In-District Alternate School Request

(Formerly known as Open Enrollment) 

*Participation is limited to families residing within the Rochester Community School District boundaries. RCS does not participate in schools of choice.

Alternate School Requests (formerly know as Open Enrollment) for the 2025-2026 school year are closed.

2026-2027 Alternate School Request Timeline

The following buildings are closed to Alternate School Requests for the 2026-27 school year: 

Students attending  under an Alternate School Request will be assigned to the school in their home attendance area when changing levels (elementary to middle school, and middle school to high school). 

Alternate School Request FAQ's

• Alternate School Requests are for RCS Residents who would like to request that their elementary school student(s) attend a building that is different than their home building.  Your home building is assigned according to district boundary maps, based on your home residence. To check your home school, use this link and click the button that says, "check address."

• Alternate School Requests are for Rochester Community Schools residents and Rochester Schools staff only. Rochester Schools does not participate in schools of choice. 

• Students who attend a non-home school due to an Alternate School Request are not eligible for RCS transportation.

• Students attending a school other than the home school due to an Alternate School Request will be assigned to the school in their home attendance area when changing levels (elementary to middle; middle to high). 

• Students attending a school under an Alternate School Request will be required to arrive at school on time and leave the school grounds promptly at the end of the school day. Failure to comply will result in termination of the student's alternate school placement. 

• Families can apply for one building only.

• Please note that Alternate School Requests are closed for secondary education students (grades 6-12) unless a sibling is already enrolled at the requested building for the 2026-27 school year.

• The Alternate School Request process for elementary education students ensures that children will be automatically approved if their siblings are currently enrolled in the program and attending the requested building during the same school year. Other students will be assigned if space is available.

• TK students placed by the Curriculum Department at a non-home school due to lack of TK availability at their home school do not apply for an Alternate School Request and will be placed at their home school for Kindergarten-5^th grade. 

• If you have previously applied for an Alternate School Request (open enrollment)  and your student is already attending that school, you do not need to apply again. Alternate School Requests, once accepted, will apply for all years the student is attending elementary school.

• Approval of this request is contingent upon available space at the requested school. 

• If accepted, the student is committed to attend the alternate school for the full year. 

The application for the Alternate School Request will open on January 13, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. and close on February 3, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. 

Alternate School Request Application