Enrollment Services

Welcome to Holyoke Public Schools!

Holyoke Public Schools is a PreK-12 public school district serving nearly 5,000 students and their families. We educate and support a richly diverse community of learners. One of our core beliefs is that students are at the center of everything we do. We are committed to recruiting and retaining top-quality educators who believe all children can and will learn and who strive daily to make school a joyful place of discovery, support, and belonging. We have a variety of opportunities to engage students in school, including hands-on learning, music, arts, STEM, dual language, world language, sports and athletics, and dual enrollment. We are excited for you to be a part of our community!

How do I enroll my child?

Families who speak English or Spanish can enroll online or schedule an in-person appointmentat 57 Suffolk Street. Families who speak another language should email enrollment@hps.holyoke.ma.us or call (413) 534-2000, option 1 to schedule an appointment with interpretation services.

What documents are required?

  • Proof of Child’s Age (e.g., birth certificate, passport)

  • Immunization records

  • Lead Test (Required for kindergarten and preschool enrollment)

  • Child’s physical health exam (within the last year)

  • Parent/Guardian Photo ID: valid driver’s license, MA ID, passport, etc.

  • 2 Proofs of address in Holyoke, including 1 from EACH category:

    • Evidence of Residency: Mortgage statement, signed lease, etc.

    • Evidence of Occupancy: Utility bill in your name dated within 60 days

  • Enrollment form filled out and submitted here (We can help you fill this out.)

  • If Applicable:

    • Special Education Documentation (copy of IEP or 504 plan)

    • Legal Guardianship Documentation

    • Proof that the adult is seeking guardianship (copy of petition form for guardianship)

What else do I need to know?

  • To enroll in Kindergarten, children MUST be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2024.

  • Review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document.

  • Holyoke High School Dean Campus has special eligibility requirements. Visit the Dean webpage for their application and admissions policy. If your child is interested in enrolling in a career-technical program that HPS does not offer, a Chapter 74 Vocational Technical Education Non-Resident Tuition Form must be completed, and the following steps are taken:

    • Part I and Part II of the form must be received by the Receiving District for completion by MARCH 1.

    • Part III of the form must be forwarded to the District of Residence for Completion by April 1

    • *NOTE: Approval of this application does not guarantee admission to the receiving school.

What school will my child attend?

To determine your child's school assignment based on your home address, click the link below to access our interactive map. Once on the map page, locate the search bar in the top right-hand corner and enter your Holyoke city address.

Watch this short video | en Español for instructions and an example of how to use this tool.
Click here for detailed instructions (PDF) en Español (PDF)

Preschool enrollment opens March 25 for 2024-25 school year

Contact the Enrollment Center to find out which schools and programs have space available! You can send an email to enrollment@hps.holyoke.ma.us, or you can call (413) 534-2000, option 1. We offer a variety of programs such as part-day, full-day, dual language, and Valley Opportunity Council operated PreK. We offer free preschool at Donahue, E.N. White, Kelly, Lawrence, McMahon, and Morgan schools. To be eligible for traditional preschool, students must be at least 3 years old and a resident of Holyoke. We happily enroll students throughout the school year as long as they are at least 3 years old at the time of enrollment.

Dual Language Program Enrollment

Families: Do you have a child who speaks mostly Spanish or is bilingual? The Dual Language program could be perfect for them.

Families interested in enrolling students in the district’s Dual Language Program should reach out to the Enrollment Center to find out if there is space available in the school and grade that their child is entering. 

Contact the Enrollment Center today at (413) 534-2000! “Research suggests that bilingual children function intellectually at a higher level than children who speak, read and write in one language.” The Astounding Effectiveness of Dual Language Education for All Virginia P. Collier and Wayne P. Thomas, George Mason University, 2003.

Program Benefits – Students become bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural. During their elementary school years, most students will be able to read a book independently, solve a complex math problem, ask inquiry-based questions and hold a conversation in both languages! Students who follow this pathway will be able to earn a Seal of Biliteracy from the State of Massachusetts before High School graduation.

This program is held at three locations. For the 20924-25 school year, E.N. White will offer grades PK-5, Kelly will offer PK-3, and Sullivan School will offer grades 6-8.

Eligibility: The dual language program requires students entering preschool to be 4 years old on or before September 1, 2024. (On a case by case basis, and if space is available, 3-year-old Spanish-speaking students may be enrolled.) All students applying for grades 1-8 must be evaluated to determine their eligibility based on their verbal, written, and reading level in Spanish. Those students must meet the Spanish language criteria for the grade they are applying to be accepted into that grade. Students entering preschool and kindergarten do not need to meet any eligibility requirements other than age.

Learn more in our Dual Language flyer (En español)!