The Lansing School District offers many exciting and innovative educational options for families in the greater Lansing area. 

Students have access to a variety of programs, including STEM, STEAM, Spanish and Chinese Immersion, New Tech High, Leadership, Law and Government, International Baccalaureate, Visual and Performing Arts, Montessori, and CTE programs.

Who Should Fill Out An Application?

• Parents/Guardians who are enrolling a new student.

Who Does Not Need to Fill Out an Application?

• Parents do not need to fill out a new application every year if their student(s) is/are already enrolled.
• Students changing grade levels into a new school will be automatically transferred to the next designated school. The parent does not need a new application.
• Transfers to a different school require the In District Transfer form subject to approval.  Please see the "In District Transfer Process" section of this website.

What Do You Need to Have Ready to Complete the Application?

• Computer or Phone
• The required documents below saved to that computer or phone.

What Items Do I Need?

Required

1. Picture of enrolling parent or guardian's photo ID.
2. Birth Certificate - Acceptable Documents include:
   • Official birth certificate issued by a government agency  (not a hospital record)
   • I-94 form
   • Passport
   • Green Card
   • Official court documents (Must list full name and date of birth.)
   • If you need to order your students birth certificate, you can do so on the VitalCheck website.
3. Proof of Residency- Acceptable documents include:
   • Utility Bill (water, electric, waste, etc.) with service address listed
   • Lease Agreement with full address and signature page required
   • Rent Receipt (signed with property address)
   • Mortgage Statement (signed with property address)
   • Cable Bill with service address listed
   • Internet Bill with service address listed
   • If you are not the person listed on any of these documents, the listed resident will need to download, fill out and upload a Proof of Residence Affidavit form as part of the enrollment application. 
4.  Immunization record - Official record from your student's healthcare provider or health department.
   • If you need assistance in obtaining your student's immunization record from the the State of Michigan, please email enroll@lansingschools.net and put "Immunization Record Request" in the subject line.

Other Documents that May Be Needed

• Custody or Guardianship Documentation
• IEP
• 504 Plan
• Transcript (9-12) and Exit Grades from previous school
• Kindergarten Only-Health Appraisal from within 30 days

The application cannot be completed unless all required items are uploaded to the application. If you have questions about what documents are acceptable or have difficulty uploading documents, please contact the Enrollment Office for assistance. You can also make an appointment.

Enrollment Office Contact Information
Phone: 517-755-2820
Email: enroll@lansingschools.net

If you need to make an appointment, please visit one of the following links:

Schedule appointment if your last name starts with A-K 

Schedule appointment if your last name starts with L-Z 

The Lansing School District offers a tuition-free Preschool program designed to prepare children for kindergarten. Classes are offered Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday throughout the school year, at various locations throughout the Lansing School District.  Visit the Universal Preschool website for more information!

To enroll a preschool student, please navigate to the Preschool Application below.

Do not use the K-12 Enrollment Application.

The Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) program is a half-day classroom model for 3-5-year-olds.  ESCE programs are in the following schools: Averill, Kendon, and Forest View.

The programs of the Special Education Department are broad based, located in every building and level of the Lansing School District.  The mandate for special education is birth through age 26.  We operate home-based programs for children and their families, work-based programs for adults, K-12 support, and special education classrooms for children with thirteen different disabilities.

To enroll an Early Childhood Special Education student, please navigate to the Early Childhood Special Education Application below.

Do not use the K-12 Enrollment Application.

Whether you’re pursuing your GED or looking to improve your English language skills we can help!

With GED, High School Diploma, English as a Second Language, Career Pathways, and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth Program options - the Lansing School District has something for every learner at every age.  Visit the Adult Education website for more information!

To enroll in the Adult Education Program, please navigate to the Adult Education Application below.

Do not use the K-12 Enrollment Application.

Student Enrollment, Transfers and Pathway Alignment Guidelines

The Lansing School District operates under a pathway model that supports predictable transitions from elementary school to middle school and high school.  This structured pathway framework helps manage school enrollment pathways and student transfers. This framework supports equitable enrollment practices, staffing alignment, and a transparent process for families requesting school transfers.

Why?  

 To Ensure:

• Stable School Communities
• Consistent Staffing
• Predictable school planning
• Clear expectations for families

Designated Transfer Window

Transfer requests are only accepted during specific times of the year:

• November 1 – January 30
• May 1 – September 12

Transfers are allowed for one or more of the following approved and documented reasons:

• Medical: Your child needs to be near a hospital or has a condition needing special care.
• Safety: Your child was a victim of a documented safety issue.
• Transportation: Your address is too far from transportation options, but transferring allows walking, using CATA buses, or parent transport. NO bus transportation is provided for transfers.

