School Choice Policy

Do you live outside of Holyoke and want your student to attend Holyoke Public Schools? School Choice applications are available online at www.enrollholyoke.com.

Contact the Enrollment Center with any questions at (413) 534-2000, option 1.  

Available School Choice Space for School Year 2023-2024

Holyoke Public Schools shall determine the number of Choice seats available for the next school year before May 1. 

School choice available spaces for the 2023-24 school year are as follows:

School

Spaces Available

Donahue School

None

E.N. White School

Grade 2: 4 spaces

Kelly School

Grade 2:  4 spaces  /   Grade 4:  4 spaces

Lawrence School

Grade K: 4  /  Grade 1:  4  /  Grade 2:  4  /  Grade 3:  4  /  Grade 4:  4  /  Grade 5:  4

McMahon School

Grade K: 4  /  Grade 1:  4  /  Grade 2:  4  /  Grade 3:  4  /  Grade 5:  4

Morgan School

Grade K: 4  /  Grade 1:  4  /  Grade 2:  4  /  Grade 3:  4  /  Grade 4:  4  /  Grade 5:  4

Metcalf

None

STEM Academy

None

Sullivan School

None

Holyoke High, North

Grade 9: 6  /  Grade 10:  6  /  Grade 11:  6  /  Grade 12: 6

Holyoke High, Dean

None

Specialized sub-separate programs have zero available spaces in any HPS school or grade. These programs include but are not limited to: the ABL Program, RISE Program, SHINE Program, Functional Program, TIP Program, and Transitions Academy. To determine if your child is enrolled in a sub-separate program, please review their IEP with the special education department at their current school.

The School Choice priority-round application deadline was May 12, 2023.  Every year, if there are more applicants than available seats in a specific school and grade, a lottery will occur within two weeks of the priory-round application deadline. If seats are still available after the initial deadline, applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until January 31 of that school year.

Acceptance, Denial, or Placement on Waitlist 

All priority-round applicants will be notified of their child’s application status. If a lottery is required, a waiting list is established for families who were not selected. If a family declines, the next person on the waiting list will be notified of acceptance.

All school-age children who live in Massachusetts are entitled to attend a public school free of charge. Most children attend school in their home district, which is the school district in which they live. The School Choice Program at Holyoke Public Schools (HPS) allows parents an opportunity to have their children attend our schools while residing in a surrounding town. This program is made possible by the provisions of the M.G.L. Chapter 76: Section 12, otherwise known as the “School Choice Law, which allows HPS to claim a tuition reimbursement from the home district of every student enrolled in the program. As a result, HPS is able to have additional resources to better serve all students in our district.  If a student currently attending HPS moves to a surrounding town and wants to continue attending Holyoke Public Schools, the family must complete a School Choice application. Families are responsible for transporting their students to school on time every day. It is the policy of this School District to admit non-resident students under the terms and conditions of the inter-district School Choice Law (M.G.L. 76:12) and the following local conditions:

  1. By May 1 of every school year, the administration will determine the number of spaces in each school available to choice students.

  2. That by June 1 of every school year, if consideration is being given to withdraw from the provisions of the choice law, a public meeting will be held to review this decision.

  3. That the selection of non-resident students for admission be in the form of a random drawing when the number of requests exceeds the number of available spaces. 

  4. Any student who is accepted for admission under the provisions of this policy is entitled to remain in the District until graduation from high school, except if there is a lack of funding for the program.

  5. The School Committee affirms its position that it shall not discriminate in the admission of any child based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, ancestry, athletic performance, physical handicap, special need, academic performance or proficiency in the English language.

LEGAL REFS.:  M.G.L. 71:6; 71:6A; 76:6; 76:12; 76:12B.