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  • Registration

    Only a parent or legal guardian may register a child in school. (A legal guardian must present documentation, such as custody granted by a court or accredited agency.) Several documents are required to register a child in Cincinnati Public Schools.

    Online Registration & Enrollment

    It's simple — and it's online!

    Cincinnati Public Schools uses an online system to register students. The online system simplifies and streamlines the process of enrolling children in CPS. Parents, or legal guardians, first must register a child using the online system; after all required documents are uploaded, staff will finalize the registration and enroll the child.

    It may take several days for your child's enrollment to be finalized. Your child will be enrolled as quickly as possible. You will receive confirmation from CPS' Online Registration system when completed.

    Online Student Registration

    For assistance with CPS Online Registration issues, call (513) 363-0688.

    In-Person Registration & Enrollment

    To avoid incorrect student and parent/guardian information being entered, we prefer all registration and enrollment forms be submitted via our Online Student Registration system. We do understand not everybody has access to technology or a printer. You can download our enrollment forms, fill them out at home and bring them to your neighborhood school or visit our Customer Care Center. If you don't have a printer, please visit a neighborhood school or visit our Customer Care Center for assistance - we can help get your children registered!

    Paper form (if online access is unavailable)

    Student Registration Information Form

    Customer Care Center - main hallway, first floor

    • Cincinnati Public Schools
      Mary A. Ronan Education Center
      2651 Burnet Ave.
      Cincinnati, OH  45219

    It's Important that CPS Can Reach You

    To update your family's contact information — names, addresses, phone numbers — for current students, call your child's school or contact CPS' Customer Care Center: email or phone — (513) 363-0123

    What We Do

    Cincinnati Public Schools educates children in preschool through 12th grade:

    • Neighborhood Elementary Schools — (grades K–6 and K–8; preschool at most) Assigned to a child based on the child's home address
    • Magnet Elementary Schools — (grades K–6 and K–8; preschool at most)  Selected by parents via online lottery application
    • Neighborhood Schools with Magnet Programs — (grades K–6 and K–8; preschool at most)  Neighborhood program assigned by child's home address; Magnet program selected by parents via online lottery
    • High Schools — (grades 7–12)  Selected by students and parents via online lottery application (and paper application for upper grades)
    • Combination Schools — (grades K–12, 3–12) — Cincinnati Digital Academy, Oyler School, Riverview East Academy, Spencer Center for Gifted and Exceptional Children (3–12) and School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) — Entrance by various ways depending on the school

    Some Cincinnati Public Schools have entrance requirements, such as an academic entrance exam at Walnut Hills High School and auditions for SCPA's upper grades.

    Registration

    Only a parent or legal guardian may register a child in school. (A legal guardian must present documentation, such as custody granted by a court or accredited agency.) Several documents are required to register a child into Cincinnati Public Schools.

    Neighborhood Elementary Schools

    Neighborhood elementary schools are the foundation of Cincinnati Public Schools, serving as Community Learning Centers and neighborhood anchors, and are the main entry points for most students into elementary school. A child is assigned to a neighborhood school based on the child's home address. All students not enrolled in magnet programs are enrolled in neighborhood schools.

    To apply to a neighborhood school that is not the child's assigned neighborhood school, see Board Policy No. 5120.

    Preschool Registration

    Preschool Registration — for both magnet and neighborhood schools — is handled only at three hub schools located around the Cincinnati Public School District.

    Kindergarten Guidelines

    Cincinnati Public Schools has a long history of offering all-day kindergarten in all elementary schools. 

    Children must be age 5 by September 30 to enter kindergarten. Ohio law requires that children attend kindergarten prior to entering first grade. Parents should follow the registration guidelines for Neighborhood Schools and Magnet School Enrollment.

    Early Entrance to Kindergarten: Younger children who turn age 5 between October 1 and December 31 may enter kindergarten only after passing a test that determines a child's readiness for school. 

    Students with birthdays after December 31 will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

    Procedures for Early Entrance Evaluation

    Early Entrance Evaluation application packets are available at neighborhood elementary schools, or download the packet here (PDF — 4 pages). Proof of the child's birth and proof of the child’s home address must be provided with the packet.

    The completed and signed Early Entrance Application packet and required documents should be returned to the district’s lead psychologist's office at CPS' Education Center, Department of Student Services, 2651 Burnet Ave., 45219 (or turn the packet in to the school's principal).

    Information on testing for early kindergarten entrance: CPS' Student Services Department — (513) 363-0318

    First Grade Guidelines

    Children who turn six prior to September 30 should be enrolled in first grade for that year; children who turn six after September 30 will be enrolled for the following year. 

    Parents should follow the registration Guidelines for Neighborhood Schools and Magnet School Enrollment.

    Early Entrance to First Grade

    Early Entrance to first grade may be available for a child whose sixth birthday falls on or between October 1 and December 31 of the Early Entrance year. It also may be considered for a six-year-old child who has not had a kindergarten experience by a request to the district's Pupil Personnel Services committee consisting of a school principal, school psychologist and a grade-level teacher. 

    Magnet Elementary Schools

    Parents must apply via an online lottery for their child to enter a magnet school or program. Applications to magnet schools are made a school year ahead via an online lottery application process. 

    More on Magnet Elementary Application

    Magnet Schools by Academic Program

    High Schools

    High School applications for grades 7, 8 and 9 are submitted online, and seats are awarded via lottery. Students in grades 10, 11 and 12 apply in person at the high school of their choosing.

    More on High School Application

    Open Enrollment

    Open Enrollment allows students who live outside the boundaries of the Cincinnati Public School District — but in the state of Ohio — to enroll in CPS schools without paying tuition. Priority is always given to students who live within the CPS boundaries. Applications to the open-enrollment lottery are submitted May 1-31. 

    Students applying under Open Enrollment must meet any acceptance criteria required by a CPS school. 

    Transferring In

    If a child is transferring from another school within the Cincinnati Public School District (including charter, private or parochial), the parent/guardian will be asked to provide:

    The parent/guardian must complete CPS' Student Registration Information Form.

    Re-entry

    If the student is returning from outside the Cincinnati Public School District to the same school in the same school year, the parent/guardian must provide the following documents:

    • Proof of residency
    • Final report card of last school attended
    • Verification of kindergarten attendance, if entering first grade

    The parent/guardian should review the CPS' Student Registration Information Packet to update any incorrect information.

    Leaving the District

    If a student is leaving Cincinnati Public Schools, the parent/guardian should come to the school and fill out a withdrawal form. 

    Each school is responsible for maintaining individual student's records. Parents and guardians must keep school records up to date by:

    • Providing accurate information supported by legal or required documents.
    • Telling the school of changes in address and other information.

    Student Fees

    Cincinnati Public Schools collects student fees annually. The money is used to pay for part of the cost of essential classroom materials.

    • Student fees are based on a family's income and the number of children in the family who are enrolled in Cincinnati Public Schools.  
    • If a student's family income qualifies for the federal Free or Reduced-price Lunch program, student fees may be waived or reduced, but families must fill out the form each school year.
    • A separate Student Fee Form must be filled out for each child.

    Payments are accepted in cash (exact amount only), online at PayForIt.net, by money order or certified checks. (No personal checks accepted.)

    Student fees can be paid online with Visa or MasterCard credit cards, or a checking account.