How to Enroll

DC families have two main options for public education: DC Public Schools and a variety of Public Charter Schools. Every child that is a DC resident has a guaranteed seat at their in-boundary DCPS school (grades K-12) based on their address. You can find your in-boundary DCPS school at enrolldcps.dc.gov/node/41. For all other DCPS schools outside of your boundary and all public charter schools, DC uses a common lottery system called the MySchoolDC Lottery.

The Language Acquisition Division Welcome Center is dedicated to serving the needs of English Learners by recommending programs that offer targeted support. Students who communicate in a language other than English or who live in a home where a language other than English is spoken may qualify for English-as-a-Second Language services at their school. To determine eligibility, students must take an English proficiency assessment.

Services Offered:

• Provide orientation and information to linguistically and culturally diverse families new to District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS)
• Screen students to determine eligibility for English support services & placement
• Recommend school and grade placement
• Evaluate foreign transcripts for the purpose of awarding high school credits
• Provide referrals to community-based resources.

For all students who have enrolled in a DC school for the first time, schools must begin with administering the OSSE Home Language Survey, a questionnaire completed by parents of all students at the time of enrollment. The OSSE Home Language Survey does not need to be administered to a student who is re-enrolling in a DC school.

If the OSSE Home Language Survey indicates that a language other than English is spoken in the home to or by the student, the student must be screened for possible identification as an EL using the appropriate screener within 30 school days of the student’s first official school day (also known as stage 5 enrollment). A student shall not be identified as an EL student only based on OSSE Home Language Survey indicating a language other than English is spoken in the home or routinely used in other settings. The list of appropriate screeners can be found in the links below.

DCPS:

• Complete the DCPS enrollment packet
• Provide proof of DC residency
• Submit your completed enrollment packet to your DCPS school.

Public Charter Schools:

Note: All DC public charter schools use the MySchool DC application process

• Create a family account
• Provide information about your child
• Choose your school(s)
• Once you have been offered a seat, your school will provide next steps