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How do I enroll my child in school?
Answer:
In Wake County, most students are assigned to and attend their "base school"; that is, the school assigned based on the parent's or legal guardian's home address. In some instances, the base school may be a magnet, since these schools have base populations in addition to accepting applications. To determine your child's base school, contact a nearby school, call (919) 850-1921 or go to the following website http://wwwgis.wcpss.net/
Students enrolling in WCPSS must provide the following:
*Withdrawal form from the previous school
*proof of residence
*immunization record
*certified birth certificate
*standardized test scores
*most recent report card and transcript
What immunizations are required for students?
Answer:
All children who enter schools in Wake County are required by North Carolina state law to be fully vaccinated in accordance with G.S. 130A-152 through 130A-157, as amended. A summary of these requirements is below.
Requirements for children enrolling (K-1) after July 1, 1994
*Diptheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTP or DtaP) Vaccine: 5 doses. If the
4th dose was given on or after 4th birthday, the series is complete.
*Polio Vaccine: 4 doses of oral polio vaccine (OPV).If the 3rd dose
is given on or after the 4th birthday, the series is complete. Two doses
of Inactivate Polio Vaccine (IPV) may be substituted for 2 doses of OPV.
*Measles Vaccine: 2 doses received at least 30 days apart: one dose
on or after the 1st birthday and a second dose before enrolling in school
(K-1) for the first time. (Commonly given as MMR)
*Rubella Vaccine and Mumps Vaccine: 1 dose of each on or after the
1st birthday. (Commonly given as MMR)
*Haemophilus influenzae type b Vaccine (Hib): 1 dose at or after 1st
birthday or the complete series. Hib is not given if the child is 5 years
or older.
*Hepatitis B Vaccine (HBV): 3 doses (children born on or after July
1, 1994).
Note: Some children may have received Tetramune Vaccine which includes the DTP and Hib vaccines.
Requirements for Children Enrolled (K-1) after July 1987 and before
July 1, 1994
*Diptheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTP or DtaP) Vaccine: 5 doses. If the
4th dose was given on or after 4th birthday, the series is complete. Three
doses of diptheria-tetanus (Td) if received at age 7 years of older.
*Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV): 4 doses. If the 3rd dose is given on or
after the 4th birthday, the series is complete.
*Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccine: 1 dose (usually given as MMR)
on or after the 1st birthday.
Failure to meet these requirements, as set by the North Carolina Immunization Laws, requires the school principal to exclude a child from attendance unless the child is in the dose waiting period.
If I am coming from a block schedule, what do I do?
Answer:
When you move into Wake County from a school that has a block schedule, the base school for your attendance area is expected to meet your academic needs. In some cases, students lose credits because the schedules in the sending and receiving schools do not match.
What schools are capped?
Answer:
Only Davis Drive Elementary School is capped at this time
How do I get on the waiting list for a capped school?
Answer:
When proof of residence is presented to Davis Drive Elementary, students are either enrolled if space is available or refered to the "overflow" school for enrollment. At that time, Davis Drive should place the student(s) on the waiting list.
How do I return from a charter school to a Wake County Public School?
Answer:
A parent may request that their child(ren) be returned to WCPSS at any time. To return, the parent should present to the Office of Student Assignment proof of residence for the family. This allows the Office of Student Assignment to keep statistics regarding the number of students in charter schools.
How do I enroll if I have just moved to Wake County?
Answer:
*Verify the school to which you specific address is assigned. This can be done by going to any school and checking a current street directory; going to the WCPSS web page where you would look at the Student Assignment section (follow the directions there); or coming to the Office of Student Assignment and asking for confirmation from staff who would refer to the current street directory.
*Go to the school with your child(ren) to enroll. You would take proof of your new residence (lease, closing statement, or current utility bill) and a certified copy of your child's birth certificate. A copy of the child's Social Security card is also requested.
What do I do if I am building/purchasing a home in the future?
