Schools of Choice


For any questions regarding Schools of Choice, please contact Kim Buckley at 248-426-4692 .

At the April 10, 2012 Board of Education meeting, the Board approved the following recommendations for all three Schools of Choice Options, for the 2012-2013 school year, to include Intra-District (Resident), PA-227 (Employee) and Section 105 (Oakland County ISD).

  • Kindergarten open at all elementary buildings, except Highmeadow Common Campus, for purposes of Intra-District School of Choice.
  • After placement of Intra-District kindergarten students, additional kindergarten seats, not to exceed 2011-12 staffing levels/ratios, to be opened for PA 227 and Section 105, respectively. The number of kindergarten spaces per school would be announced no later than June 15, 2012 for Section 105.
  • Grade 9 seats open at Farmington High School and North Farmington High School in equal number to those 9th grade students enrolling in the Harrison High School IB program for the 2012-13 school year as of April 30, 2012 and those who enrolled in the 2011-12** school year. For example, if twenty 9th grade students in the Farmington High School feeder path are enrolled in the IB program, then twenty 9th grade seats would be open at Farmington High School for Intra-District and then PA 227 Schools of Choice. Opening seats to Section 105 would be determined and announced by June 15, 2012, if available. NOTE: Harrison High School would be closed to all Schools of Choice due to being at capacity and the expanding of the IB program.

As a result of parental input and a subsequent board recommendation, the Schools of Choice committee was reconvened to ascertain the feasibility of opening schools of choice at the 10th grade level at both Farmington High School and North Farmington High School. It was proposed that the number of openings would be based on the 2011/2012 enrollment of Farmington High and North Farmington High students in the Harrison IB program.

At the May 8, 2012 Board of Education meeting, the Board approved the following:

  • The District will open seventeen spaces at Farmington High School and eleven spaces at North Farmington High School for resident 10th grade students.
  • If there are still spaces available once resident students are placed, this option will be available to employees’ children through PA 227.
  • Applications for 10th grade schools of choice for Intra-District and PA 227 are available immediately and must be submitted to Central Office by May 21, 2012.

 10th grade will not be open as a Section 105 option.

 

Intra-District Schools of Choice (Resident)

May 1, 2012               Application and Guidelines to be posted
May 21, 2012             Applications due to Central Office
May 25, 2012             Lottery, if necessary
June 1, 2012               Placements announced to families

PA-227 Schools of Choice (Employee)

May 1, 2012               Application and Guidelines to be posted
May 21, 2012             Applications due to Central Office
June 4, 2012               Lottery, if necessary
June 13, 2012             Placements announced to families

Section 105 Schools of Choice (Oakland County ISD)

June 1, 2012               Application and Guidelines to be posted
June 15, 2012             Applications due to Central Office
June 22, 2012             Lottery, if necessary
July 1, 2012                Placements announced to families

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Is the Farmington Public School District an open enrollment district?
    No. The only exception would be those students participating in Section 105 Schools of Choice. (See below #3)
  2. Can a student pay tuition to attend Farmington Public Schools?
    No. There are only two exceptions. One is for a student who is moving into the District within the trimester of enrollment with a signed purchase agreement. The second applies to a student who has completed his or her junior year as a resident. The student may pay tuition to attend as a senior and graduate from the District.
  3. What are the Farmington Public School 's School of Choice options?
    Intra-District Schools of Choice is for residents of the Farmington Public School District only . Proof of residency is required.
    PA-227 is a Schools of Choice option for regular employees of Farmington Public Schools who are not residents of the District.
    Section 105 is a Schools of Choice option for residents that fall under the auspices of the Oakland County ISD. Proof of residency is required.

    All Schools of Choice options are determined by the Board of Education on an annual basis

  4. When is the application period?
    The application period for Intra-District Schools of Choice is normally in the spring of each school year for the following school year. Please check our website in May for updated information and deadlines.
  5. How do I apply?
    Applications are available at each school building, at Central Office, 32500 Shiawassee, and on the website www.farmington.k12.mi.us. They must be returned to Kim Buckley at Central Office by the deadline noted on the application. They can be hand delivered or mailed.
  6. What factors determine approval?
    Placement options are determined on an annual basis and based upon current building enrollment, projected enrollment, budget constraints, staffing allocations and number of requests. If requests exceed openings, a lottery will be held.
  7. Is placement on a first come, first serve basis?
    No. All applications are accepted until the deadline and all have an equal chance of placement based on the above criteria. If the number of applications received exceeds the number of openings, a lottery will be held.
  8. Is School of Choice available at all levels?
    Annually, the District assesses current and projected building enrollment along with budget constraints and staffing allocations to determine if a building or grade level will be open or closed to all incoming Schools of Choice students, including siblings of students already in attendance.
  9. Is there sibling preference?
    Sibling preference exists ONLY if two siblings would be in attendance at the same school at the same time and the building is open as an intra-district Schools of Choice option. If there are more sibling requests than space permits, a lottery will be held.
  10. What is the order of placement for the three options?
    Intra-District Schools of Choice applicants are placed first, followed by PA-227 and then Section 105 when that particular choice option is opened by the Board.
  11. Will my child receive transportation?
    Transportation is not provided to Schools of Choice students.
  12. Will School of Choice guarantee my child's path through all subsequent levels?
    No. After completion of any given level (i.e., elementary or middle), a resident student will be returned to his/her home school attendance area for the next level. Incoming PA 227 and Section 105 Schools of Choice students will be assigned the school feeder path(s) per level of enrollment. Where more than one path exists, the administrative office responsible for PA 227 and Section 105 will determine the path based upon current building enrollment, projected enrollment, budget constraints, and staffing.
  13. What if my child wants to go back to his/her home school?
    It is desirable that a student who transfers pursuant to the Schools of Choice program remain at the selected school for that educational level (i.e., elementary, middle, or high). However, upon request, a Schools of Choice student will be allowed to return to their home school (at the beginning of the next school year). Once returned to their home school, a student is ineligible to apply for Schools of Choice at that level again.
  14. If I am participating in the Section 105 School of Choice option, and I move out of Oakland County , can my child continue to attend Farmington Public Schools?
    No. At the end of the current trimester, the student must register in his/her home district.
  15. If I am participating in the PA-227 School of Choice option, and I become unemployed, can my child continue to attend Farmington Public Schools?
    No. At the end of the current trimester, the student must register in his/her home district.
  16. If I was a resident of the Farmington Public School District but I move out of the District, can I still participate in School of Choice ?
    No. If you move out of the District during the school year, the student must leave at the end of the current trimester. If you move out of the District during the summer, the student must begin the following year at their new home district.