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 rules on the MHSAA website if you have questions.
- For additional information about the Schools of Choice program, please visit the KISD Schools of Choice website.
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.
2020-2021 School Year
Openings
Number of openings for 2020-2021: 128 Grades K – 11
Mandarin Chinese Immersion: 2 kindergarten spots limited to families with siblings currently attending the FHPS Mandarin Chinese immersion program.
Application and Important Notice from the Kent ISD
The Kent ISD School of Choice application may be submitted beginning April 13, 2020, for school districts accepting online applications. However, due to the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Executive Order (EO 2020-21), which directs all Michigan businesses and operations to temporarily suspend in-person operations until 11:59 p.m. on April 13, paper and in-person applications will not be accepted until the closure order is lifted. We recognize that this presents a challenge for those without internet access and school districts which only accept paper applications. As a result, the application closing window, originally scheduled for May 15, 2020, at 4:00 p.m., will be extended accordingly. A closing date for applications has not been determined until more information becomes known about the status of reopening school operations. Please know that the application process is not on a first-come, first-served basis, so there is no advantage for those who are able to submit applications online when the window opens on April 13. Please check back to this website regarding the closing date for submitting applications.
A fillable PDF version of the application is found at the following link. (Application link – not available until April 13, 2020.)
Applications will be accepted beginning April 13, 2020. The completed application should be emailed to soc@fhps.net. Please submit verification of residency with your application: e.g., property tax statement or lease agreement in the name of parent/guardian.
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 may be disqualified from the Schools of Choice program.
Note: For the best experience, please use the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader to open PDF files.
Lottery
We anticipate receiving more applications than available openings. Therefore, applicants are drawn through a random drawing.
Notification of Placements
Families will receive, via email, a Letter of Acceptance indicating placement status. A parent/guardian must return a signed Letter of Acceptance to soc@fhps.net to confirm their child’s placement.
Waiting List
Those applicants not initially placed are put on a waiting list. Notification is sent throughout the summer if openings become available.
Contact Us
If you have any further questions about this process, please email soc@fhps.net, or call, (616) 493-8826.