Answer:
*Come to the Office of Student Assignment and complete a Request for Transfer Form
*Attach a copy of valid purchase contract or lease agreement. There must be a date showing when the home will be completed and when you will occupy the house. The contract must show a closing or occupancy date that is within a reasonable timeframe (usually 30-45 days). This contract must also contain signatures from both the buyer and seller. A contract for land only is not sufficient.
How do I become emancipated?A student
Answer:
A student who is at least eighteen years of age, is employed, and has an established residence other than that of his parent/legal guardian may request emancipation. This request should be presented to the Office of Student Assignment.
What is a dicipline status form?
Answer:
These are forms required by Wake County for all new/returning students. These forms are available when you register for enrollment. These forms should be given to you at that time. They should be returned to the school.
What constitutes custody?
Answer:
Custody can be granted to one of the parents by court order as a result of a divorce or some other legal action. Custody can be granted to others (grandparents, other relatives, or non-relatives) by action of the court. A notarized statement by the parent or other person "giving custody of a child" is not acceptable. A lawyer should be contacted to assist in this process.
What is temporary custody?
Answer:
The Office of Student Assignment recognizes only legal custody as outlined in legal custody. Occassionally a child will be placed in a home for a period of time by social services or other government agency. This is recognized by the Office of Student Assignment in the same manner as court awarded custody.
Who pays tuition?
Answer:
Tuition is charged for students who live outside Wake County and are accepted for enrollment in a public school within the county. The rate of tuition is set each year by the school board. Specific questions regarding tuition should be directed to the Office of Student Assignment
What is the deadline for registering my child for Kindergarten?
Answer:
Registration for Kindergarten is open up to the first 120 school days of the school year, but parents should register as soon as possible. We suggest that they call the school to schedule a good time to come by, if it is after the system wide registration date.
What is my base school?
Answer:
Look up the base school from the Wake County Schools web page (go to
http://www.wcpss.net) and click on "Determine School by Student Address".
Get parent's street address, and follow directions on web page.
I've heard that the law allows children at the age of 4 1/2 to be
admitted to Kindergarten if they pass a test. When can I schedule my child?
Answer:
The school system does not test children for early entry to kindergarten. The process for early entry to kindergarten is as follows:
The parent should go to the base school and get a parent information package. The information package outlines all of the steps that a parent must take to apply for early entry to kindergarten.The process includes an aptitude and achievement evaluation by a licensed psychologist, letters of recommendation, samples of the child's work, a parent observation form, and an observation in the kindergarten classroom. The parent is responsible for obtaining the evaluation. A school-based committee makes the determination if the child is eligible for early entry after reviewing all information.
What are the current capacity, enrollment, and the crowding at my
school?
Answer:
See http://www.wcpss.net/Auxiliary/Facilities/Irbp-imprtant-issue.html
How many mobile classrooms are at my school?
Answer:
Look-up M drive: Facility Planning and Construction/ Capacity-Crowding/ Mobile-Crowding document.
How many multi-stories do we have
Answer:
See http://www.wcpss.net/Auxiliary/Facilities/Irbp-imprtant-issue.html Multi-story Schools Section
How many year-round schools do we have? What are our plans for more?
Answer:
See http://www.wcpss.net/Auxiliary/Facilities/lrbp_important_issues.html .
When will a school in a certain area be opened?
Answer:
See http://www.wcpss.net/Auxiliary/Facilities/index.html
Why don't we build neighborhood schools?
Answer:
A number of our new schools are planned in future neighborhoods. Wakefield schools, for example, were planned while the subdivision was just starting. Similarly, the Middle Creek Schools are part of a large develoment, as is Sunset Lake Elementary and Green Hope High and Elementary. If, by neighborhood school, you mean small schools, the reason for not building them is economy and the high growth in Wake County. Smaller schools are more expensive to build on a per student basis and more expensive to operate. It also requires more sites to be purchase, which are not easily available.
Information and Q and A from Wake County School System
