CCS - Enrollment

Enrollment | ESL Assistance | School Choice Lottery | Parent Portal | Types of Applications | Entering the Lottery | PreK Enrollment | Transition to Kindergarten | Latchkey

1. Review Important Dates

2. Gather Required Enrollment Documents

3. Complete Online Registration (OLR)/Speedy Pass

• It is imperative that you upload the Necessary Enrollment Documents. Improper documentation will delay the processing of the Online Registration/Enrollment Application.

4. An Enrollment Specialist will review the OLR and process the enrollment, provided all Necessary Enrollment Documents have been uploaded.

5. The Enrollment Specialist will email/call the parent/guardian with the school of enrollment, start date and Parent Portal set up information.

6. The parent/guardian will then set up the Parent Portal.

• The Parent Portal will allow you to view your student's data (such as grades, attendance, schedules...), pay fees, apply for a Pre-K placement or the School Choice Lottery

** It is important to note, that if you are planning to submit a lottery application, the Online Registration must be submitted with all necessary documents by February 22nd for Middle/High School and by March 22nd for Elementary School. This will ensure that you have the Parent Portal activation code by the lottery deadline.

*Enrollment for 2025-26 Pre-K opens Tuesday, April 1st. More information provided in the PreK Enrollments Tab but you can also check ECE's Enrollment page for more information.

On-Site Assistance: English - 614-365-4011

If you require assistance in completing the Online Registration or need access to a computer, please call the appropriate number below to schedule an On-Site Enrollment Assistance. All Other Languages (with the exception of Arabic, French, Nepali, Somali, and Spanish) - 614-365-8802

On-Site Assistance: Spanish - Español - 614-365-5118

Cita de inscripción en el sitio. Si necesita ayuda para completar el registro en línea o necesita acceso a una computadora, llame al número correspondiente a continuación para programar una cita de inscripción en el sitio.

French - Français - 614-365-5327

Rendez-vous pour l'inscription sur place. Si vous avez besoin d'aide pour remplir le formulaire d'inscription en ligne ou si vous devez avoir accès à un ordinateur, veuillez appeler le numéro approprié ci-dessous pour prendre un rendez-vous d'inscription sur place.

Nepali - नेपाली - 614-365-3105

साइटमा सहयोगको लागि नियुक्ति। यदि तपाईंलाई अनलाइन दर्ता पूरा गर्न सहयोग चाहिन्छ वा कम्प्युटरमा पहुँच चाहिन्छ भने, कृपया साइटमा नामांकनको लागि अपोइन्टमेन्ट बनाउनको लागि तपाईंको भाषा अनुसार तलको उपयुक्त नम्बरमा सम्पर्क गर्नुहोस्।

Somali - Soomaaliga - 614-365-8972

Ballanta Diiwaangelinta Qofka. Haddii aad u baahan tahay caawimo buuxinta Diiwaangelinta khadka tooska ah ama aad u baahan tahay gelitaanka kumbuyuutarka, fadlan wac lambarka ku habboon ee hoose si aad u ballansato Ballanta Diiwaangelinta Goobta.

For questions regarding Enrollment, please email centralenrollment@columbus.k12.oh.us

It is important to note, that if you are planning to submit a lottery application, the Online Registration must be submitted with all necessary documents by February 21st for Middle/High School and by March 21st for Elementary School. This will ensure that you have the Parent Portal activation code by the lottery deadline. Incoming PreK Families: Enrollment opens April 1st, 2025.

The online Infinite Campus Parent Portal process is easy to use. The Parent Portal also allows you to update emergency contact information, view course schedules, grades, attendance and assignments that have been turned in/or missing, even e-mail child’s teacher directly from the portal using the planner feature.

Video Profile For Each CCS School: Click here to access a short video about each CCS school.

