Choice Enrollment
Choice Registration Program
*Please Note - Internet Academy can be found through their website at internetacademy.fwps.org. Please follow their instructions for registration, as requests for Internet Academy are not processed through Choice Enrollment.
The 2024-25 Choice Application
is Now Closed for New Submissions
In This Section
Contact Us
Educational Service Center33330 8th Ave South
Federal Way, WA 98003
Phone: 253-945-2098
Choice Information
Timeline
Timeline
Timeline for Choice Enrollment 2025-26
(Choice Placement for 2024-25 is now closed)
Date |
Detail | Who Does It Apply To? | Important Info |
---|---|---|---|
February 3 - March 17, 2025 | Choice Application Open |
- Residents of Federal Way Public Schools - Scholars whose parent/guardian are permanent district employees |
Application will open at 7:30am on February 3 Application must be submitted by 4:30pm on March 17 Not sure if you live in the Federal Way School District? Click Here to Visit Our Boundary Map. |
April 16, 2025 |
Choice Lottery | Choice Lottery Applicants |
Held at 5:30pm:
Attendance is not required to obtain placement or a wait list number. Families will be contacted after the lottery. |
May 1, 2025 |
Deadline for acceptance of lottery placement | Choice Lottery Applicants |
Applicants who have been approved for Choice at their requested school must respond by May 1, 2025 to secure their offer of placement. Please see "Frequently Asked Questions" for more info about how applications are processed. |
May 1 - August 29, 2025 | Post-Lottery Application Open to ALL Applicants |
Residents of the Federal Way School District AND Non-Residents of Federal Way School District |
Application will open at 7:30 am on May 1. Residents of FWPS: Non-Residents: This form can be filled out at the link below, or by visiting the scholar's resident district office. Click below to fill out the form: Applications will be added to the bottom of the wait list in the order received. |
TBD |
Post-Lottery Application Deadlines (Notification of approval OR continued wait list to follow within 1-2 weeks of deadline) |
All Choice Applicants |
Applications are due at the following dates to be reviewed for approval. Wait list applicants will be notified 1-2 weeks after these deadlines whether their application is approved or will continue to remain on the wait list until the next application deadline and enrollment review. Families will be notified of final approval or denial by the 10th school day of the year. Notification of approval will take place via email, unless the parent requests a different form of communication. Approved scholars will have 5 business days to respond to the acceptance letter and be enrolled at the "Choice" school. Parents/Guardians can accept the letter by email, or sign a copy at the approved Choice school or Educational Service Center at: 33330 8th Ave S Final Placement determinations will take place on the 10th school day, and notifications will be mailed by the 15th school day. |
Rules & Regulations
Choice Rules & Regulations
One Application
One Choice Enrollment Application will be accepted for each scholar. When multiple Choice Enrollment Applications are submitted for the same scholar, the Choice Enrollment Application bearing the most current date and time will be the application entered into record.
No Transportation
Parents/guardians with students enrolled in the Choice program are responsible for transportation to a school outside of the resident service area.
Enrollment While Waiting for Acceptance
Scholars are expected to be enrolled and attending their current or resident area school while waiting for space to become available for choice enrollment at their requested school. If or when space becomes available at the requested school, the scholar's enrollment and records will be transferred to the "choice" school upon the parent signing the acceptance letter and contacting the new school. The office of the "choice" school will notify the parent of their scholar's start date at their school.
Duration of Acceptance
Resident scholars accepted on Choice enrollment will be accepted for the K-12 Continuum. Non-residents are accepted for the grade span of the “choice” school (except Nautilus 6-8 and Woodmont 6-8, and TAF@Saghalie 9-12), contingent upon receipt of Choice Transfer Request from resident district prior to the beginning of each school year.
Educational Programs (e.g. Cambridge and International Baccalaureate):
Acceptance into educational programs does not guarantee placement at the schools where these programs are offered.
Revocation of Choice Placement by District
Choice placement may be revoked by the district for excessive tardiness or absences greater than 10 days, increased enrollment at Choice school causing overcrowding in school, grade, or program. Disciplinary record indicates a history of violent or disruptive behavior (non-resident scholars only).
Revocation of Choice Placement by Parent/Guardian
Should a student desire to return to the school in their assigned attendance area after accepting a Choice placement, the parent/guardian must submit the request in writing to the Business Office.
Athletic Eligibility (High School Only)
Placement Priorities
Placement Priorities
Choice Applications will be reviewed for space availability in order of the following priorities.
General Priorities |
Limited-Space Programs |
Federal Way Public Academy |
---|---|---|
Employee Priority
|
Employee Priority |
Employee Priority |
Sibling Priority Students whose sibling(s) are currently enrolled in the requested school and has a confirmed placement at the Choice school for the requested school year will have priority placement pending space availability. |
Current Students with Sibling Priority Students requesting Choice Enrollment into their resident school’s limited space program who also has sibling(s) currently enrolled in the requested school and have a confirmed placement at the Choice school for the requested school year. |
Sibling Priority Students whose sibling(s) are currently enrolled in the requested school and has a confirmed placement at the Choice school for the requested school year will have priority placement pending space availability. |
Resident Priority Students living within the boundaries of the Federal Way School District. |
Current Students Students requesting Choice Enrollment into their resident school’s limited space program. |
Resident Priority Students living within the boundaries of the Federal Way School District. |
Non-Resident Priority |
Employee Priority (second level) Students residing with permanent employees. |
Non-Resident Priority Students living outside of the boundaries of Federal Way School district. Non-residents whose sibling(s) are currently enrolled in the requested school and have a confirmed placement will have priority placement over other non-resident scholars. |
Sibling Priority Students whose sibling(s) are currently enrolled in the requested school and has a confirmed placement at the Choice school for the requested school year will have priority placement pending space availability. |
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Resident Priority Students living within the boundaries of the Federal Way School District |
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Non-Resident Priority Students living outside of the boundaries of Federal Way School district. Non-residents whose sibling(s) are currently enrolled in the requested school and have a confirmed placement will have priority placement over other non-resident scholars. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Choice Enrollment Work?
