Family Spotlight

Bend-La Pine Schools’ choice options provide learning opportunities that are significantly different from our traditional programs, while meeting the same standards and requirements as other schools in the district. From Dual Immersion to Career Technical Education, the choice option schools have many programs to meet the individual focus of students.

New this year!

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. The 2024-25 school year is now open for enrollment. (New enrollment rule does not apply to charter schools.)

The non-neighborhood choice enrollment window is also the time to submit a Priority Area Change Request (ACR).

The ACR process is for requesting a student to attend a neighborhood school outside of their current attendance area. (This is a separate process from a request to attend a choice option school, which requires admission through a lottery.) ACR requests are approved or denied based on student needs, space available in the school, the particular grade or program, impact on enrollment balance between schools, and appropriateness of the program.

Important dates to remember!

• January 19, 2024, 3:00 pm: Choice lottery application closes for grades 1-12
  
• January 19, 2024, 3:00 pm: Choice application closes for Priority ACR
  
• March 22, 2024, 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 10, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
  
• Tuesday, January 16, 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 11, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
  
• Wednesday, January 17, 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:

• Monday, January 8, 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:

• Tuesday, February 20, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm (hosted at Bear Creek Elementary)
  
• Monday, March 4, 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 nights:

• Tuesday, January 16, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm – Incoming grades 1-5 only
  
• Thursday, March 7, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm – Incoming Kindergarteners only
  

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 nights:

• Tuesday, March 5, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
  
• Tuesday, March 5, 5:00 pm - 6:00 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:

• Thursday, January 11, 5:15 pm - 6:30 pm
  
• Thursday, January 18, 5:15 pm - 6:30 pm
• Wednesday, March 13, 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
  
• Thursday, March 14, 5:15 pm - 6:30 pm
  

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. Learn more here!

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:

• Wednesday, January 10, 6:00 pm - 7:30 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 2023-24 school year.

Founded in 2015, Bend International School brings a global model of education to Central Oregon. Offering K-8 education, it is dedicated to international education specializing in project-based learning and community building.

Applications available on website and due March 22 by 2:30 pm.

School information nights:

• February 6, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm (elementary)
  
• February 15, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm (middle)

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.

The Board of Directors for Bend-La Pine Schools will hold its next board meeting on Tuesday, January 9 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.