The following types of School Choice applications must be submitted via the Parent Portal:

Lottery Applications:

• High School & Middle School Lottery Applications: Accepted via the Parent Portal for the lottery draw Monday, January 6, 2025 through Friday, February 28, 2025. Late applications are added to the bottom of the waitlist in the date/time order of receipt. The last date for the acceptance of late lottery applications for students who completed the 2024-25 school year with CCS is August 15, 2025. New students enrolling into Columbus City Schools can submit a lottery application for two weeks after their enrollment date until December 5, 2025.

• Elementary School Lottery Applications: On-time lottery applications accepted via the Parent Portal for the lottery draw Monday, February 3, 2025 through Monday, March 31, 2025. Late applications are added to the bottom of the waitlist in the date/time order of receipt. The last date for the acceptance of late lottery applications for students who completed the 2024-25 school year with CCS is August 15, 2025. New students enrolling into Columbus City Schools can submit a lottery application for two weeks after their enrollment date until December 5, 2025.

• Selective Admissions Applications: Applications available to eligible students Wednesday, January 8, 2025 with a submission deadline of Friday, January 31, 2025. Applications must be submitted via the Parent Portal.

• Request to Return to Homeschool Application: Everyone is sent emails asking if parents/guardians would like their student to return to their homeschool, if you want your student to stay then you can disregard those emails. If you'd like to accept, it can only be accepted via the Parent Portal Monday, January 6, 2025, through Friday, March 21, 2025.

• Reservations: Accepted via the Parent Portal for eligible students from Monday, January 6, 2025, through Friday, January 31, 2025. You would have received an email regarding eligibility.

• ROTC: Accepted via the Parent Portal Monday, January 6, 2025 through Friday February 21, 2025.

The School Choice Lottery application process begins at the beginning of January for Middle and High schools and in February for Elementary schools, utilizing the new electronic paperless application process. Lottery offers will begin being sent out April 3rd via email and you will have 48 hours to respond or the offer will go on to the next person. You can view offers or your waitlist number in School Choice under the Quick Links section by logging into Parent Portal.

To access the School Choice Lottery, you will first need to log into the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. The School Choice Link located within the Parent Portal will allow you to submit your application(s), track waitlist numbers and accept or decline offers. If you need a user name/password reset and cannot remember the recovery email address you provided, please send a picture ID, your child's name and date of birth to parentportalaccess@columbus.k12.oh.us for assistance.

If your child is not currently a CCS student, you must complete the online Speedy/Pass registration. Once enrollment into the CCS database is complete, you will receive your Parent Portal access code to enable your account and submit a lottery application. If you need assistance completing the online registration or if you do not have access to the internet, please visit the Central Enrollment Center Monday-Friday between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM located at 430 Cleveland Ave. Columbus, OH 43215.

Please note:

• You must enter the lottery if you are currently enrolled in a Lottery School (ex. CSIA) for Pre-K and would like to remain there. The lottery window closes March 31st and any applications sent in after that date are sent to the bottom of the waitlist. Offers start being sent out via email April 3rd, 2025 and you will have 48 hours to respond once you've received an offer. You will have to login to your Parent Portal account in order to accept any offers you receive. Click School Choice under the Quick Links section to view the waitlist number or to accept/reject pending offers.
• If you only want to enroll into Columbus City Schools to participate in the lottery and do not plan on your child attending unless you receive (and accept) a lottery offer, please be sure to select the School Choice Lottery ONLY option in the registration type on the OLR. Students who are enrolled for lottery only and do not receive a lottery placement by the first day of school MUST be enrolled in a non-CCS school.
• Lottery waitlists do not carry over from year to year. If your student is on a lottery waitlist for the 24-25 school year and does not receive a lottery offer by December 13, 2024, a new lottery application will need to be submitted for the 25-26 school year.

The Online Registration will open April 1, 2025. Enrollment appointments are no longer required. An income verification document and the Eligibility Screening Tool must be uploaded to the OLR application for all Pre-K students. Please view the steps below for enrollment. School selections will also begin April 1, 2025 via the Parent Portal after the online registration has been processed. If you need help entering the lottery after enrolling please email me and I can help you.

