Understanding Open Enrollment is key to finding the right school for Arizona teens
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Angela Hollingsworth
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By Angela Hollingsworth | Arizona Director of Schools, ThrivePoint High School
Open Enrollment has just begun for many Arizona schools, which makes it the perfect time to check in with your child on their academic journey. Arizona parents have the freedom to choose where their child may attend school, even if it’s outside of their district of residence, thanks to the state’s Open Enrollment law. But how do you know if your teen needs to make a switch?
Talk to your teen and ask them:
Do you get overwhelmed by how many other students are in class?
Do you find it hard to concentrate in your current school setting?
Do you struggle with constantly changing rooms every 45 to 90 minutes?
a. Do you find this disruptive just as you’ve begun to focus?
Are you bored at the pace of class or think it is too slow?
Are you unable to attend school regularly due to physical limitations, such as lack of reliable transportation, or mental limitations, such as anxiety or depression?
Are you being bullied?
Are you being pressured to join a gang?
If you or your teen answered yes to any of the above questions, it may be time to find a better fit for your child. To get started, here are a few facts about Open Enrollment in Arizona:
Arizona’s state law allows parents to apply for admission to any public school, as long as there is classroom space available.
Open Enrollment is available to all Arizona-based K-12 students.
Although the next school year may seem a long way off, now is the time to enroll for the 2025-26 school year for the majority of districts.
Many charter schools, including ThrivePoint High School, allow enrollment any time of the year as they offer flexible non-traditional learning pathways.
Visit websites of the schools you are considering for applications to the individual school’s Open Enrollment process.
With so many academic options to consider thanks to Open Enrollment, here are three things to do when looking for a better fit for your teen:
Visit schools, talk to current students. On the school visit, find out:
a. What distinguishes this school from others? Do they have signature programs?
b. How does the school look and feel? Friendly and helpful?
c. What is the teaching style? Look at what they teach and how they teach.
d. What supports are in place to help students who are struggling?
e. What systems and opportunities are in place to support students who are excelling in their academics?
f, Parental involvement. Does the school welcome parental support?
g. How are classes assigned? How often is homework assigned?
h. Community involvement. What does the school's outreach and community involvement look like? Are there opportunities for students to engage with and explore opportunities in the community
i. Are there before and after school activities offered? Do you need arrangements for before or after school childcare?
Talk to parents. Ask current parents if the instruction prepared their children to successfully transition to the next academic step (next grade level, college, community college, trade school, etc.) Try to get several opinions.
Most importantly, talk to your teen! Learn from their perspective what is best for them, their learning style and academic goals.
Editor’s note: Angela Hollingsworth is Arizona director of schools for ThrivePoint High School, a free hybrid charter school serving grades 9 to 12 and students up to 21 years old at six locations in the Valley and one in Yuma. Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.