District announces 2027-2028 Open Enrollment - Choice of Schools policy

27J Schools took a big step toward the opening of a new district high school and middle school when it adopted new attendance boundaries last spring.

Now the district has completed an important next part of this process with the completion of updates to the Open Enrollment - Choice of Schools policy for the 2027-2028 school year.

Background

The opening of any new district school is a significant milestone that always creates a ripple of changes. This is especially true with the opening of a new district high school. A variety of factors must be taken into consideration, including upper-level students who wish to finish their high school career at their existing high school. 

In addition to the opening of Rocky Vista High School for the 2027-2028 school year, the district will also open its sixth traditional middle school, Talon Ridge in Thornton, next year.

Last spring, the district finalized new high school and middle school boundaries to accommodate attendance boundaries for these new schools but also with a focus on balancing enrollment across current high schools and middle schools.

“There is no way to completely eliminate the impacts of opening new schools in our district,” 27J Schools Superintendent Will Pierce said. “We have and will continue to be thoughtful throughout this process to lessen the impact on families and students, when possible, and also give our new schools a foundation for success.” 

What is changing with the Open Enrollment - Choice of Schools Policy?

In the midst of such big changes, the district prioritized creating stability for families, especially next year’s senior class. 

The updated policy re-prioritizes how open enrollment applications will be considered, with special consideration given to current high school juniors in anticipation of the opening of Rocky Vista High School in Commerce City.

Generally, high school seniors want to finish their high school careers at the same school where they’ve attended the majority of their high school days. To make that process easy, seniors will be automatically enrolled in their current high school. Seniors won’t be impacted by the new boundaries unless they wish to attend a new school. Those students would open enroll into their new boundary school and be given first priority to get into that school. 

2027-2028 juniors residing in the new Rocky Vista High School attendance area will remain at Prairie View High School, as there will be no junior class at Rocky Vista High School in its first year. These students will be eligible for transportation service, but must apply. 

All other students interested in attending a non-attendance boundary school will be considered in the following priority.

• Current 27J Schools’ students
• Students with a sibling currently enrolled and attending the requested school in the 2027-2028 school year
• Students with a sibling in 27J Schools who attends a school other than the one the student is applying to attend
• 27J resident students
• Date and Time of open enrollment request

View The 2027-2028 Open Enrollment - Choice of Schools Policy

When does Open Enrollment start for the 2027-2028 school year?

The district’s timeline for open enrollment requests has also changed, with the initial priority consideration window now opening Dec. 1, 2026. It will remain open through Dec. 31. 2026. Additional open enrollment applications for the 2027-2028 school year will be considered on a case-by-case basis following the closure of the priority consideration window. 

What Happens Next?

The Open Enrollment-Choice of Schools priority consideration window will open Dec. 1, 2026. It will remain open through Dec. 31, 2026. Parents submitting applications within the priority consideration period will be notified of open enrollment application status starting Feb. 2, 2027.  

With the opening of the open enrollment process Dec. 1, the district will also publish a list of schools that will not be available for open enrollment consideration.

The District School Boundary Locator will be updated one month prior to the opening of open enrollment, so middle and high school families can see updated attendance boundary schools. Elementary school boundaries have not changed.

We realize that families have many questions about the updated Open Enrollment - Choice of Schools policy. We have created a list of Frequently Asked Questions that should provide additional information.