La inscripción en línea comenzará el 1 de abril de 2025. Ya no se requieren citas para la inscripción. Todos los estudiantes de Prekínder deben cargar un documento de verificación de ingresos y la Herramienta de Evaluación de Elegibilidad en la solicitud de OLR. Consulte los pasos a continuación para inscribirse. La selección de escuelas también comenzará el 1 de abril de 2025 a través del Portal para Padres, una vez que se haya procesado la inscripción en línea. Si necesita ayuda para participar en el sorteo después de inscribirse, envíeme un correo electrónico y puedo ayudarle.

• April 1st, 2025 - Families can begin submitting the Online Registration (OLR) for the 2025-2026 School Year. Pre-K families can start making school selections in the Parent Portal after the OLR is processed.

  July 7th, 2025 - New Pre-K waitlisted families will be notified via email if space is available. Please continue to check your Parent Portal after this date.

• 1 de abril de 2025: Las familias pueden comenzar a enviar la Inscripción en Línea (OLR) para el año escolar 2025-2026. Una vez procesada la OLR, las familias de preescolar pueden comenzar a seleccionar su escuela en el Portal para Padres.

  7 de julio de 2025: Las nuevas familias en lista de espera de preescolar recibirán una notificación por correo electrónico si hay cupo disponible. Por favor, continúen consultando su Portal para Padres después de esta fecha.

• You can view the Pre-K Enrollment Guide or follow the steps below:

  1. Gather enrollment documents.
  2. Fill out Speedy Pass online registration.
  3. Upload enrollment documents.
  4. After registration is processed, set up your Parent Portal.
  5. Answer the Pre-K Questionnaire and make your school selection(s) in the Parent Portal.
  6. You will be notified of an enrollment offer or waitlist number.
  7. Submit the Medical and Pre-K Packet.

  
  

• Puede consultar la Guía de inscripción a Prekínder o seguir los pasos a continuación:

  1. Reúna los documentos de inscripción.

  2. Complete el formulario de registro en línea de Speedy Pass.

  3. Cargue los documentos de inscripción.

  4. Una vez procesada la inscripción, configure su Portal para Padres.

  5. Responda el Cuestionario de Prekínder y seleccione su(s) escuela(s) en el Portal de Padres.

  6. Se le notificará sobre una oferta de inscripción o un número de lista de espera.

  7. Envíe el Paquete Médico y de Prekínder.

  
  

All students already attending CCS Pre-K will be automatically enrolled in their home school by address for kindergarten. You can complete a lottery application for a DIFFERENT school through the Infinite Campus Portal. Please visit the School Choice links below for more information and the lottery application time frame. If your child is NOT currently attending CCS Pre-K and you need to enroll your child in kindergarten, please visit the following enrollment links: Enrollment & Registration and Documents Needed for Enrollment.

*Note: You must enter the lottery if you are currently enrolled in a Lottery School (ex. CSIA) for Pre-K and would like to remain there. The lottery window closes March 31st and any applications sent in after that date are sent to the bottom of the waitlist. Offers start being sent out via email April 3rd, 2025 and you will have 48 hours to respond once you've received an offer. You will have to login to your Parent Portal account in order to accept any offers you receive. Click School Choice under the Quick Links section to view the waitlist number or to accept/reject pending offers.

**If you are currently in PreK at CSIA you have to enter the lottery through Parent Portal in order to remain at our school. If you need or prefer in person help feel free to come in on Monday or Friday from 9 AM-2:45 PM.**

Latchkey is an elementary school-age childcare program that provides care and education for children of working parents. This program is designed to be a link between the home and the school. Certified, qualified and experienced childcare providers supervise, teach and interact with children to ensure that they are cared for, supervised, exposed to many learning activities, allowed to complete homework and share enjoyment in a relaxed and carefully designed developmentally appropriate environment. Latchkey Applications usually open in May on a first come first served basis, applicants will be added to the waitlist once spots are filled. Check back in May for the 2025-26 school year dates and deadlines.