K-12 Enrollment - Richmond Public Schools (2024)

Below are frequently asked questions pertaining to enrollment. If you have additional questions, please emailenrollrps@rvaschools.net.

My child already attends an RPS School. Do I need to enroll again?
No.Current RPS students do not have to enroll each year, except for preschool students who must enroll in kindergarten.

What school zone do I live in?
Eachresidence in the city of Richmond has a zoned school at the elementary (K-5), middle (6-8), and high school (9-12) levels. School zonesarebased upon the physical address where that student lives.Locate your child's school by address.

What documents do I need to provide when enrolling my child?
You will need your child’s original birth certificate (or a certified copy), immunization record, and proof of a physical (within the last 12 months). Parents must provide two proofs of city residency perRichmond School Board Policy 8-2.2(more information about acceptable documents is below). For preschool enrollment, proof of income is also required.

These documents are not required to complete the online enrollment form, but will be required before you complete the process. If you do not have access to these documents when completing online enrollment, you will need to upload them at a later date or bring the documents to the school in person by making an appointment. For next steps with enrollment, please reach out to your students' new school.

The birth certificate (or certified copy)must be provided in person.Upon completion of your online enrollment form, someone from your school will contact you to schedule an appointment to bring this document.

What counts as a proof of residency document?
PerSchool Board Policy 8-2.2, acceptable forms of proof of residence shall include, but not be limited to, two or more of the following, which reflect the physical address of the resident:

• A U.S. or Virginia income tax return from the previous year
• A U.S. Internal Revenue Service tax reporting W-2 form from the current year or its equivalent
• A deed or lease agreement to the residence, a mortgage bill for the residence
• A voter registration card, a receipt for personal property taxes paid within the last year and/or a payroll check or payroll check stub issued by an employer within the last three months.
• A utility bill will be accepted, and will be counted as one of the two proofs of residence, only if the utility bill is presented in conjunction with a lease or mortgage bill that shows the same address as the utility bill and is in the same name as the person enrolling the student (pre-marriage names will be accepted if a picture I.D. is presented).

Additionally, a driver’s license or Virginia state issued identification card will be accepted, and will be counted as one of the two proofs of residence, only if the driver’s license or Virginia state issued I.D. is presented in conjunction with a lease or mortgage bill that shows the same address as the driver’s license or Virginia state issued I.D and is in the same name as the person enrolling the student (pre-marriage names will be accepted since a picture I.D. is being presented.)

For more on special circ*mstances surrounding residency and admissions, please consultRPS Board Policy 8-2.2; for more information about enrollment documents, clickhere.

How old does my child have to be to enter Kindergarten?
Students entering Kindergarten in fall 2023must be 5-years-oldby September 30, 2023. Students entering Kindergarten in fall 2024must be 5-years-oldby September 30, 2024.

How can I choose a school other than my zone school for my child to attend?
Each year students may participate in a process entitled “Open Enrollment”.The application period for this process will begin in the fall. Parents may select up to three “out-of-zone” schools to attend (and Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts, if eligible). These students are then placed in a lottery for the following school year. A student’s acceptance is based upon the student’s random lottery position and school enrollment capacity for “out-of-zone” applicants at each grade level. For more information click here.

My child was homeschooled for the previous school year, but is returning to RPS for the coming school year. Do they need to enroll?
Yes. Students who have spent at least one academic year away from RPS must enroll for the new school year at Enroll RPS (www.attendrvaschools.com). In addition to completing the enrollment form at Enroll RPS,students that were homeschooled will need submit evidence of achievementper theVirginia Guidelines.

Students that were taught by a certified teacher need to have a letter from the teacher stating the content that the student mastered and a recommendation on promotion to the next grade level. Please share this information with your school team when you enroll, and with questions, please contact Valenta Wade,vwade@rvaschools.net.

Enrollment for school year 2023-2024openedon Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Note that students who turned5-years-old on or before September 30, 2023are eligible to enroll in kindergarten. Per theCode of Virginia,parents/guardians ofany child who will not have reached his sixth birthday on or before September 30 of each school year may delay the child's attendance for one year. Click kindergarten enrollment policiestoread more.

