Please Click Here for Open Enrollment Application Link

The Open Enrollment Period for the 2017-2018 School Year Application Deadline - February 6 - April, 28, 2017 at 4:00 p.m.   Parents must submit applications online or directly to the nonresident school district. 
*Please note new dates for open enrollment per Wisconsin Act 114.  

Other Important Dates (TBA for the 2017-18 School Year): 
June TBA, 2017 - Nonresident school districts must mail notices of approval or denial 
June TBA, 2017 - Resident districts must notify applicants if the application is denied 
June TBA, 2017 - Parents of accepted applicants must notify the nonresident district if the pupil will attend the nonresident district in the 2017-18 school year. If the parent fails to make this notification, the nonresident district may refuse to allow the pupil to attend the district. 

Open Enrollment Brochure for the 2017-2018 School Year

Contact Nancy Kuehl at 262-367-3606 ext.108 with any questions.

Please see the attached documents regarding LCS school board policies pertaining to open enrollment. 

Open Enrollment Policy 
Open Enrollment Definitions
Open Enrollment Administrative Rules

Open Enrollment FAQs:

What is Public School Open Enrollment?

Wisconsin's inter-district public school open enrollment program allows parents to apply for their children to attend school districts other than the one in which they live.

How do parents apply?

Parents may apply in one of two ways: On-line at WI Department of Public Instruction or a paper application which may be obtained from the Department of Public Instruction and must be delivered (hand-delivery is recommended) to the nonresident school district.

Who may participate?

Students in 4-year-old kindergarten to grade 8 may apply to participate in open enrollment at Lake Country School.  

What if more students apply to attend than there are spaces?

If more students apply to attend the nonresident school district than there are spaces, the nonresident school district must give preference to students who are already attending public school in that district and to siblings of students already attending the district.  After granting these preferences, students assigned to any remaining spaces must be selected randomly.

If the student is denied, will the student be placed on a waiting list?

Yes, and the notice of denial will indicate the student's place on the waiting list.

Can parents appeal if an application is denied?

Parents whose applications are denied may appeal to the DPI within 30 days of the denial.  State law requires the DPI to uphold the school district's decision unless DPI finds that the decision was arbitrary or unreasonable.  The DPI's decision may be appealed to circuit court.

Must students reapply ever year?

Once a student is accepted into the nonresident school district, the student may continue to attend without annual reapplication, except under certain circumstances, a student who needs special education may be required to return to the student's resident school district.

Is there a cost to parents for participation in open enrollment?

There is no tuition cost to parents for participation in open enrollment.  Parents of open-enrolled students may be charged the same fees as resident students.

Who is responsible for transportation?

Parents are responsible for transporting their children to and from school.  However, if the individualized education program for a student with a disability requires transportation, it must be provided by the nonresident school district.  Lake Country School will allow bus transportation for open enrollment students at a cost per semester, however the parents must transport the student to a location in the nonresident district.  Low income parents (eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the federal school lunch program) may apply to the DPI for reimbursement of a portion of their transportation costs.  There is space on the application form to do this.

Open enrolled students have the same rights and responsibilities as resident students.

For more information contact:

Mary Jo Cleaver - Public School Open Enrollment Program 1-888-245-2732 maryjo.cleaver@dpi.wi.gov