Key Points for Kent ISD Collaborative Schools of Choice
- If selected, we will do our best to place your child at your requested school. However, class sizes may require an alternate placement. Initial placements are tentative and may be changed any time prior to the first day of school.
- Placement may be denied for students who have been suspended, expelled, or convicted of a felony.
- Once accepted into SOC, there is no need to apply every year as long as you reside in a qualifying district.
- Transportation is the responsibility of the parent.
- There are MHSAA requirements for transfer students. Please review the sport-specific transfer rules from the MHSAA .
- For additional information about the Schools of Choice program, please visit the KISD Schools of Choice website.
- KISD 2025-2026 Brochure (English) and KISD 2025-2026 Brochure (Spanish)
- Please note: Schools of Choice is ONLY for families who live outside the FHPS district. The school in-district FHPS families attend is based on place of residency. If you have questions about what FHPS school your child will attend based on residency, please call the FHPS administration building, 616-493-8800.
At the time of application, families must physically reside in one of the Kent ISD school districts but not in the Forest Hills Public Schools District.
2025-2026 School Year
The Schools of Choice Application Window for the 2025 – 2026 School Year will be open from April 14 – May 16, 2025.
Forest Hills Public Schools has a total of 200 Schools of Choice openings for the 2025-26 school year. These openings will be throughout the district in grades Junior Kindergarten through 11th grade. For Schools of Choice families interested in either the Spanish Immersion or Mandarin Chinese Immersion program, there are limited spots available. Please note, the district is not offering a Junior Kindergarten option for either language immersion program.
Application Process
The Kent ISD Collaborative Schools of Choice Program is a lottery-oriented system and is not based on a first-come, first-served process. Applicants who submit applications to more than one district will be disqualified from the Schools of Choice program.
Two proofs of residency must be submitted with your application.
Acceptable documents are:
- Lease Agreement (including the page with the landlord and tenant signatures)
- All students must be listed as residents on the lease.
- Mortgage Statement (within last month)
- City Assessor’s Tax Statement (current year)
- Current Utility bill or Cable bill (within last month)
Applications are due by 4:00 pm on May 16, 2025.
Lottery
We anticipate receiving more applications than available openings. Therefore, applicants are drawn through a random drawing.
Notification of Placements
Parents will be notified about placement by May 28, 2025. Families will receive, via email, a Letter of Acceptance indicating placement details. A parent/guardian must sign and return the Letter of Acceptance no later than June 4, 2025 to soc@fhps.net to confirm their child’s placement.
Waiting List
Applicants not initially selected for placement are put on a waiting list. If openings become available, parents will be contacted throughout the summer.
Applicants on the waiting list will have their applications forwarded to their second- and third-choice districts for possible placement.
Contact Us
If you have any further questions about this process, please email soc@fhps.net or call (616) 493-8826.
