Conejo Valley School District Allows You To Choose Your School
Did you know that the Conejo Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) is a School Choice district? In case you have no idea what that means, I’ll explain.
Within the CVUSD, there are 17 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 3 high schools, and one magnet school (click here to see list with phone #s). Which school your child goes to depends on what street you live on. In some neighborhoods, the line is drawn right down the middle of the neighborhood. CVUSD is kind enough to provide us with a great Street Index that makes it easy to figure out which schools go with your home.
With School Choice, you have the option to request that your child attend any school within the district. There is some paperwork to fill out and it is subject to approval. But from what I understand, it mainly has to do with space availability at the school you are transferring. I’ve heard from people who have done it that it’s a rather painless procedure.
WHAT IF I WANT MY CHILD TO ATTEND A SCHOOL IN ANOTHER DISTRICT?
Within our little valley, we have 3 distinct school districts: Las Virgenes School District for Agoura Hills, Calabasas, and the L.A. County section of Westlake Village, Oak Park School District that is just for the city of Oak Park, and CVUSD that covers Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, and the area of Westlake Village that is in Ventura County. If you’re just moving to the area, that can be very confusing. In fact, if you’ve lived here for 20 years, it’s still very confusing. The district line may run right through your neighborhood.
Here’s a little known fact. You can request an Interdistrict Transfer. For example, let’s say you live in Agoura Hills, but you would really like your kids to go to Westlake High. There are two items you need to make that happen. First, you need a release from your current district, and second, you need acceptance from your desired district.
It’s certainly not a guarantee that you will be granted either. If the school you are requesting the release needs students, it may reject your request. And if the school you are requesting is full or not accepting transfers, then you’re out of luck.
I personally have done this and it was no problem. I lived in Newbury Park and my son attends Westlake HS.
Eligibility and rules can change at any time, so please make sure you investigate with the school districts before making a decision on where to live.
CVUSD School Choice??
School Choice applications for the 2017-2018 school year will be available on February 1, 2017. Applications must be returned to the Instructional Services office by 5:00 pm on March 1, 2017 to be eligible for the lottery.
Between 2/1/2017 and 3/1/2017 (5:00 p.m.), submit the School Choice Application 2017/2018
- The application will be available beginning February 1st at all school sites, the District Office and on the District website: www.conejousd.org
- In order to be included in the lottery, the application must be received by 5:00 p.m. on March 1st
- Applications received in the Instructional Services Department by the March 1st (5:00 p.m.) deadline will be entered into a lottery if the number of applicants exceeds school choice capacity
- Submit the application to: Instructional Services Office (rear building) or fax to 805-379-5756
By March 31, 2017, a letter will be mailed to on-time applicants for middle & high school stating if the application is approved – OR – identifying the wait list number assigned to the applicant.
By April 28, 2017, a letter will be mailed to on-time applicants for elementary school stating if the application is approved – OR – identifying the wait list number assigned to the applicant.
Late* applications may be submitted:
- By August 23, 2017 for elementary and middle schools (except as noted below)
- By the 7th day of school for high school 1st semester
- Between 12/1/2017 and 1/5/2018 for high school second semester transfer for 9th, 10th and 11th grade students only who have not already submitted a School Choice Application 2017/2018
- By January 31, 2018 for Open Classroom Leadership Magnet
- By May 11, 2018 for Transitional Kindergarten
*Applications received after the March 1, 2017, 5:00p.m. lottery deadline are considered late and will be placed at the bottom of the wait list in the order received. NO PRIORITY will be given for late applications. The likelihood of approval is reduced for late applications.
As of September 29, 2017, 5:00 p.m., the wait list for the 2017/2018 school year K-12 will be cancelled and no school choice transfers will be processed thereafter (except as noted above).
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who is eligible for Kindergarten?
There are new Kindergarten Eligibility dates in California. In order to enroll in kindergarten for the 2017-18 school year, a child must be 5 years old by September 1, 2017.
Registration for the 2017-18 school year begins Monday, February 6, 2017, at your "neighborhood school."
What is Transitional Kindergarten (TK)?
Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is a developmental, hands on instructional program for the youngest kindergartners. TK is based on learning through exploration, exposure, and experience. For the 2017-2018 school year, eligible TK students must be born between 7/1/2012 and 12/2/2012. Students born 7/1/2012 to 9/1/2012 may apply for Transitional Kindergarten or Kindergarten. TK will be offered at Acacia, Aspen, Cypress, Glenwood, Madrona, Walnut, Weathersfield, Westlake and Westlake Hills elementary schools (subject to change due to enrollment). TK will be the same hours as Kindergarten. Before and after school child care may be applied for through CVUSD Child Care.
In order to apply for TK, you will need to submit a School Choice Application 2017-2018. Applications will be available February 1, 2017 and should be submitted to Instructional Services by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1, 2017.
There will be a "Parent Information Night" on Thursday, January 26, 2017, at 6:30 pm at Acacia Elementary School, 55 W Norman Avenue in Thousand Oaks.
How do I transfer my child from one school district to another?
You will need to complete an Interdistrict Attendance Permit to transfer into or out of CVUSD. The form must be submitted to your neighborhood school district for approval.
What's my Neighborhood School?
Visit the Street Index to determine your neighborhood school. The Street Index is an alphabetical list by address which identifies the school assignments for every address within the CVUSD boundaries.
What is Program Improvement? (PI)
President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) into law in December 2015, replacing "No Child Left Behind (NCLB)". Previous law required that a school district offer a transfer to any student who resides in the attendance area of a school in Program Improvement.
The new law no longer requires school districts to offer transfers based on Program Improvement identification. New guidelines will be implemented in the 2017/2018 school year. We are no longer offering Program Improvement transfers out of our Title I schools.