuition costs for ECE-4 families are calculated on a sliding scale based on family size and income. Check the DPS Early Education website for ECE tuition information. Please note that there is no tuition for kindergarten.
The SchoolChoice application process is completely online. You may complete your application on your phone, tablet, or computer at schoolchoice.dpsk12.org, or visit our main office to use a Chromebook. Complete your SchoolChoice application by February 18, 2025.
Please note that incoming ECE-4 families must complete both a UPK application (due February 3, 2025) and a SchoolChoice application (due February 18, 2025). Please see the UPK section above for more information.
The SchoolChoice Round 1 application window closes on Tuesday, February 18. Families who submitted a Round 1 application will receive a school placement notification from Denver Public Schools in late March 2025. Families will receive a welcome message from their school after placement notifications have been sent.
The current UPK application window closes on Monday, February 3. ECE-4 families will receive a school placement notification from UPK in late February 2025.