October 29, 2026
If school choice has been keeping you up at night, you’re not alone!
One of the biggest questions on parents’ minds right now is, “How in the world do I navigate school choice without feeling completely overwhelmed?”
Between application deadlines, school tours, lottery systems, and trying to figure out which school is the best fit for your child, it can feel like a lot. But take a deep breath! Once you understand how the process works, it becomes much more manageable.
Let’s walk through the important dates, explain how each district handles school choice, and help you figure out what to do next.
First Thing, Know your Dates!
Denver Public Schools (DPS)
Opens: December 1 at 10:00 a.m.
Closes: January 19 at 4:00 p.m. (Verify the closing time with DPS before publishing.)
Cherry Creek School District (CCSD)
Choice window: December 1 through May 31
Priority round deadline: January 31
Lottery date: February 26
For DPS, submitting your application on the first day rather than closer to the deadline does not automatically give you an advantage. Placement depends on the district’s lottery process, available seats, and applicable priorities.
Cherry Creek has a priority round for applications submitted by January 31.
The takeaway? Mark your calendar, give yourself time to research your options, and make sure you submit your application before the appropriate deadline.
Let’s Talk Denver Public Schools (DPS)
DPS has its own set of placement priorities, and understanding them can help you make more informed decisions.
How Does DPS Decide Who Gets In?
The district considers several factors when placing students, including neighborhood or enrollment-zone eligibility, siblings attending a school, certain staff-related priorities, geographic priorities, and whether a student lives within Denver.
These priorities can affect a student's chances of getting into a particular school, so it’s important to understand how they apply to your family.
What Exactly Is a Boundary School?
Your boundary school is the school assigned to your home address based on school attendance boundaries.
If your child is eligible for a guaranteed seat at that school, you generally complete the district’s registration or verification process rather than entering the SchoolChoice lottery just to secure that seat.
Think of it as your neighborhood school!
And What Is an Enrollment Zone?
An enrollment zone is a geographic area served by several schools.
If you live in an enrollment zone, you can rank the schools you prefer through the SchoolChoice process. Your address and the district’s placement rules may affect your options.
Keep in mind that a guaranteed placement within an enrollment zone does not necessarily mean your child will get into your first-choice school.
How Does the DPS Lottery Work?
When completing your SchoolChoice application, you rank schools in order of preference, starting with your favorite as #1.
You can rank up to 10 schools, but you don’t have to choose 10!
The district’s placement algorithm considers your rankings, available seats, and applicable priorities to determine where your child can be placed.
One important thing to consider: If your child accepts a seat at a school outside their neighborhood school, you may give up the guaranteed seat at the original school. If you later want to return, you may need to go through the SchoolChoice process again. Be sure to confirm the rules with DPS before making your decision.
Now, Let’s Look at Cherry Creek School District (CCSD)
Cherry Creek has a different process, so let’s break that down, too.
How Does CCSD Determine Priority?
CCSD considers several factors when determining school placement, including:
Siblings who currently attend the requested school and will remain there.
Children of eligible district employees.
Students continuing to the next grade within the same school under an existing choice permit.
Students who live within district boundaries but want to attend a different school.
Students who live outside district boundaries.
These priorities help determine placement when schools have more applicants than available seats.
What Else Should You Know?
There are a few important CCSD rules to keep in mind:
One application per child. You submit one application for each student and can rank up to three schools in order of preference.
Transportation is up to you. Families attending a school through the choice process are responsible for getting their children to and from school. District busing is not provided for choice students.
School transitions require planning. If your child is moving from elementary to middle school or middle to high school, you may need to apply for choice again to attend a school outside your assigned attendance area.
Be sure to check the current CCSD guidelines to confirm how these policies apply to your child.
So, What Should You Do Now?
Okay, those are the nitty-gritty details! Now let’s focus on the part that really matters: finding the right school for your child and your family.
Start by asking yourself one simple question:
Are we happy staying at our neighborhood school, or do we want to explore other options?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Every family has different priorities, and what works beautifully for one child may not be the right fit for another.
If you’re considering other schools, start scheduling tours. Visiting a school in person can help you get a feel for its environment, meet the staff, and decide whether it aligns with what you want for your child.
And remember, you don’t have to figure everything out overnight. Take your time, gather information, and focus on what matters most to your family.
Coming Up Next……
In my next blog post, we’ll talk about how to identify what matters most to your family and what to look for when touring schools.
Because choosing a school isn’t just about getting a spot. It’s about finding a place where your child can learn, grow, and thrive.
You’ve got this!