Richmond City residentswith a school-aged studentmust follow this simpleprocess to enroll:

1. Determine your eligibility.

A child must be residing with a parent or legal guardian in Richmond City to attend Richmond Public Schools. If you aren’t sure if your residence is within the RPS boundary, use ourSchool Locatorto find out. Click to read the full text of RPS’s residency policy.

Kindergarten Age Requirement

• A child may enter kindergarten if they will turn five on or before September 30 of the year they enter school (for school year 2023-2024, September 30, 2023). This age requirement also applies to students who transfer from other school districts after the start of the school year.
• Families interested in applying for their child to attend kindergarten early (that is, if their child will not turn five on or before September 30) can review the early kindergarten screening process.

2.Prepare your enrollment documents.

Families enrolling in Richmond Public Schools must provide several documents during enrollment, including proof of residency in Richmond City (two proofs are required), the child’s original birth certificateor a certified copy (a scanned copy or photograph can be uploaded but the physical document must be presented before the student is enrolled), a child's health information including a physical, and a child's immunization records (this may vary depending on your child's grade level). Use the "Document Requirements" button under the Frequently Asked Questions tab below for more information. Required Documentsmay vary based on the child's grade.

Families will be required to upload documents in the online enrollment form, or provide them in person at their zone school during a scheduled appointment, before their child can be enrolled. The child's birth certificate must be provided in person.

3. Complete the online enrollment form in Enroll RPS.

RPS kindergarten enrollment must be completed in Enroll RPS(www.attendrvaschools.com). Families enrolling a student in RPS for the first time will need to create an account when they first visit. Returning families should use the same login information used for enrollment or school applications of other children. Watch aquick video on how to create an account.

Enroll RPS separates the steps of the enrollment form into short sections, and allows families to save their progress and return to their work at a later date.Despite this helpful functionality, we encourage families to enroll as soon as possible!

4. Schedule an appointment at your school to complete the process.

Per the Code of Virginia, a family must present their child's birth certificate (or a certified copy) to enroll in a school division in Virginia for the first time. Upon completion of the enrollment form, families will receive an email/call from their school to schedule an in-person appointment for this final step.

Need additional support?

Our school staff members are excited to support you with the enrollment process, and we look forward to welcoming you and your child next school year!

If you need additional assistance with the online form, you can make an appointment bycalling your zone school (RPS School Directory).If you do make an appointment, please try to visit with all required enrollment documents to minimize the number of visits required.

This checklist serves as a resource as you prepare to complete the enrollment process with Richmond Public Schools. This list doesnotlist all information requested on the enrollment form, but highlights information that may require consulting your child’s records.

Student Supports

☐ Child’s current Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504, as applicable

☐ List of any special services child is currently receiving (counseling services, gifted, occupational therapy, self-contained instruction, Title I tutoring, 504 plan, ESL or ELD)

Health Information

☐ If child has health insurance, have access to their health insurance number

☐ Physical dated within the last 12 months for entry into school in August. Clickhereto access the VDOE School Health Entrance Form.

☐ Up to date immunization records based on age for entry into school in August. For more on Virginia immunization requirements, clickhere.

☐ Documentation of last physical

☐ If your child has a physician, have access to their physician’s name and office address

☐ If your child has a dentist, have access to their dentist’s name and office address

☐ Health care plan(s), if applicable (e.g.,Asthma Plan, Plan for Allergic Reactions, Seizures, etc.)

☐ Doctor's orders for medication administered at school.

Emergency Contact / Pick Up Contacts

☐ Name, phone, and address of at least one non-guardian who can serve as an emergency contact for your child. You may provide information for up to three emergency contacts.

Proof of Residency

☐ Two proofs of residency from the list in the documentation requirements tab of this page, or inRPS School Board Policy 8-2.2.

Birth Certificate

☐ Birth certificate or certified copy.

Families must present the birth certificate or a certified copy to their child’s school team before completing enrollment. Aphotocopy of the child's birth certificate willnotmeet this requirement. If a certified copy of the child's birth certificate cannot be obtained, the person enrolling the child must submit a sworn statement setting forth the child's age and explaining the inability to present a certified copy. The birth certificate must be presented in person.

