How to Select a School

How to select a school for your child

MPS offers strong academic programs across the city. Every school is staffed with dedicated, licensed, highly qualified teachers and administrators who are committed to the personal success of your child. Your choice of school depends upon the needs of your family and student. As you explore schools, keep in mind that when you enroll, you will submit your top three school choices. Make your decisions based on your top three choices, not just one favorite. This will help the enrollment process go smoothly. Many families consider three factors when choosing a school: type of school, programs within a school, and transportation.

• Type of school: MPS offers neighborhood schools, neighborhood specialty schools, citywide specialty schools, charter schools, partnership schools and comprehensive middle and high schools. Learn more about the types of schools.
• Programs within a school: Many MPS schools offer specialty programs such as arts or bilingual education. Get more information about many of these programs.
• Transportation: The district offers transportation to students based upon many factors including a student’s special education status, the type of school, and the student’s home address. School buses may be available for your child depending on their age, services needed, or the distance to their school. MPS provides safe, reliable, efficient bus services for students.

How to find schools

To best meet every child’s needs, families may select from schools across the district. For many families, the neighborhood school is the best choice.  Neighborhood schools give priority to children living in the area surrounding the school. Attending a neighborhood school allows your child to walk to school, if desired, and increases convenience for daily transportation and school events. Many neighborhood schools offer specialty coursework and programs.

To find the schools closest to your home, visit our Find a School page and enter your address in the Find a School tool. Click on a school to learn about school programs, hours, leadership, and before- and after-school programs. This online tool lets you search for schools by name, grade level, specialties and programs.

Schedule a school visit

You may call any school to ask questions and schedule a visit. School visits allow you to meet the principal, tour the school, visit classrooms and meet the caring teachers and staff who will help your child succeed. Many parents bring children along on visits so they can feel comfortable in the school, meet teachers and staff, and take part in the decision.

Enroll Your Child

After you’ve selected three schools, begin the enrollment process. You may enroll online, at a school, or at district enrollment events and help sessions. Learn more about enrollment.