Multiple Johnson County schools report being at capacity
MISSION, Kan. – Students in Kansas can enroll in any public school district they choose as long as there’s space.
Some Johnson County districts said there’s no space at some of their schools because they’re at capacity.
Highlands Elementary is one of nine schools in the Shawnee Mission School District that will be closed to non-resident transfer students next school year due to capacity.
On Monday, The Shawnee Mission School Board approved the enrollment report.
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“We do have a lot of elementary schools, with the exception of the East side and Brookridge, that students could attend,” Superintendent Dr. Michelle Hubbard said.
Hubbard said they’ve opened up their schools to students who don’t live in the district for more than 20 years, this law requires staff to update their rules.
She said it took staff hours of hard work to nail down the number of seats available for nonresident students.
They look at enrollment projections, space and student to teacher ratio.
With that, eight elementary schools, including Highlands, will be closed to nonresident students next school year, along with Indian Hill Middle School.
All high schools still have seats available for nonresident students looking to transfer.
“I’d like to remind everybody that prior to enrollment and to remain as a non-resident transfer, or an out of district or an in-district transfer, you have to remain in good standing,” Hubbard said.
Centralized special education classes will also be closed to nonresident students. Along with signature programs, like fire science, law enforcement and culinary arts 1&2.
Once capacity is determined, it’s open enrollment. Then, luck of the draw.
One board member asked, “How on earth if there are two seats, how do you pick who gets the two?”
“So, there are some guidelines, it’s in the reports about siblings and staff – those students receive priority,” Hubbard said, “and then after that it’s truly a lottery, random lottery.”
“Military, foster children,” another board member added.
“It’s 100% defined in state statute,” Hubbard said.
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Blue Valley will have 86 open spots for non-resident students – 40 at Blue Valley Southwest High School and 46 at Aspen Grove Elementary.
With about 15,000 fewer students than Blue Valley, De Soto Public Schools has 34 open seats.
In the Kansas City, Kansas Public School District, an online document shows all but Wyandotte High School and two elementary schools have open seats.
An online timeline shows the Olathe Public School District will determine enrollment capacity by May 1, 2024.
Open enrollment for nonresident transfer students run from June 1-30.
