What you need to know about the application and admissions process, important dates, and transportation information.
Eligibility Overview by Program
Magnet Schools: Generally all Connecticut residents in the Greater Hartford Region who are eligible to attend a public school may apply. Regional School Choice Office pre-kindergarten through grade 12 magnet schools often begin at age 3—for children who will be 3 years old by December 31 of the school year for which parents/guardians apply. Importantly, many schools and programs have before and after school care available. Please check with the schools/programs of interest to you and your child regarding extended day and/or extended year opportunities.
Open Choice Program: The Hartford Region Open Choice Program is an option for children entering kindergarten through grade 12 (i.e., must be age 5 by December 31 of the school year for which parents/legal guardians apply). You must be a Connecticut resident to apply, and attending (or eligible to attend) a public school. Children currently attending private schools are not eligible to apply to the Hartford Region Open Choice Program. To be eligible to attend a public school in a participating suburban town, the child must be a Hartford resident. To be eligible to attend a select Hartford Public School, the suburban applicant must be a Connecticut resident. View a list of towns currently participating in the Hartford Region Open Choice Program.
Brief Overview of the Placement Process
All eligible applicants are either offered a placement or placed on a waitlist for Regional School Choice schools and programs through a random lottery process. For Hartford residents, neighborhood and zone preferences are given to elementary schools applicants. For non-Hartford residents, preference is given to applicants that live in towns with a lower participation rate in school choice options. Sibling and staff preferences are also given to all applicants in some schools. View detailed information on school and program preferences.
To accept a placement, parents/legal guardians must complete and return to the Regional School Choice Office a Placement Response Form by the due date specified. To have your child remain on a waitlist, parents/legal guardians must complete and return to the Regional School Choice Office a Waitlist Request Form by the due date specified.
It is important to note that any applicant who is offered a magnet placement is not eligible to be placed on a waitlist for another magnet school. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to take the necessary time to learn about the various schools and programs, attend an open house, then apply for the school(s) and/or programs that best meet their child’s interests.
What you need to know about the application and admissions process, important dates, and transportation information.
At RSCO satellite locations in Hartford, obtain RSCO catalogs and applications and receive free support to complete the RSCO lottery application.
By attending a Regional School Choice Fair, you can learn more about all school and/or program options.