Open Enrollment

Orono Schools also welcomes students through the Statewide Enrollment Options program, also known as “open enrollment” (OE). This program gives students the opportunity to apply for enrollment in a school outside their resident district boundaries.

Age eligibility note: In Minnesota, children must be at least five years old by September 1 of the year they enroll to be eligible for Kindergarten.

How to apply for 2026-27 open enrollment

Download the state application - PDF
Complete the application (fillable) and save to your device
Return to Orono Schools' district office before January 15 (email: enrollment@orono.k12.mn.us or mail to 685 Old Crystal Bay Rd, N, Long Lake, MN 55356)

2025-26 school year

For information about open enrollment for the 2025-26 school year, please contact enrollment@orono.k12.mn.us or telephone 952-449-8312.

Contact

Enrollment office
952-449-8312
enrollment@orono.k12.mn.us

Open Enrollment (OE) Timeline

September 1
Per state guidelines, Orono Schools can begin accepting open enrollment applications for the next school year beginning September 1. We are not permitted to accept applications before this date.

November
The district typically holds a Prospective Student Open House in November.

January
January 15 is the final date to download and submit the state OE application to the District Office (a separate application is needed for each child). Applications received after this date will be placed on a waiting list.

Late January - early February
The district notifies OE families of approval/wait list. If approved, confirmation is required from the family before the registration packet is provided. Per state guidelines, families have until March 1 to accept or decline the OE offer.

March 1
Per state guidelines, families have until March 1 to accept or decline the OE offer.

March
If enrolling, return the registration packet forms and supporting materials as soon as possible.

Late August
Enrolled students will receive their teacher assignment via ParentVUE, bus information, Kindergarten Orientation information, and school supply list. Each school holds a back-to-school event to drop off supplies, meet teachers, find their locker, etc. That information will be communicated through the school buildings and on the district website.

September 2026 Start Dates
Important note: As allowed per state statute and approved by the Orono School Board, the 26-27 school year will start before Labor Day in September 2026. The school year summary calendar provides exact dates so you can plan ahead.

Completing your child's enrollment

The district will request additional documentation based on your family's needs.

Birth certificate or passport

The district will make a copy of your child's birth certificate or passport.

Immunization record

State law requires that all parents or guardians of students in Kindergarten through grade 12 provide written proof of their child’s immunization against the following diseases: DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis a.k.a. whooping cough); Polio, Varicella (chicken pox); MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella); HBV (Hepatitis B)

Children will not be allowed to attend school until a record of the month, day and year of each of the required immunizations have been provided. Families that object to immunizations must provide a notarized declination form. Please visit www.health.state.mn.us/immunize for all required immunization information. Questions regarding immunizations can also be directed to the district nurse at 952-449-8317.

Early Childhood Screening

All children in the state of Minnesota are required to complete an Early Childhood Screening prior to kindergarten enrollment. Early Childhood Screening is a free check of your child’s development including hearing, vision, communication skills, motor skills and social-emotional development. Documentation of an Early Childhood Screening, completed by our district or a different district, is required.

To schedule an Early Childhood Screening appointment, you can:

Email ecscreening@orono.k12.mn.us or
Call 952-746-5815 and leave a message with your name, email address, and your child’s name

Transcript from previous schools

Please provide a copy of transcript or grades from previous schools and test results, if available. If not available, please provide the name and address of the last school attended so we can request records.

Additional Documentation

Parents/guardians should also provide additional documentation, if applicable:

Custody order: If your legal guardianship is determined by a court order, please submit a copy.
Gifted evaluation: If you are requesting placement or an evaluation for an advanced course, please submit documentation (report cards and state test scores) for the program coordinator.
Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan: If your student has an IEP or 504 Plan, providing a copy of the plan and Educational/Psychological Assessment Report will help us determine your student’s proper placement in a timely manner.
Legal name change: All student records need to show the student’s full legal name. If the student’s name has been legally changed, please provide a copy of the court document.
Order for Protection: If there is a current circumstance that we need to be aware of, please provide a copy of the legal document.

Transportation

For more information about transportation by school bus, please contact transportation@orono.k12.mn.us. Orono Schumann Elementary and Orono Intermediate School use the CarRiderPro system to efficiently move cars through the pick-up line at dismissal. Please contact Orono Schumann Elementary or Intermediate School for details if you are new to the district.

Open Enrollment FAQs

What is Open Enrollment?

Where do I send my application?

How can families apply for a transfer?

Please download and complete an open enrollment application for each child and then email to the district (enrollment@orono.k12.mn.us).

Applications are due before January 15 for the next fall’s enrollment. The chosen school district will notify families about the acceptance or denial of applications before February 15. Families who are accepted into the chosen school district must confirm their transfer decision by March 1.

Students must attend the chosen school district for one year. If the family wants their child to attend the school district for another year and they remain residents of the school district from which they applied, no further application is necessary. A student who wishes to return to their resident school district should inform school district administrators before January 15 for enrollment the following fall. If a student wants to return before the end of the year, the resident and chosen school districts must approve the transfer.

Are there exceptions to the application deadline?

Can school districts deny transfer through open enrollment?

School districts may deny incoming applications if the school district does not have adequate space in a grade level, school, program, or the district. For school districts with desegregation plans (Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Duluth), the school district may deny the application if the transfer will put the school district out of compliance with desegregation rules.

How is the education of open enrolled students funded?

How is the education of students with special needs funded?

What are the rules concerning transportation of open enrolled students?

State law stipulates that parents are responsible for transporting their children to and from school, or to a bus stop within the school district. Orono Schools offers out-of-district collector stops located around the district boundaries that families may also use. At this time, the district is not creating additional out-of-district collector stops.

Map of collector stops

How are Open Enrollment decisions made in Orono Schools?

Families of incoming students in grades K-12 are welcome to submit a state Open Enrollment application (one needed per child) to the Orono Schools District Office by January 15 each year. Because the Orono School District continues to be a “demand” school district for open enrollment applicants, the District may limit open enrollment transfers due to space limitations. The District decides when schools and grade levels no longer have space for additional students. The Board of Education and administrative staff have established policies for making open enrollment decisions. These policies include the following:

Each year, the Board of Education determines the enrollment levels at each grade level. When enrollment in specific grades and/or programs is at or near the recommended enrollment levels, the District will close open enrollment applicants in those grade levels and/or programs.
The Minnesota Department of Education has established priorities for acceptance of open enrollment students. When there is space available, first priority is given to siblings of enrolled students and children of district employees. Additional spaces are filled by a lottery, if needed.
Should spaces become available due to changes in enrollment, the Board of Education may reopen a grade level to transfers and will follow the same guidelines and application dates as specified by law.
Students moving out of the Orono School District boundaries and wishing to remain in the Orono Schools are required to follow the same procedures as all open enrollment applicants. There is no guarantee a spot will remain. However, students currently enrolled in grades 11 or 12 may remain in the Orono Schools regardless of residency.

Main Menu

In This Section