Intra-district Elementary School Choice

The Board of School Directors developed policy to offer district resident parents and guardians the opportunity to investigate their child attending an elementary school other than their town designated school through Intra-District School Choice. In accordance with 16 V.S.A. §821, all resident K-6 students will be assured enrollment at an elementary school operated by the District. Choice may be limited only where necessary to the legitimate operational needs of the District and any applicable legal requirements. Decisions regarding choice shall consider issues including, but not limited to, transportation, socio-economic equity, proximity to the selected building, unity of siblings, and the capacities of receiving schools and sending schools.

The goals for school choice are:

Balanced class sizes in all schools by eliminating, combining, or dividing classes.

Optimal learning environments in all schools.

Meets the diverse needs of our student population.

Options for all families.

It is anticipated that students entering grades K-6 who live in the towns of Barnard, Bridgewater, Killington, Plymouth, Pomfret, Reading, and Woodstock will enter the elementary school operated for their town of residence. This is considered their “home” school, and original entry admission is assured.  Alternatively, parents within these towns may choose to exercise school choice: parents may apply to send their child to any elementary school within these towns. Available elementary schools are: Barnard Academy (Grades K-6), Killington Elementary School (Grades K-6), Reading Elementary School (Grades K-4), The Prosper Valley School (Grades 5 & 6), and Woodstock Elementary School (Grades K-4).

The choice of the school venue will be guided by the needs of students, parents, and the district, and will adhere to the MVSD process and guidelines. Choice may also be limited by transportation feasibility and classroom space availability.  If you are interested in choosing a school other than the one located in your town, complete and submit the school choice application. If there are more children applying than there is space available, a lottery will be held to determine enrollment. Capacity is determined by the VT Agency of Education Class Size Guidelines and the MVSU/SD Class Size policy. Every effort will be made to accommodate school choice requests; however, the superintendent reserves the right of final approval for all applications. 

Your child is expected to attend the school of choice through the highest grade offered there.

Younger children may apply to attend the school choice location with an older sibling when capacity is available.  We will do our best to keep siblings together whenever possible.

A school choice application implies a commitment from the student and parents. Once a parent has submitted the choice application and been approved for entrance to the choice school, the student is expected to attend and complete their elementary education to the highest grade offered in that choice school. A spot is not guaranteed in the school of origin should a student wish to return. A parent must re-apply to the school of origin through the school choice process outlined above.

The first application deadline is March 15th. The second application deadline is August 1st. Applications received after the first deadline will be held until the second deadline. Applications received after August 1st will be considered on a first come, first served basis if the district agrees it is in the best interest of the student’s education.

Transportation for intra-district school choice students is the responsibility of the parents.  Bus routes are not designed around school choice, though there may be limited availability along existing bus routes for school choice students. When bus routes are finalized for the school year, the routes will be made available to parents.