Help understanding school districts (St. Paul, Plymouth: real estate, leasing agent, house)

[vboundy]

I understand that Apple Valley, Eagan and Rosemount are all in district #196. Are you assigned to high schools by where you live? Do you choose schools within you district? Can you live in Eagan or AV and go to Rosemount High School?

Thanks.

[BryaninMSP]

Within most districts, it's strictly geographic. In some there is flexibility, but for the most part it's all based on where you live. Most school districts have a district map on their website that should tell you for any given address which elementary, middle and high school serves that neighborhood.

[Rhody2Mn]

As BryaninMSP states, geographic boundaries primarily determine the school district although open enrollment may be an option. While all of Apple Valley and Rosemount and most of Eagan are served by District 196, please note that there is a portion of Eagan that falls under the Burnsville school district 191 (which isn't as well regarded).

[Glenfield]

Originally Posted by Rhody2Mn

As BryaninMSP states, geographic boundaries primarily determine the school district although open enrollment may be an option. While all of Apple Valley and Rosemount and most of Eagan are served by District 196, please note that there is a portion of Eagan that falls under the Burnsville school district 191 (which isn't as well regarded).

This post contains two very important points.

Although school districts and cities share names they do not have the same boundaries. For example, the Hopkins School District includes parts of the cities of Hopkins, Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, Edina, Golden Valley, and Plymouth. Kids who live in the city of Minnetonka may be in the Minnetonka school district or they may be in Hopkins S.D.

The other confusing thing about Minnesota public schools is open enrollment. Kids may attend school in any district if that district has room for them. Tax dollars flow through the state and follow the student, so open enrollment is a way for schools to keep enrollment up when their school aged population drops. Familiarize yourself with those rules as I don't think there's any guarantee that kids can stay in that district all the way through high school. Transportation is something I don't quite understand about open enrollment.

Good luck.

[WoodburyWoody]

Originally Posted by Glenfield

This post contains two very important points.

Although school districts and cities share names they do not have the same boundaries. For example, the Hopkins School District includes parts of the cities of Hopkins, Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, Edina, Golden Valley, and Plymouth. Kids who live in the city of Minnetonka may be in the Minnetonka school district or they may be in Hopkins S.D.

The other confusing thing about Minnesota public schools is open enrollment. Kids may attend school in any district if that district has room for them. Tax dollars flow through the state and follow the student, so open enrollment is a way for schools to keep enrollment up when their school aged population drops. Familiarize yourself with those rules as I don't think there's any guarantee that kids can stay in that district all the way through high school. Transportation is something I don't quite understand about open enrollment.

Good luck.

Good points on good points.

Also, keep in mind what Glenfield wrote about open enrollment ... " ... if that district has room for them." It does vary district-by-district.

As does how public charters work (for example, the Spanish immersion public elementary charter in Cottage Grove for SD 883 is on a lottery basis, with younger siblings grandfathered in ... but it is Kindergarten-entry only (though you can transfer out after kindergarten) ... and, for now, transportation via bus is covered by the district, though there has been talk of eliminating that because of cost).

Short story - double check with each specific school if you are looking at open enrolling outside your "neighborhood school" (charter public or ... public public, I guess).

[vboundy]

Thanks everyone

[mn55110]

Great points by everyone! Concerning open enrollment, some school districts who have enough capacity in their buildings to enroll students from outside the district choose to not participate in open enrollment to ensure that only those residing within the boundries of that school district. Some districts once participated in open enrollment are now closed to open enrollment forcing those students living outside that school district now have to find a new school. Those open enrolling to a different district are responsible in most cases to provide their own transportation.

It's best to move within the school district you would like to attend. The school district will set boundries within the district for which: elementary, middle school and high school that particular address or block will attend (check with the local school district).

Each district will redraw the attendance lines within their district based on enrollment increases in some parts of the school district and enrollment declines in other parts, racial make-up, socio-economics and yes politics. You may live in same house for the child's entire 13-year school career and the school district may have your son/daughter attend 3-different elementary schools, 2-separate middle schools just based on shifts in the attendance lines. Therefore you may end-up attending a school further away or less desireable within the same school district.

In spite of most real estate agents being on top of their game, I have been told that particular properties are in a different district then they actually were by real estate agents and leasing agents, so it's best to check directly with the school district in person or via their website.

An earlier poster correctly listed the several other communities where parts are in the Hopkins District #270; also a little bit of St. Louis Park is also in the Hopkins School District, so you really have to check when you move.

Parts of Lakeville are actually in the Burnsville- Eagan-Savage School District #191 while parts of Burnsville are in the Lakeville School District #194. Parts of Burnville are in ISD #196 and attend Apple Valley High School while parts of Apple Valley are in the Burnsville District #191.

Woodbury is divided among 3-seperate school districts: South Washington County ISD #833, Stillwater Area ISD #834 and North St. Paul-Oakdale- Maplewood District #622.

Blaine is also divided among 3- districts: Anoka-Hennepin ISD #11, Centennial ISD #11 and Spring Lake Park ISD #16

Eagan, mentioned earlier, has 3-districts each taking seperate parts of that suburb: Burnsville ISD #191, Rosemount-Apple Valley- Eagan District #196, and the West St. Paul-Mendota Heights Independent School District #197.

[ellysbelly]

Yes, the school districts don't always match up with the towns-- as mentioned, Hopkins pulls from a few neighboring towns (Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, etc). Even more confusing, there are parts of Victoria that are NOT zoned for Victoria (District 112) schools, but instead attend Waconia schools-- and parts of Wayzata that attend Orono schools rather than Wayzata schools (and the vast majority of Wayzata pulls from Plymouth-- but SOME of Plymouth attends Armstrong schools)-- I'm certain that there are plenty other examples where it makes ZERO sense. Clear as mud, right? As already advised, contact the school district, they'll be able to confirm which schools you're zoned for-- but make no assumptions without confirmation.

Also, open enrollment, as mentioned, even if there are openings in elementary and middle, does NOT guarantee admission to high school-- at present, a number of the high schools in the western 'burbs are closed to open enrollment-- including: Edina, Wayzata, Chanhassen-- and for the first time next year: Chaska. So buying in a school district where you'd like your children to attend is important (you might be just fine open enrolling, but it's no guarantee). Not as familiar with the other areas, but I'm sure that there are additional high schools that are closed to open enrollment.

As far as transportation, if you open enroll, my understanding is that you're responsible for providing transportation-- and, for some school districts, you can get transportation for your kids from a bus stop that's in the school's (not your home) district (NB: you still provide transportation from your home to the bus stop)-- but I believe that option is only available for some, not all, districts.

Hope that helps-- welcome to MN!