Open Boundaries
Laveen schools provide a high-quality educational experience with superb educational programs, the latest instructional technologies, a nurturing climate, and outstanding teachers. Each school also offers a unique signature program such as performing arts, dual language instruction, or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).
To provide families with more flexibility and choice of schools, Laveen’s Governing Board approved opening all school boundaries within the Laveen School District (beginning in the 2017-18 school year). This change created a single shared attendance boundary, the district boundary, to serve all nine schools. Residents of our district may enroll their child in any Laveen school of their choosing without having to apply for open-enrollment. (Paseo Pointe School and Vista del Sur Accelerated Academy have additional enrollment requirements.)
Annual Plan Details
Existing families wishing to stay at their current school
Families who currently have children enrolled in a Laveen school will not be directly impacted. Unless you indicate otherwise, we will assume that your child will remain at his/her current school and no action is needed on your part. New incoming siblings will be given enrollment priority at the same school. Non-residents (families that live outside the Laveen School District boundary) must have a completed Open Enrollment form on file.
Existing families wishing to change schools
Families wishing to transfer their already enrolled child(ren) to a different Laveen will need to complete a transfer request. Enrollment at a different school is subject to space availability. Transfer requests must be turned in to the office of your first choice school.
Changing schools within the school year is generally discouraged. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis and at the sole discretion of the district when determined to be in the best interest of the student.
Families new to the Laveen School District
Families new to the Laveen School District, that will be enrolling their children for the upcoming school year, will be asked to complete a registration packet. Placement decisions will be made during the spring for the upcoming school year. Families who live outside the Laveen School District boundaries will be required to submit an Open Enrollment Form as well. New registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Placement
Per Policy JFB, placement is based on the following priorities:
- District resident students, including those issued certificates of educational convenience and those required to be admitted by statute.
- Students returning to the same school from the prior year.
- Siblings of students already enrolled.
- Students who are children of district employees
If there is excess capacity remaining after the reserved capacity identified above, the District will give open enrollment priority to nonresident students in the following order:
- Students who are in foster care.
- Students who meet the definition of unaccompanied youth prescribed in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (P.L. 100-77; 101 Stat 482; 42 United States Code Section 11434a).
- Students who attend a school that is closing.
- Nonresident students not included in any of the above criteria.
Transportation
Students that currently walk to school and students that are currently bused to their neighborhood school will continue to do so. Bus transportation will continue to be offered to students living within a school’s transportation zone.
Paseo Pointe
Paseo Pointe’s dual language immersion (DLI) program has become so popular that moving forward the school will transition to a full dual language immersion school. Details of the plan are as follows.
Dual Language Immersion
For the 2023-24 school year, all incoming students in Grades Kindergarten – 6 must qualify for and enroll in the DLI program. The program will roll up a grade level each year until it is K-8.
Transportation
Two new transportation options were created for families living in the Paseo Pointe community, but attending Cheatham and Desert Meadows schools. Busing to Desert Meadows will be provided for families living between 51st Avenue and 59th Avenue and between Dobbins and Baseline. Busing to Cheatham will be provided for families living between 51st Avenue and 59th Avenue between Baseline and Southern. View the transportation zones.
Vista del Sur
Vista del Sur has its own enrollment schedule. It is an accelerated school and students must take an assessment prior to enrolling.
History of opening school boundaries
In December 2016, the Governing Board and district administration first studied the possibility of opening school boundaries as a response to changes that are anticipated to affect the Laveen community in the near future. The construction of the South Mountain 202 freeway will accelerate development, bringing more residents and businesses to the area. There is also an increasing desire of parents to enroll their children in signature programs and schools of choice. A public forum was held in January 2017 to answer questions and gain feedback from the community.