Open Enrollment

You must register the student through the Enrollment Center to obtain an assigned permanent student number before initiating the online Open Enrollment process. For more information about how to register a student please visit the Enrollment webpage.

If your child is currently enrolled and attending SCUSD, you will only need to complete Steps 4 through 8.

1. Determine your school of residence using the School Locator
2. Register online through our online registration system to obtain your permanent student number
   • Enrollment for the 2023-2024 school year opens December 1, 2022
3. Wait to receive your permanent student number from the Enrollment Center.
   • This can take up to two days from the date you submit your child’s registration form
   • Families of students already attending school in Santa Clara Unified will need to obtain their child's permanent student number from the school their child is currently attending.
4. Complete the Open Enrollment Application Log in to our online registration system, School Mint
   • The username will be your email address or mobile number. 
   • If you forget your username or password use the “Forgot Username” or “Forgot Password” link on the login page.
   • If you are experiencing difficulties logging in contact the Enrollment Center at enrollment@scusd.net or 408-423-3596.
5. On your Student Dashboard click “Edit New Student Application” or "Add New Student Application" next to the name of the student you will be completing the application for
6. Select “2023-2024”, choose your student’s name, enter the student’s information, and click “Next”
7. Select “Open Enrollment”, and click “Next”
8. Select the school you wish to apply to, and click “Next” (Note: Schools may not be listed alphabetically) 
9. Complete the Open Enrollment Application, and click “Next”
10. Review your Open Enrollment Application, and click “Submit”

Once you submit the Open Enrollment Application, you will see the status of your application as “submitted” on your Student Dashboard.

Families will be notified of the status of your Round One application no later than March 17, 2023, by 4:00 p.m. 

If your round one application was denied, you need to reapply for an alternate school during the round two window. Your application will not affect your enrollment at your home school until you decline or accept an offer to open enroll.

*Note: When applying for Open Enrollment and reporting "sibling status" (i.e. a sibling is already enrolled at the school of choice; or in the case of high school, is or was enrolled at the school of choice) please be advised that the connecting link in the database to establish sibling status is the "siblings permanent identification number." If you are unsure of the sibling's permanent identification number, please contact the school office where the sibling is currently attending.

The first round of Open Enrollment for grades Kindergarten through 12 includes one school choice. For families with a student already attending a SCUSD school or a student who will be entering Santa Clara Unified for the 2023-2024 school year desiring to attend a school within the district that is NOT your school of residence, this is the time to enter your request of Open Enrollment. 

Although the date of your application does not affect your chances in the lottery, we encourage you to begin the application process as early as possible as you may have questions or need assistance. Only one application per student will be accepted.

Deadline for First Round of Open Enrollment

The deadline for accepting or declining First Round Open Enrollment Placements is to be determined.

The second round of Open Enrollment allows families a second opportunity to apply. Students who did not get accepted to their school of choice through the first round of Open Enrollment or who missed the deadline can apply during this window. Only one application per student will be accepted.

Listed below are the schools that have availability for Open Enrollment in the 2023-2024 school year:

Elementary Schools

• Bowers
• Hughes
• Mayne
• Montague
• Westwood (kindergarten and second grade)
• Scott Lane
• Scott Lane Spanish Dual Language Immersion Program

Middle Schools

• Huerta (7th and 8th grade)
• Don Callejon

High Schools

• MacDonald

Deadline for Second Round of Open Enrollment

The deadline for accepting or declining Second Round Open Enrollment Placements is to be determined.

Students requesting a change of school after the second round window is closed need to apply at the Enrollment Center through the Intradistrict Transfer Request process for schools that may have space available. Students accepted to attend a school on an Intradistrict Transfer must apply for the opportunity to continue at that school for the following school year through the Open Enrollment process. Only students accepted to a school through the Open Enrollment process are guaranteed placement for the following year. Please call the Enrollment Center at 408-423-3596 for more information.

Open enrollment-only elementary schools/programs, and middle and high schools offer online or in-person information sessions for new families. You can view the Information Session Dates and Times online. If you are interested in visiting a site that is not listed, please use our Schools Directory to contact the school site directly for more information.

Please respond to the Open Enrollment Offer on the online enrollment system. Please do this by 4 p.m. on the date indicated on your acceptance letter, for First Round Open Enrollment and for Second Round Open Enrollment. 

Please contact your school of residence by March 25, 2022, if your child will not be attending Santa Clara Unified School, so they may plan for the coming year. Please do this by 4 p.m. on the date indicated on the decline, for First Round Open Enrollment and Second Round Open Enrollment.

In your email, please include the following information:

• Student name
• Student grade
• Student permanent ID number (this was used during your open enrollment application)

Elementary schools receiving requests for admission shall give priority for attendance to:

1. Siblings of students who are enrolled at the school at the time of open enrollment.
2. Students currently attending the school through Overload process and who apply for Open Enrollment during designated Open Enrollment windows.
3. The children of employees who work at the school.
4. The children of other employees.

Secondary schools receiving requests for admission shall give priority for attendance to:

1. Siblings of students who are enrolled at the school at the time of open enrollment.
2. The children of employees who work at the school.
3. The children of other employees.
4. Siblings of graduates of the school, as long as the family continues to live within the SCUSD boundaries.

As long as the employee privilege remains in place, siblings of employees’ children attending district schools will be afforded the same priority status as resident siblings.

Note: Twins applying to the same school must be entered separately and will each receive a lottery number. When applying, also check the "Twins" box and enter the Permanent Student Number of the sibling twin.

Peterson Middle School has a 6th-grade program, Peterson+, that serves as a one-year transition from a Basics approach to the eventual heterogeneous format found in Santa Clara Unified’s other middle and high schools. 

The Peterson Plus Lottery will open at 9 a.m. on March 20, 2023, and end at 4:00 p.m. on March 31, 2023.  You will be notified of the status of your Peterson Plus application no later than April 7, 2023. 

• For families who do not live within the Peterson Middle attendance area, you must first apply for the First Round Open Enrollment to enter the lottery for Peterson Middle School.

For more information about the program, please visit Peterson Middle School Open Enrollment and Peterson + Program webpage.

Our Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program includes native English-speaking students and native speakers of a foreign language. The goals of DLI programs are to develop bilingualism, biliteracy, academic achievement, and cross-cultural competencies for all students.

Families interested in applying for the DLI program at Scott Lane Elementary School must first register at their school of residence and then apply during the Open Enrollment window once they have received their student identification number.

Families with children entering kindergarten and 1st grade are welcome to apply to the program and you can find out more information on the DLI webpage.

Students attending a school, other than their school of residence, on an Intradistrict Transfer must apply for the opportunity to continue at that school for the 2023-2024 school year through the Open Enrollment process. Only students accepted to a school through the Open Enrollment process are guaranteed placement for the following year. Once a student is accepted through Open Enrollment, the choice school becomes the student’s permanent placement through the grade span served at that school.

Open Enrollment does not apply to Transitional Kindergarten as our Open Enrollment policy applies to K-12 students only. For more information please visit the TK webpage.

Families wishing to enroll their child at Washington Open are encouraged to attend a parent information tour. 

Please review the "Open Enrollment Priorities Clarified" section on the Open Enrollment webpage so that you are aware of the different priority levels for Open Enrollment.