OPEN CHOICE INFO SESSION

The Open Choice program was established by state legislation to reduce racial, ethnic, and economic isolation among students by allowing residents in urban centers to attend schools in neighboring suburban districts. The Open Choice program that CES has successfully administered for many years provides Bridgeport, Danbury and Norwalk students to enroll in seven participating suburban school districts.
 
How Open Choice works
Each Open Choice program accepts applications from students and conducts a selection process to fill a predetermined number of available “seats” that suburban school districts are providing for each grade. Unfortunately, not every student who applies is guaranteed a placement. For example, if 85 students apply for a seat in Grade 4 and only five seats are open, only five applicants can be selected from that city. 
 
Parents may not select the district they want to have their child attend.  Rather, parents submit an application for their child or children for the program.  If upon acceptance to the program a parent decides to decline placement of their child to a particular district, another student is offered the position and the declining student goes to the bottom of the queue. Only students who are chosen through the selection process will receive notification of placement.

 
Although there are openings in higher grades, the majority of open seats usually come in kindergarten or first grade because districts seek to bring students in during their early years. Once enrolled in a district, students are guaranteed spots in the district through high school graduation, with all of the rights and privileges of a student who resides in the receiving town.  
 
Transportation is provided by the state and coordinated by Open Choice. Bus rides can be long because students are picked up all over each city and then driven to neighboring district schools during morning traffic.  
 
If you have further questions, please feel free to contact me. 
 
Eric B. Nyquist
Open Choice Coordinator, CES
203-365-8857 / nyquiste@cestrumbull.org

Applications are open Jan. 15 through March 15 for the upcoming school year. 

Click below if you are a BRIDGEPORT resident to apply to Open Choice for the 2025-2026 school year:

ENGLISH APPLICATION

SPANISH APPLICATION

The Bridgeport region has participated in Open Choice for more than 20 years. Each year, hundreds of Bridgeport students attend school in neighboring districts such as Easton, Fairfield, Trumbull, Weston, and Westport.  Students are picked up near their home and transported by bus to their new school district.  

• In 2022-2023, the program served almost 300 students.  An average of 800 families apply each year for new spots available.  

• Transportation is coordinated by Karen Barnes at CES and buses are provided by Dattco.  

• Applications for 2025-2026 will be open Jan. 15 through March 15, 2025.  Only families accepted through the lottery/selection process will be notified of placement.  

For more information, contact Karen Barnes at 203-365-8930.  

Applications are open Jan. 15 through March 15 for the upcoming school year. 

Click below if you are a DANBURY resident to apply to Open Choice for the 2025-2026 school year:

ENGLISH APPLICATION

SPANISH APPLICATION

Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, Danbury residents were given the opportunity to apply to have their school-aged children attend neighboring school districts through the Open Choice program.  

• Transportation will be provided to and from school for students who are accepted into the program.  
• Applications for the 2025-2026 program will be open Jan. 15 through March 15, 2025.
• Only families accepted through the lottery and selection process will be notified of placement.  

For more information, contact Karen Barnes at 203-365-8930

APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN FROM JANUARY 15 - MARCH 15

Click below if you are a NORWALK resident to apply to Open Choice for the 2025-2026 school year:

ENGLISH APPLICATION

SPANISH APPLICATION

Beginning in the 2022-23 school year, the opportunity for Norwalk residents to apply for the chance to have their school-aged children attend neighboring school districts opened through the Open Choice program.  

• Transportation will be provided to and from school for students who are accepted into the program.  
• Applications for the 2025-2026 program will be open Jan. 15 through March 15, 2025.
• Only families accepted through the lottery and selection process will be notified of placement.  

For more information, contact Karen Barnes at 203-365-8930.  

Special Application for Norwalk Magnet Schools

This is a special application to request that your child attend one of Norwalk's three intra-district magnet schools.  Parents from any district EXCEPT Norwalk may apply to send their child to Norwalk Magnet Schools via this application.  If you are a Norwalk parent trying to apply to the traditional Open Choice program, please click on the Norwalk Residents tab above.  

Click link below for the 2025-2026 application:

Norwalk Magnet Application via Open Choice

The Norwalk Public Schools have opened their three magnet schools to students who reside outside of norwalk.  Use this application if you do not live in norwalk but would like your child to attend:  

1.  P-TECH Norwalk high school

2.  ponus ridge steam academy middle school

3.  kendall college and career elementary school

 

INFORMATION ABOUT KINDERGARTEN APPLICATIONS:
The Connecticut General Statute Public Act 23-208 now requires that children turn five years old on or before September 1st to be admitted into kindergarten. The law does specify that school districts are required to implement an exemption process for families that request one. You are welcome to apply for Open Choice for a student entering kindergarten who is born between September 2nd and December 31st.  However, should your child be selected in the process, you will then need to apply for an exemption through the district to which you are assigned.   Each district will have its own evaluation process to determine if your child is eligible to begin kindergarten early.  If your child is deemed eligible, they will be enrolled for the fall of 2025.  If your child is deemed ineligible, they will be removed from Open Choice for this year.  You may re-apply for the Open Choice Lottery next year, or request an exemption for your child from the district in which you reside.