Transfer Requirements:

• The reason must be one of the reasons above.
• Documentation is required.
• There must be available space at the new school.
• The student must have attended their current school within the last 10 school days.
• Only one transfer request per school year is allowed

How Placement Decisions are Made:

When space is limited, priority is given in the following order:

1. Students accepted into magnet or specialized programs 
2. Students assigned through their neighborhood pathway 
3. Students with approved transfer requests 
4. Additional requests based on available space 

*If transferring to Capital Area K-12 Online, the following additional conditions apply:

• For students in grades 9–12, they must be on track with their credits.
• The student must have attended their current school within the past 10 school days.
• The student and parent/guardian must attend an onboarding meeting and sign both the Parent Compact and Virtual Consent Form.

Processing:

• Decisions and notifications to the families are made within 10 school days (may take longer for transfers involving Capital Area K-12 Online). 
• For students with disabilities, the special education team will review and follow all special education protocols before final placement. 

Transportation:

For any transfer, bussing WILL NOT be provided. However, gas cards and CATA bus tokens are available for self-transport.

Click here to go to the the In-District Transfer Form

The School of Choice plan gives you the opportunity to request enrollment for your child at any school within the Lansing School District.  Parents and students wishing to learn more about programs offered by the various schools are invited to contact the schools directly or the district’s Communications Office at 517.755.1036.

School of Choice Applications for the 2026-2027 School Year must be submitted no later than Tuesday September 15, 2026.

Application Requirements

1. The School of Choice application is submitted by completing the Lansing School District enrollment application.
2. As part of the enrollment application, documentation will be required. These items include the student’s birth certificate, immunization records, and proof of residence.
3. Accepted students must agree to comply with Lansing School District policies.

Processing/Approval 

1. Requests will be treated fairly and equitably for all students; however, if your student has been expelled or suspended within the last two years, this application may be denied. All School of Choice applications will be subject to a Discipline History Report from their previous school(s).
2. Selections must comply with the existing rules, regulations, and desegregation court order.
3. Decisions will be made on a first-come, first-served basis except for in the case of Magnet School applications. Magnet School applications are subject to the lottery process. If you have questions regarding this process, please visit the Lansing School District website under Academic Choices.
4. Once accepted into the Lansing School District, you need not reapply in succeeding years unless there is a break in enrollment.  
5. Special Education Programs and Services: Approval of applications for students eligible for special education and services who reside outside Ingham County ISD is subject to the requirements of Section 105c(19) of the Michigan State School Aid Act.   As a condition of enrollment, the State School Aid Act requires Lansing School District and the student’s resident district to attempt to enter into an agreement regarding the provision of special education programs and services and the responsibility for payment of the added costs of special education programs and services.  If an agreement cannot be reached, the State School Aid Act prohibits enrollment.    

Notification

Parents/guardians will be notified of the application decision by email. Applicants who are denied will have the right to appeal the decision. 

Athletics  

Contact the School Athletic Director for athletic eligibility requirements.

Please be advised that the Schools of Choice eligibility rules are governed by the Michigan Compiled Laws under MCL 380.1401, 388.1606, 388.1705, 388.1705c and 388.1707. By completing the enrollment application, you attest that all information provided is true and accurate. You further acknowledge that providing false information is in violation of law. The District retains the right to request additional verification of your eligibility at any time. Should information be provided or discovered by the district that you were accepted into the Schools of Choice program illegally, such acceptance will be revoked immediately. 

If you have questions or would like to request additional information, call the Welcome Center Enrollment Office at 517-755-2820.

School of Choice Applications must be submitted no later than Tuesday September 15,2026.

Download a copy of the School of Choice Terms and Conditions

State Aid Release

Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the Lansing School District implemented a new State Aid Release process.

Families who believe they meet the criteria listed below will need to complete a State Aid Release application supplied by the receiving district and submit it to PACE@lansingschools.net for review.  If the request meets the established criteria, families will receive written notification confirming that the approved release is valid for one academic year only.  Following that school year, families will need to apply during the receiving district’s School of Choice window or work directly with the receiving district’s administrative team to explore future enrollment options.

• The District may approve a State Aid Release for students who were previously enrolled in the requested receiving district during the prior school year, have applied through the receiving district’s Schools of Choice process, and were not approved through that process. 

The Lansing School District understands the importance of maintaining continuity in a student’s educational experience while also following established enrollment policies and Schools of Choice (SOC) procedures. In these situations, the District recognizes the value of allowing students to continue in an established educational program, maintain educational stability, and remain connected to their current school community.

The district anticipates that unique situations may arise.  To ensure consistency and fairness in the decision-making, a review committee consisting of the Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, and Central Office Leadership will review exceptional circumstances.

The State Aid Waiver review process may take up to 10 business days to complete. Once a determination has been made to approve or deny the request, families will be notified by email using the email address provided on the application.

Federal mandate requires Magnet schools to process applications through a random lottery. The lottery system allows for equitable opportunities to enroll in schools giving weighted priorities for socioeconomic status, current sibling attendees, parent employees and Magnet theme articulation.

Beginning May 1st, in-district transfer requests may be submitted using the In-District Transfer Form. Please note: only schools/grades with open seats will appear on the in-district transfer application.

Visit our Magnet Schools page to learn more!