Chippewa Valley Brings Back Midyear School of Choice Enrollment

Enrolling 15 new students during its first midyear school of choice program last year, Chippewa Valley Schools has opted to offer midyear enrollment once again for the 2012-13 school year.

Although Chippewa has offered school of choice for many years, it was not until a vote by the board of education in September 2011 that the district moved to allow nonresident students to transfer midyear in addition to the standard summer/fall period.

While not every school of choice application was accepted during the first midyear enrollment, Chippewa Valley Community Relations Director Diane Blain said a total of 33 students in grades six through 11 were enrolled for the second semester of the 2011-12 school year. 

Eighteen of those were students who had moved out of the district but wished to remain in Chippewa until the end of the school year. Fifteen of the students enrolled were new to the district.

Nonresident students looking to transfer into Chippewa Valley for the current school year can submit an application through Jan. 17. Only students in sixth through 11th grade are eligible for transfer.

In addition, applicants must prove residency within Macomb County and be able to provide their own transportation to their chosen school, which could be any of the district's four middle or two high schools. 

Applicants must also provide the district with information on any suspensions issued by the previous school, with students who have previously been expelled from school barred from the process.

For parents concerned about how the number of nonresident transfers will affect space availability for resident students, Blain said rest assured, residents are always placed in classes first.

“We leave open a number of spots in each classroom,” said Blain in a previous interview with Patch. “We don’t fill a classroom with school of choice, even in the summer, because we know we may get late registrations in the late summer or fall.”

Enrollment applications for the second semester of 2012-13 will be accepted at the Chippewa Valley Schools Administration Building, 19120 Cass Ave., Clinton Township, 48038. Applications can be dropped off in person during normal business hours, mailed to the address above or faxed to 586-723-2001.

Questions regarding the process should be directed to the Office of School and Community Relations at 586-723-2240.