Open Enrollment/Petition Process
Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment allows for families living outside of the Fargo Public Schools attendance boundaries to apply for acceptance at a Fargo school. Open enrollment acceptance is based upon the enrollment numbers at the requested school. Some Fargo schools are closed to Open Enrollment. If a school is requested that is closed to Open Enrollment, another Fargo school will be offered to the family.
The deadline to submit an application for consideration of Open Enrollment is the end of the last working day of February for the following school year.
To find out more and to apply for Open Enrollment, please download the application form at this link. Completed forms can be mailed to:
Fargo Public Schools
c/o Amy Nojang
700 7th Street South
Fargo, ND 58103
As of August 28, 2023: Based on enrollment projections and current class sizes:
- Elementary: Only Clara Barton/Hawthorne, Ed Clapp, Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, Lincoln, McKinley, and Washington may consider open enrollment applications.
- Clara Barton/Hawthorne, Ed Clapp, Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, and Lincoln open enrolled students will proceed to Carl Ben Eielson Middle School and South High School.
- McKinley and Washington open enrolled students will proceed to Ben Franklin Middle School and North High School.
- Middle School and High School: Only Carl Ben Eielson Middle School and South High School may consider open enrollment applications.
Questions? Contact Amy Nojang in the Teaching & Learning Department at 701-446-1010.
In-District Petition Process
Families living within the Fargo Public Schools attendance boundaries that would like to request to attend a school outside of their assigned attendance boundary must complete the Exception to Attendance Petition process. The process is outlined in Administrative Policy 6710 – Attendance Boundaries.
Those completing the petition process must complete the appropriate form and submit it to the requested school. Petitions are accepted based upon the class size of both the assigned and requested school. Petitions are accepted at certain times of the year for the following school year based upon the program level.
Elementary Petition Form (May 1 submission deadline)
Middle School Petition Form (January 31 submission deadline)
High School Petition Form (January 31 submission deadline)
Due to enrollment capacity, Ben Franklin Middle School, Discovery Middle School, North High School and Davies High School are closed to petitions. The only secondary schools that accept petitions are Carl Ben Eielson Middle School and South High School.
Please note: Extracurricular Eligibility – Exceptions to Attendance will not be granted for athletic or activity participation reasons. Any student in grades 7-12 who is changing schools on an Exception to Attendance petition will be ineligible to register and participate at the varsity level of all NDHSAA- sponsored athletic and fine arts activities for a period of 180 school days. Any student in grades 7- 12 who returns to attend the school in his/her area of legal residence, will be considered a transfer student and ineligible to register for and participate at the varsity level of all NDHSAA- sponsored athletic and fine arts activities for the remainder of the school year.
Questions? Contact the school office.