Schools encouraging parents to register students for school as soon as possible
Press release from Alachua County Public Schools
ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – The start of school is now less than two weeks away, and Alachua County Public Schools is urging parents to register new students now. Schools are open this week and next week to help parents register their children. School starts August 10.
The advice is aimed at the families of students who will be entering an Alachua County public school for the first time, such as kindergarteners, students who’ve just moved into the district, or those entering an ACPS school from a private, charter, or home school option. Students who have moved or will be moving to a new school zone within the district also need to register at their new school.
“Families can get through the registration process much more quickly if they do it sooner rather than later,” said the district’s director of communications Jackie Johnson. “The lines at school offices tend to get longer the closer we get to the first day of school.”
Other disadvantages of late registration for students include delays in starting class and fewer course options, particularly in middle and high schools.
District and school staff are hoping to reduce the last-minute registrations that make preparations for the upcoming school year more difficult. Without accurate information on the number of students who will be attending a school, the grades they’re in, and the courses and services they’ll need, scheduling is much more complicated.
If a child will be entering an Alachua County Public School for the first time, parents should go to www.sbac.edu/enrollment and complete the online registration form. They will then need to take the required documents to their zoned school, including the child’s birth certificate, two proofs of primary residence, proof of a recent physical, and proof of immunizations.
The Alachua County Health Department is offering free school immunizations and $35 school physicals seven days a week. Interested families should call (352) 334-7910 to make an appointment.
Those who have moved to a different school zone within the county will just need to take two proofs of the new residence to the school.
Parents who aren’t sure which school their child is zoned for or who need more information can visit the enrollment webpage, contact the district’s zoning office at (352) 955-7700, or email zoning@gm.sbac.edu.