L.A.’s Open Enrollment Plan Shrinks for 5th Year

For the fifth straight year, a surging student population coupled with limited classroom space has cut into the Los Angeles Unified School District’s well-received open enrollment program, officials said.

Only 5,000 seats at 116 schools will be available for open enrollment this fall, 1,000 fewer than a year ago.

The state-mandated program began in 1994--when some campuses were sparsely attended or closed--to give families the opportunity of enrolling children in choice public schools outside their neighborhoods. It began with 22,000 seats at 350 schools.

Monday marks the beginning of the monthlong period in which families may apply.

Officials attributed the decrease to a skyrocketing student population, which is expected to increase by 12,000 in the next school year and push the district’s overall enrollment to an all-time high of 723,000.

High schools are especially hard hit. A recent Times computer analysis of 1999 high school capacity and projected enrollment found that in three years, there will be 15,760 more high school students than seats. Within six years, most--if not all--high schools will have to convert to year-round schedules.

Residency is the best way to ensure admittance at a desired school, officials said, because state law requires every school to accommodate its neighborhood students before offering open enrollment.

Many schools are operating with more limited classroom space, caused by an increase in the number of students who require smaller special education classes and by implementation of the district’s class-size reduction program. The program mandates a maximum student-teacher ratio in kindergarten through third grades, and in some ninth-grade classes, of 20 to 1.

Los Angeles Unified’s crackdown on social promotion--the widespread practice of advancing students to the next grade even when they are not academically ready--could further limit space for open enrollment when thousands of students are retained.

Lee and other administrators warned of disappointment for families hoping to get into certain schools in the San Fernando Valley and the Westside, home to many esteemed schools, such as Palms Middle School in the Palms area of Los Angeles, North Hollywood High School and El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills.

Palms Middle School once offered open enrollment but has been unable to do so for the last two years, officials said.

Although El Camino Real has 100 seats available, Principal Ronald Bauer said the spots are essentially reserved for students who attend nearby Hale Middle School through open enrollment. At the secondary level, district policy requires that priority be given to students who are attending feeder schools.

With 3,600 students expected next year at El Camino, Bauer predicts the school will be unable to offer open enrollment in future years.

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How to Apply

Starting today, parents or guardians may pick up open enrollment applications for the 2000-01 academic year at any campus in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Completed applications must be dropped off or mailed to the desired schools by May 26.

Students may apply to as many schools as they wish. For families with more than one child, separate forms must be completed for each. If one child from a family is admitted, all siblings will be offered admission.

Schools will notify parents if a random-selection drawing is needed. The lottery will be held on or about May 31 to determine who will be assigned to open slots at schools with more applications than spaces. Parents may attend the lottery.

At schools where no lottery is required, the admissions deadline will be extended to Sept. 15.

District officials note that parents are responsible for transportation to and from school.

For information, call the desired school or the district’s office of school management services at (213) 625-6414.