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Open Enrollment
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Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment application
Annually, open enrollment is a three-step process for all students who reside outside of the attendance boundary of the school they prefer to attend: 1.) application, 2.) notification of our decision, and 3.) if accepted, then online registration.
Please note: a separate application must be submitted for each student.
Click 2025-26 Open Enrollment (Out of Area) Application to submit an Open Enrollment application for the 2025-2026 school year. (You will be redirected to a secure server named WuFoo.) This is the first step in the three-step open enrollment process.
Starting on November 1, 2025: Click 2026-2027 Open Enrollment (Out of Area) Application to submit an Open Enrollment application for the 2026-2027 school year. (You will be redirected to a secure server named WuFoo.) This is the first step in the three-step open enrollment process. If you are a continuing Open Enrolled student, register here.
Current School Year Capacity (PDF)
Are you a resident family who will be attending the CFSD school in your neighborhood? Register here.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What is the district’s open enrollment program?
Open enrollment is a state law that allows students to attend schools outside of their resident school if the receiving school has the capacity to accept them. Catalina Foothills School District (CFSD) residents who wish to attend a school other than their home area school must apply under the open enrollment program as well as non-resident families.
Q: Are students accepted on a first-come, first-served basis?
All applicants who apply between November 1 and January 31 are given equal consideration for placement per governing board policy (PDF) | política de la junta directiva (PDF) on open enrollment procedures. If capacity is insufficient to enroll all students to a particular grade in a particular school, then they shall be selected through a random selection process. If there is additional capacity to accept students after January 31, we will respond to applicants on a first-come, first-served basis.
Q: What are my student’s chances of being accepted to CFSD?
Last year we accepted 96% of the students who applied. Denials were primarily due to class size limitations at specific schools or in specialized programs.
Q: Since all Open Enrollment students must re-apply every year, is there a chance s/he will not be accepted?
Continuing Open Enrollment students, as well as their siblings, are given priority in the acceptance process. To reserve a student’s enrollment spot, families must complete registration for the upcoming school year starting November 1. Completing registration during this window ensures that your child’s place is held for the next school year.
Q: What if my currently open enrolled CFSD student will be transitioning from elementary to middle school or from middle school to high school?
Currently accepted open enrollment CFSD students who will be transitioning to the next grade level at a different school will be enrolled at the following locations:
- Canyon View and Ventana Vista 5th graders will enroll at Esperero Canyon Middle School 6th grade.
- Manzanita and Sunrise Drive 5th graders will enroll at Orange Grove Middle School 6th grade.
- All CFSD 8th graders will enroll at Catalina Foothills High School 9th grade.
If your student wishes to attend a school other than the one listed above, you must submit a NEW Open Enrollment applicaiton (see directions below).
Q: Are there any restrictions on an open enrollment student?
Transportation is the responsibility of the student’s family. This responsibility applies to both resident and out-of-district open enrollment students. Once students are accepted under open enrollment, they are district students in all other aspects of their education and extracurricular activities. There are some Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) restrictions on high school students participating in AIA activities who transfer to other schools. Contact Charles Pierce, athletic director at Catalina Foothills High School, if you have questions related to this issue.
Q: How do I find out about specific programs available at CFSD?
Please see our website for information regarding: Gifted Education and Special Education, Spanish and Chinese Immersion, and curricula for Elementary, Middle, and High School levels. A complete overview of our 21st Learning initiative can also be reviewed. Please note that Catalina Foothills School District has a half-day kindergarten program. A full-day program is available through the fee-based Kindergarten Plus program.
Q: Can my student be placed on a waiting list for a future school year enrollment?
CFSD does not maintain a “waiting list” from year to year. Open enrollment applications are accepted November through January preceding the next school year. Applications for 2025-2026 are accepted from November 1, 2024, through January 31, 2025. Although applications received November - January are processed first, we continue to accept applications submitted beginning February 1, 2025 and thereafter, placing students on a first-come, first-served basis if there is additional capacity.
Q: If my student applies for open enrollment and decides not to attend, are they eligible for future school years?
They may apply again in future years. Acceptance for the current application period is not transferable to future years. Also, the student must enroll for the accepted school year prior to the deadline indicated on the acceptance letter. The open enrollment acceptance is offered with the expectation that the student joins us on the first day of school.
Q: When and how will I be notified about my student's application?
If you apply during the open enrollment application period (November 1 through January 31), you will receive a response to your application by email after January 31 but no later than March 1. If you apply after January 31, you will receive a response in a timely manner but no later than two weeks prior to the first day of school.