All out of district students, EL-12, seeking enrollment must submit their application for admission for the succeeding school year by 4:00 p.m., May 14, 2024.  This includes any out of district student currently enrolled within an MCPS school.

Application packets must include the following:

• Completed Montana Office of Public Instruction Student Attendance Agreement.
• Contact Information Sheet
• Copy of attendance records for the last three years from the current or previous school or homeschool documentation.
• Copy of behavioral records for the last three years from the current or previous school.
• Copy of academic records for the last three years from the current or previous school.

Submit the completed form and required documentation to:

Assistant Superintendent's Office
Missoula County Public Schools
Administration Building A
909 South Avenue W.
Missoula, MT 59801

The form and supporting documents must be submitted by 4:00 p.m., May 14, 2024.  Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Upon receipt, each application will be assigned a random and confidential non-identifying number to keep the student's name private.

Parents/guardians who have submitted the completed form and supporting documents will be notified within 10 days of the application regarding the anticipated date for approval or disapproval by the Board of Trustees.

Board of Trustee Decision:

• No more than 30 days following the application deadline, the Superintendent will submit a list of applicants to the Board of Trustees with recommendations.
• Families who have a complete application will be notified the Friday prior to the Board Meeting, via email, notifying them of the recommendation for approval/disapproval of their child's application.  Families of applicants who are recommended for the waitlist or disapproval may choose to discuss their child's application in a closed executive session of the Board of Trustees.
• The Board will approve or deny requests for nonresident enrollment during a Board meeting.
• A lottery system will be established if applications recommended for approval exceed the available openings at a grade level/band.
  • A waitlist will be developed.
• Approval will be for enrollment in the District only.  The District will complete school placements no later than August 15th.
• Approval is for one-year only.  

Approval or Disapproval:

The Superintendent recommends approval unless it negatively impacts education quality in specific ways, as outlined in Policy 3141.  Applications will be recommended for disapproval if the student is/has been:

• • truant as defined in Section 20-5-106, MCA, in the last school district attended;
  • expelled by another school district at any time; or
  • suspended in another school district in any of the 3 school fiscal years preceding the school fiscal year for which attendance is requested.  This Subsection C does not apply to a student who is eligible for special education or related services.

Within 10 days of approval, the District provides a letter of acceptance to the parent/guardian and copies of the attendance agreement to the parent/guardian and the school district of residence.

Within 10 days of disapproval, the District provides a letter of denial with specific allowable reasons consistent with the policy and supporting documentation.

If an attendance agreement is disapproved or no action is taken, the parent/guardian may appeal in accordance with Montana law MCA 10.6.103.

Transportation and Montana High School Association Implications:

The family of a nonresident student is responsible for transportation.

The Montana High School Association (MHSA) sets regulations pertaining to student eligibility for participation in Speech and Debate and athletics.  The District follows those regulations and does not assure that nonresident students will be eligible to participate in MHSA-sanctioned activities.  For information regarding eligibility, please visit the MSHA website.