Shared Housing/Families in Transition (If Applicable)

☐ Please usethis link(English) orthis link(Spanish) for documents needed if you are sharing housing and your name is not on the lease or you are a family in transition (living in hotel, with friends, temporary). Families in transition including: students experiencing housing instability, homelessness and living with kinship caregivers/non-guardian family members, can call (804) 780-6288 or email cfit@rvaschools.net for additional support.

Families of new RPS students must provide the following documents to complete the enrollment process, per RPS School Board Policy 8-2.2:

1.Proof of residency–Twodocuments proving residency must be provided.Acceptable documents include (additional exceptions are listed below):

• U.S. or Virginia income tax return from the previous year;
• U.S. Internal Revenue Service tax reporting W-2 form from the current year or its equivalent;
• Deed or lease agreement to the residence;
• Mortgage bill for the residence;
• Voter registration card;
• Receipt for personal property taxes paid within the last year;
• And/or a payroll check or payroll stub issued by an employer within the last three months

*Special Exceptions to Proof of Residency

• A utility bill will be accepted, and will be counted as one of the two proofs of residence, only if the utility bill is presented in conjunction with a lease or mortgage bill that shows the same address as the utility bill and is in the same name as the person enrolling the student (pre-marriage names will be accepted if a picture I.D. is presented).
• Driver’s license or Virginia state issued identification card will be accepted, and will be counted as one of the two proofs of residence, only if the driver’s license or Virginia state issued I.D. is presented in conjunction with a lease or mortgage bill that shows the same address as the driver’s license or Virginia state issued I.D and is in the same name as the person enrolling the student (pre-marriage names will be accepted since a picture I.D. is being presented.)
• Even if a parent or guardian opts to receive mail from the school at P.O. Box, upon enrollment and/or at the request of the child’s school, the parent or guardian will be required to provide two or more of the documents as stated above in order for the student to be declared a resident and/or enroll in RPS.
• If there is a shared housing situation per RPS procedures, the mortgage holder or leaseholder must provide two or more of the documents as stated above in order for the student to be declared a resident and/or enroll in RPS.
• When the parents of a child are unable to care for the child and the child is living, not solely for school purposes, with a relative who resides in the school division and the adult relative providing temporary kinship care as that term is defined by Virginia law, the child may enroll as a RPS student so long as (1) the adult fully completes the documentation as required by the administrative procedures promulgated by RPS’ administration; and (2) the adult with whom the child is residing shows proof of residency as required by this policy.
• When an emancipated minor is living in the school division, not solely for school purposes, the emancipated minor may enroll as student with RPS so long as (1) they provide documentation demonstrating their emancipation; and (2) the emancipated minor shows proof of residency as required by this policy

Residency documents and other related resources for families in transitionare available on the Center for Families in Transition (C-FIT) page.

2.Birth certificate– Either the original or a certified copy must be presented in person. Aphotocopy of the child's birth certificate willnotmeet this requirement. If a certified copy of the child's birth certificate cannot be obtained, the person enrolling the child must submit a sworn statement setting forth the child's age and explaining the inability to present a certified copy.

3.Immunization Record–Any student whose immunizations are incomplete may be admitted conditionally if the student provides documentation at the time of enrollment of having received at least one dose of the required immunizations accompanied by a schedule for completion of the required doses within 90 days.

4.Comprehensive Physical Examination– Necessary for any new students and for admission toany elementary school. The physical must:

• Be performed within the 12 months prior to the date of entrance OR
• Include records of a physical examination from another school division within the Commonwealth of Virginia

5.Current Individual Education Plan (IEP)– Only necessary if student is currently receiving exceptional education services.

6.Current 504 Plan– Only necessary if student currently has an active 504 Plan.

7. Most Recent Report Card– Required only for students admitted to Governor’s School, though your child's school may request this to assistwith scheduling.

Documents can be uploaded to a child's enrollment form in Enroll RPS, or brought in-person to their enrolling schoolif technical support uploading them is needed.

If you would like to make an in-person visit for enrollment support, please reach out to your school to make an appointment (or they will reach out upon completion of your enrollment form). School contact information is available on individual school websites and theRPS School Directory.