Expo offers school choice options


  • November 13, 2014
  • /   Staff Reports
  • /   community-dashboard
School choice allows parents more opportunity to choose the best public school for their children by offering open enrollment. In Escambia County, students in kindergarten through 10th grades and their parents can learn more about the choices available in area public schools at the 2015-2016 School Choice Expo. On Monday, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Woodham Middle School’s gymnasium and media center will be open for families to visit each age-appropriate program for their child and learn how to apply for their first, second or third choice programs. Middle and high school career academies, magnet schools and academic choice programs will be available at the school. Staff members will also be available to help explain the online application process. The school district-wide electronic application for all middle and high school choice programs became available on Nov. 3 at http://www.ecsd-fl.schoolloop.com/SchoolChoice. Computers will be available during the expo for parents who want to prepare an application on Monday. The deadline for online applications for upcoming school year is Dec. 19. The elementary level school choice programs will have staff members available at the expo to answer questions, but the elementary application will not be available until April 2015 (details will be given later to elementary school guidance counselors). While choosing a school or academy, it is necessary for fifth-grade students going to middle school next year, and for eight-grade students interested in a high school academy to see the options for every grade level. The district offers magnet schools, schools within schools, career academies, an academic academy and virtual schools. Links to information about them can be found at http://www.ecsd-fl.schoolloop.com/ChoicePrograms. The page has links to more information about school boundaries, school transfers and home-schooling. High school juniors and seniors with questions about an Exit Transfer for seniors who want to remain at the school they already attend, should visit the School Choice table, or call later for more information. For families who have their choices narrowed down, but are not finalized, the School Choice Expo is an opportunity to visit with teachers and staff from all top choices before filing an application. Parents are requested to rank their top three choices in order, so if there are any doubts about the order preference, they are encouraged to attend the expo and to visit with representatives from the schools or programs they are considering. For students entering the eighth grade or higher, the Escambia Virtual Academy staff will be available to answer questions about the online requirement for high school graduation. For parents of students in the eighth through 12 grades, starting with students who entered the ninth grade in the 2011-2012 school year, at least one course for high school credit must be completed through online learning. There are three ways to meet the online high school course requirement. Students and parents who have not met this requirement are encouraged to visit the Escambia Virtual Academy’s table for more information. To learn more about the School Choice Expo, contact the School Choice Office at 469-5580 between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. For more information about the Career Academies, contact the Workforce Education Office at 469-5357.
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