Family Spotlight

In Bend-La Pine Schools, students and families have choices in their educational journey, and now is the time to consider these options. We have a popular Dual Immersion program where students learn in English and Spanish. We have Career Technical Education programs at all our high schools. We have four magnet schools, and we also offer a K-12 online learning program.

We call these opportunities Choice Options – programs that meet the individual focus and needs of our students. Families may apply now through January 24 for a Choice Option program for students who will be in grades 1-12 next year. The application deadline for kindergarten students, and for the Dual Immersion program, is March 21. Selections are made through a lottery process.

Additionally, families are welcome to submit an Area Change Request if they’d like their student to attend any other school outside of their attendance zone. The Priority Area Change Request window is open now through January 24. “Priority” means that we will let families know if their request is approved by the end of February. Unlike Choice Option requests, where admission is determined by lottery, Area Change Requests are decided based on student needs, space available, enrollment balance and appropriateness of program.

Entry into the Choice Options lottery, Dual Immersion lottery, and Priority Area Change Requests all require a current enrollment in Bend-La Pine Schools for the school year requested. Enrollment is open now for the 2025-26 school year. (This requirement does not apply to the Bend International School and Desert Sky Montessori charter schools.)

Important dates to remember!

• January 24, 2025, 3:00 pm: Choice lottery application closes for grades 1-12
  
• January 24, 2025, 3:00 pm: Choice application closes for Priority ACR
  
• March 21, 2025, 3:00 pm: Choice lottery application closes for kindergarten and Dual Immersion
  

IMPORTANT: Do you have all of your enrollment documents ready to go? Find the list here.

Bend Tech Academy (BTA) offers a college-prep curriculum with a Career Technical Education focus. BTA connects students with teachers, peers and community partners to give them a variety of learning opportunities, high engagement experiences, and an opportunity to build lasting relationships.

School information nights:

• Wednesday, January 15, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
  
• Tuesday, January 21, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
  

At Realms Middle and High School, rigorous academics come to life through an interdisciplinary and project based curriculum, through instruction that is both demanding and student centered, and through a schoolwide culture of “Crew,” where teamwork, student leadership, and belonging are at the center. Realms is a member of the EL Education Network where student achievement has three dimensions: mastery of knowledge and skills, high quality work and character.

School information nights:

• Thursday, January 16, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
  
• Wednesday, January 22, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
  

The International Baccalaureate (IB) mission is to "develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect." Students pursue rigorous college and career preparatory classes, many of which will translate into college credits. Coursework is open to all 11th and 12th-grade students.

School information night:

• Thursday, January 9, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
  

The district's Dual Language Immersion Program is a K-12 program offered at two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. In a class balanced with both native speakers of both English and Spanish, students learn their regular school subjects through both languages. Dual Immersion students also develop strong intercultural competence skills as a result of this enriching educational model.

School information nights:

• Monday, February 10, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm (hosted at Bear Creek Elementary)
  
• Monday, March 3, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm (hosted at R.E. Jewell Elementary)
  
• High Desert Middle School
  
• Caldera High School

Amity Creek elementary is a community-based school that emphasizes choice-making, risk-taking, and celebration of the social and academic journey. Students have the freedom and encouragement they need for exploring, questioning, and developing independent thinking.

School information night:

• Wednesday, March 5, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Highland elementary’s Scottish Storyline method is based on the theory that knowledge is complex and many-layered, that learning is guided by one’s prior knowledge and experience, and that learners construct their own meaning through action and experience. During each Storyline, students create a setting, become characters and solve problems as incidents in the story unfold.

School information night:

• Wednesday, January 15, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
  
• Tour between sessions will be 5:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Westside Village is a K-8 school with a democratic system. The curriculum integrates mathematical, scientific, social, critical, and creative thinking with teamwork, communication, and collaboration. The community is passionate about understanding the diverse needs of learners with an inclusive mixed age school.

School information nights:

• Monday, January 13, 5:15 pm tour, 5:30 pm session
  
• Thursday, March 6, 5:15 pm tour, 5:30 pm session

Juniper is a technology magnet, home to the district’s fourth- and fifth-grade Talented and Gifted program and includes a Life Skills and a Speech and Hearing-impaired program. In addition to the regular education, Juniper creates a diverse culture of learners at a rare school location.

School information session:

• Wednesday, March 19, 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
  

Attention parents and guardians of 5th grade Talented and Gifted (TAG) students! Cascade Middle School offers a 6th grade TAG advanced humanities program. Students in this group study and learn with other students who are academically and/or intellectually talented. Cascade has additional opportunities for TAG students to be in advanced humanities classes in 7th and 8th grade.

TAG information night:

• Tuesday, January 14, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm – Incoming 5th graders only

Through our online K-12 program, we believe students should be able to participate in learning experiences that work best for individual needs, goals and passions. The program provides flexible, rigorous and supported options to serve this goal.

Program application open through the end of the 2024-25 school year.

The annual CTE and Elective Exploration Fly-Up Day is just around the corner on Monday, March 3! This exciting event gives 8th-grade students a firsthand look at high school Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and electives through ~20-minute rotations featuring fun hands-on activities.

Students will be bussed to the high school to which they are pointed to attend for the 2025-26 school year. CTE and Elective Exploration Fly-Up Day is a great opportunity for students to learn about the CTE pathways and rich elective options offered in their high schools by exploring technical skills, creative pursuits, and other options to spark their curiosity and excitement prior to forecasting.

ACR approval is required prior to attending the designated high school.

Celebrating its 10th year of operation, Bend International School connects rigorous academics with authentic, project-based learning, all in a small K - 8 learning environment. The international focus brings global competencies to our local environment, preparing students for choice filled futures.

Applications available on website and due March 21 by 2:30 pm.

Information sessions and school tours:

• Tuesday, January 14, 9:00 am - 10:00 am, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

• Tuesday, February 11, 9:00 am - 10:00 am, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

• Tuesday, March 11, 9:00 am - 10:00 am, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

• Thursday, April 10, 9:00 am - 10:00 am, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

• Tuesday, May 13, 9:00 am - 10:00 am, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

The learning environment at Desert Sky is based on Dr. Maria Montessori’s philosophy on the development of the whole child. Desert Sky serves K-6 and is open to all children and proudly adopts an educational approach that specifically addresses the community’s diversity to ensure that no child is left behind.

Applications available on website and due March 21 by 2:30 pm.

Information sessions and school tours:

• Tuesday, January 28, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

• Tuesday, February 25, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

• Thursday, March 6, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

• Monday, April 7, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

• Tuesday, May 6, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Top row from left: Board Chair Marcus LeGrand, Board Vice Chair Carrie McPherson Douglass,

Kina Chadwick

Bottom row from left: Amy Tatom, Cameron Fischer, Shirley Olson, Ross Tomlin

The Board of Directors for Bend-La Pine Schools will hold its next board meeting on Tuesday, January 14 at 5:30 p.m. at the Education Center, 520 NW Wall St.

For information about board members, meetings and agendas, please visit our School Board page.

Are you curious which district policies and regulations are currently under review? To see proposed changes and give feedback on new language, click here.