Federal Way Public Schools (FWPS) scholars are assigned to a designated school based on their home address. Scholars are guaranteed placement (or a spot) to their designated school. Scholars have the option to apply for placement to a different school through Choice. Assignment to the school of their choice is not guaranteed and is based on space availability.
Resident scholars, or those living within our district boundaries, and permanent district employees shall have priority over non-resident scholars, or those living outside of district boundaries.
To determine which school boundary you reside in, click here:
http://www5.kingcounty.gov/FWSD/schoollookup.htm.
What Does "Space Available" Mean?
The number of “choice enrollment” openings available for the upcoming year is determined by the Chief Financial Officer/Designee, using a variety of resources. It is possible that some schools will have NO immediate openings designated for Choice Enrollment.
All Choice placement is contingent upon space availability.
How are Choice Applications Processed?
Pre-Lottery
For Limited-Space Schools (Federal Way Public Academy, Nautilus grades 6-8, Olympic View grades 6-8, and Woodmont grades 6-8, TAF @ Saghalie grades 9-12):
- All applications received by the application deadline are entered into a central database.
- Applications are drawn in order of priority based on our policies and procedures (See “Placement Priorities” section above).
- The database will randomly generate the acceptance of applications for any available spaces.
- The database will then randomly generate waitlist positions for the remaining applications.
- If an accepted spot at in a limited-space school is vacated before the start of school, the district will reach out to offer the placement to the next person on the waitlist generated by the lottery.
For all other grades and schools:
- In the week leading up to the lottery, the district will review applications and enrollment projection data to identify whether a given grade and school has availability to approve the submitted requests.
- Families of approved requests will receive notification prior to the lottery (“Pre-Lottery Approval”).
- All other remaining requests will be entered into the lottery, and drawn by priority for waitlist positions in order to review enrollment in August to see if space availability has opened up for that grade and school. .
- In August, Business Services will review enrollment, waitlisted requests from the lottery, and additional requests submitted in the post-lottery to make additional approvals. Families will receive notification of approval by email.
The lottery to determine placement status of each applicant is open to the public and held at the Support Service Center (1211 S 332nd St, A100
Federal Way, WA 98003) on April 17, 2024 at 5:30pm. Attendance at the lottery is not required. Notification of Choice Placement status (approval or waitlist) will be provided to all participants by April 19, 2024. Acceptance of placement is due from families by May 1, 2024.
Post-Lottery
All applications received during the post-lottery open enrollment will be placed on the requested school’s waitlist in the order received based on the District’s established priorities. Final placement determination will be emailed to all applicants by the 15th school day.
Scholars not placed in their requested school must remain at their present resident school.
Have You Moved?
Choice Mid-Year Move
Have You Moved or are Planning on Moving?
Scholars who move outside of the boundaries of their current school during the year have the option to continue their enrollment in their current school of enrollment as a Choice scholar if we receive the following forms. Please complete the forms required as listed below based on the location of your new address.
Please Note for All Choice Placement
- Transportation to the school is the responsibility of the parent even if an IEP allows for transportation
- Choice enrollment may be revoked for excessive tardiness, absences greater than 10 days, or increased enrollment at the Choice school causing overcrowding in school, grade, or program, or (non-resident only) disciplinary record.
Mid-Year Move Forms Required
Please identify which form(s) you need to complete based on the location of your new residence as described below.
Forms Required If: Your New Address is Still WITHIN FWPS Boundaries (Example: A scholar attends Lakota Middle School, but the new address is in boundary for Illahee Middle School) |
Forms Required If: Your New Address is Now OUTSIDE FWPS Boundaries (Example: A scholar's address is now in Kent School District, but the scholar wants to continue attending Thomas Jefferson High School) |
---|---|
Mid-Year Move Form (click here)
|
Mid-Year Move Form (click here)
|
Address Verification
|
Choice Transfer Request (click here)
|
Address Verification
|
Choice Transfer Request
When a family resides outside of the district boundaries they are applying to attend, a Choice Transfer Request form is required in addition to a district's Choice application (may also be called a Non-Resident Application, Transfer Waiver, etc). Non-residents applying to attend a school within FWPS boundaries must submit both a Choice Application and Choice Transfer Request to be considered for placement.
Click Here to complete a Choice Transfer Request to:
Transfer to FWPS accompanying an incoming Choice application, or
To Transfer to Another School District / School outside of the Federal Way School District.
Reminder:
- Choice Transfer Requests expire each year. This form must be filled out each year that a scholar attends a school in the Federal Way Public Schools boundary.
- Please also contact the non-resident district to see if they have additional Choice/Transfer paperwork.