West Carrollton offers open enrollment

The West Carrollton School District is now accepting enrollment from students who live anywhere in the state of Ohio in its new open enrollment policy.

“Our purpose is to be the school district of choice in Ohio,” said West Carrollton Schools Superintendent Rusty Clifford. “We want to give any student in the state the opportunity to experience the same great education that students currently living in the West Carrollton district are experiencing.”

Clifford said the program was enacted not just as a way to benefit students living in other districts, but also to boost enrollment in West Carrollton’s district.

“Our enrollment numbers right now are flat to slightly declining,” said Clifford, who noted enrollment had fallen from about 4,275 students in 1999, when Clifford became superintendent, to 3,726 students presently. “In order to keep all of the great staff we have right now, we need to grow our student base. As we keep students, we can keep staff.”

According to the Ohio Department of Education, about three-quarters of the 665 school districts in the State of Ohio offer some sort of open enrollment policy to students living in other districts. Most districts welcome students living anywhere in the state, while some only allow students living in adjacent districts to enroll. Only 4 out of 17 school districts in Montgomery County – West Carrollton, New Lebanon, Northridge and the Miami Valley CTC – have open enrollment as of January 2013. In Warren County, only Mason City Schools and Little Miami Schools offer open enrollment.

Each student enrolled in a school district brings approximately $5,700 in state funding with him or her, which is a primary reason more school districts are adopting the open enrollment policy.

Clifford said the district had the space necessary to house more students within the district without overcrowding the student body.

There is no cost to transfer to the West Carrollton school district.

Applications for open enrollment are available at West Carrollton School District’s website, www.westcarrolltonschools.com, or at the board office, 430 E. Pease Ave., West Carrollton. The office is open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis and according to available space. Applications must be submitted by June 30 for the traditional calendar school year or by May 15 for application for the district’s year-round school. For more information, visit the district’s website or call (937) 859-5121, ext. 1100.

About the Author