In the Syracuse City School District, we are seeing academic success and progress.  Despite our recent improvements, the New York State Department of Education has designated the SCSD as a “focus” district and the following schools a “focus” or "priority" school for the 2017-2018 school year. Focus and Priority School letters and postcards, summarizing the information in the letter, will be mailed to our families in March.
 

BELLEVUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Focus
CORCORAN HIGH SCHOOL	Focus
LEMOYNE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Focus
EDWARD SMITH K-8 SCHOOL	Focus
GRANT MIDDLE SCHOOL	Focus
HURLBUT W SMITH K-8 SCHOOL	Focus
NOTTINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL	Focus
PORTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Focus
ROBERTS K-8 SCHOOL	Focus
SEYMOUR DUAL LANGUAGE ACADEMY	Focus
VAN DUYN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Focus
WEBSTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Focus
CLARY MIDDLE SCHOOL	Priority
DANFORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL	Priority
DELAWARE ACADEMY	Priority
DR KING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Priority
DR WEEKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Priority
FOWLER HIGH SCHOOL	Priority
FRAZER K-8 SCHOOL	Priority
HENNINGER HIGH SCHOOL	Priority
LINCOLN MIDDLE SCHOOL	Priority
MCKINLEY-BRIGHTON ELEMENTARY	Priority
MEACHEM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Priority
WESTSIDE ACADEMY AT BLODGETT	Priority

 
The State Education Department rates each school and district yearly to determine its status. Focus schools and districts are designated as such because of their low performance and lack of sufficient progress in English language arts and math, and/or low graduation rates, particularly for certain racial/ethnic groups, low-income students, English language learners and/or students with disabilities.  The “focus” designation makes schools and the school district eligible to receive additional state and federal resources, services and supports. Schools with a 2015-16 performance that places them among the lowest performing in the state for combined ELA and mathematics performance or graduation rates are identified as "priority" schools.
   
Each spring, the district conducts a school transfer process in accordance with its School Transfer Program and Policy. In addition, in accordance with federal law, all students enrolled in a focus or priority school are offered the opportunity to request a transfer to a school that is in good standing. Transportation is also available in accordance with the existing Transportation Policy. Schools in good standing include:

*Selective Enrollment Schools:	*Open Enrollment Schools:
•  Expeditionary Learning Middle School (Grade 6)	•  Delaware Primary (Dual Language, Grades K-3)
•  Institute of Technology (Grade 9)	•  Franklin Elementary School (Grades K-5)
•  Public Service Leadership Academy (Grade 9)	•  Salem Hyde Elementary School (Grades K-6)
•  Syracuse Latin (Grades K, 1, 2, 3 and 4)	•  Huntington School (Grades K-8)

*IMPORTANT NOTE: If the New York State Department of Education changes the status of a school in good standing to a Local Assistance Plan (LAP) School, the District will remove that school from the lists above and from the 2017-2018 Focus and Priority School Transfer application options.   

Frequently Asked Questions About the Focus/Priority Transfer Process

How do I apply to a Selective Enrollment school in good standing?
If you are interested in submitting an application for your child to attend any of the above referenced Selective submit an online application by visiting www.enrollinsyracusecityschools.com, and clicking on the appropriate selective enrollment school link. Please note that the Institute of Technology and the Public Service Leadership Academy applications can be found by clicking on the High School Choice button. All Selective Enrollment applications will be reviewed and considered based on program-specific criteria.

How are students selected for enrollment in the Selective Enrollment schools listed above?
All Selective Enrollment applications will be reviewed and considered based on program-specific criteria. When the district must prioritize requests, students meeting all entrance criteria will be electronically selected with weighted preference given for focus/priority school status, then academic need and family income level, as required under Public School Choice regulations, and then all others. Students who are deemed eligible for one of the selective enrollment schools listed above but not selected for enrollment will remain on an active waiting list through the end of the school year, and will be notified if an opening occurs.  

How do you apply to an Open Enrollment school in good standing?   
If you would like to transfer your child to any of the above referenced Open Enrollment Schools, you will be required to complete an online Focus and Priority Transfer application between April 1, 2017 and April 30, 2017. To complete the application, please visit www.enrollinsyracusecityschools.com, click on the Focus/Priority Transfer button and follow the instructions.  All Focus/Priority Transfer applications will be reviewed and considered.

How are students selected for enrollment in the Open Enrollment schools listed above?
All Focus/Priority Open Enrollment Transfer applications will be reviewed and considered, but when the district must prioritize requests, students will be electronically selected with weighted preference given first for academic need and family income level, as required under federal Public School Choice regulations, and then all others. Placement is not guaranteed. Students not initially selected for transfer will remain on an active waiting list through the end of the school year, and will be notified if an opening occurs.

What if I am interested in submitting a transfer request to a school that is not in good standing?
If you are interested in submitting a transfer request to a school that is not listed above you are required to submit an application during the appropriate transfer period.  Please note that the criteria selection process for schools that are not in good standing differs from the Focus and Priority School selection process listed above.  Information on each of the District's processes by grade level are listed below:

Other Transfer Options

K - 8 Transfer Program (application available April 1 - April 30)
Students entering grades K through 8 in September are eligible to apply for a transfer if they meet the criteria listed below. Students who do not meet these criteria will be deemed ineligible to apply for a transfer:

Students entering Kindergarten Per Board of Education Policy, all kindergarten students are assigned to their neighborhood/home school for enrollment.  Therefore, the following student transfer criteria apply in priority order:
1. Join a sibling
2. Enroll in a school within the quadrant

Students Entering Grades 1 - 8 Students who are currently enrolled, new or returning to the District and entering grades 1-8 in September can submit a transfer during the transfer period. The following student transfer criteria islisted in priority order: 
1. Return to or enroll in your neighborhood (home) school and join a sibling (brother or sister residing in the same household) who is currently enrolled in the school of interest and will remain enrolled for at least one year.
2. Join a sibling only
3. Return to or enroll in your neighborhood (home) school only
4. Enroll in a school within the quadrant

When the district must prioritize K-8 transfer requests, students meeting the K-8 Transfer Program criteria listed above will be electronically selected through the lottery system. Students who are deemed eligible but not selected for enrollment will remain on an active waiting list through the end of the second marking period, and will be notified if an opening occurs.

High School Choice
If your child is interested in one of the High School Choice (application available through April 15) programs that are not listed under selective enrollment, they must meet the program specific criteria and then be selected to enroll in the program. When the district must prioritize requests, students meeting all entrance criteria will be electronically selected with weighted preference given for siblings. Students who are deemed eligible but not selected for enrollment will remain on an active waiting list through the end of the first marking period, and will be notified if an opening occurs.  

High School Transfers (application available through April 15) requests are approved based on openings and district transfer criteria.  Students who apply to enroll in or transfer to Corcoran, Nottingham or Henninger must meet the following transfer criteria:

1. Return to or enroll in your neighborhood (home) school and join a sibling (brother or sister residing in the same household) who is currently enrolled in the school of interest and will remain enrolled for at least one year.
2. Join a sibling only
3. Return to or enroll in your neighborhood (home) school only

When the district must prioritize requests, students meeting the high school transfer criteria listed above will be electronically selected through the lottery system. Students who are deemed eligible but not selected for enrollment will remain on an active waiting list through the end of the first marking period, and will be notified if an opening occurs.

We are committed to transforming the Syracuse City School District by providing a high-quality education for every student at every school throughout the district. We are seeing improvement and we are confident that we are positioning ourselves for greater growth in the future.  Please visit our website at www.syracusecityschools.com and click on the school of interest for additional information on any of our schools.