When are SVVSD and BVSD open enrollment windows?

Choosing the right school for your child is one of the most meaningful decisions you’ll make as a parent — and in Boulder County, families have excellent options. BVSD open enrollment (Boulder Valley School District’s Choice Enrollment program) gives families the power to pursue schools beyond their neighborhood assignment, and SVVSD has a similar open enrollment program. Whether you live within district boundaries or outside them, understanding exactly when and how to apply can make all the difference. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about both BVSD and SVVSD open enrollment windows so your family can approach the process with clarity and confidence.

What Is Open Enrollment — and Why Does It Matter?

Open enrollment is Colorado’s way of putting school choice in the hands of families. Under Colorado state law (C.R.S. 22-36-101, Public Schools of Choice), any student living in Colorado may apply to attend any public school in the state — even outside their home district — as long as space is available. 

Both Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) and St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) participate in this process, offering families a wide range of academic programs and school environments to choose from.

The quality of education on offer in both districts makes that pursuit well worth it. BVSD has been named the #1 school district in Metro Denver and #2 in Colorado by Niche, and is the only Metro Denver district to earn the Colorado Department of Education’s highest honor — Accredited with Distinction — for two consecutive years. SVVSD matches that standard of excellence: the district boasts the highest four-year graduation rate in the Denver Metro area at 96.8%, and the lowest dropout rate of any Metro Denver district at just 0.4%. SVVSD is also well known for providing excellent extracurricular/cocurricular opportunities, such as their world-class drone performance team and the Career Elevation and Technology Center.

Who Can Apply?

Open enrollment is available to two groups of families:

• In-district students who want to attend a school other than their assigned neighborhood school
• Out-of-district students who live outside district boundaries but want to enroll in a BVSD or SVVSD school

Note on charter schools: Both BVSD and SVVSD require families to contact charter schools directly, as they operate under a separate enrollment process not covered by the standard open enrollment application.

What Open Enrollment Is NOT

It’s equally important to know what open enrollment doesn’t guarantee:

• It does not guarantee your child a seat — placement depends on space availability and, in BVSD’s case, a lottery process
• It does not replace your neighborhood school registration as a backup option
• It is not the same as charter school enrollment

BVSD Open Enrollment — Windows, Lottery, and Key Dates

Boulder Valley School District calls its process Choice Enrollment, and it’s built around a structured timeline with a lottery-based selection system. Knowing the window dates and how the lottery works is essential to giving your application the best possible standing.

The On-Time Application Window

BVSD’s on-time enrollment window is the most important period to know:

• Opens around November 1st
• Closes in early January (approximately January 7th)
• Applications submitted during this window receive priority consideration in the lottery

Missed the on-time window? Don’t panic. BVSD continues to accept rolling applications through approximately August 31st, though applicants will be placed on a waitlist and offered seats only as space becomes available.

How the BVSD Lottery Works

Unlike many enrollment systems, BVSD’s Choice Enrollment lottery is not first-come, first-served. Here’s what that means for your family:

• All applications submitted during the on-time window are treated equally — submitting on November 1st gives you no advantage over submitting in early January
• Selection is determined by a lottery draw based on available seats
• District residents pursuing Choice Enrollment are encouraged to simultaneously maintain their neighborhood school enrollment as a backup — Choice Enrollment is never guaranteed

After the Lottery — Notifications and Deadlines

Once the lottery closes, the process moves quickly:

• Families are notified of seat offers approximately two days after the window closes (around January 9th)
• Offers must be accepted and registration completed within 10 days
• Families not selected are placed on a waitlist and may receive offers on a rolling basis through approximately August 31st

How to Explore BVSD Schools Before Applying

BVSD offers helpful tools to guide your school search before you ever submit an application:

• SchoolFinder Tool — Search for schools that match your child’s interests, needs, and learning style
• Open Houses & Tours — Every BVSD school hosts Choice Enrollment events, including open houses and campus tours; some require advance reservations
• Enrollment Events Calendar — Available on the district website, searchable by school type (elementary, middle, high, K-8, charter)

SVVSD Open Enrollment — Windows, Process, and Key Dates

St. Vrain Valley School District takes a streamlined, fully online approach to SVVSD open enrollment. The primary application window is shorter and more concentrated than BVSD’s, so timing is everything.

The SVVSD Open Enrollment Window

SVVSD’s primary enrollment window is a focused two-week period:

• Opens around December 1st
• Closes around December 15th
• Families who apply within this window receive the strongest consideration for space-available seats

After the window closes, SVVSD continues to accept rolling applications on an ongoing basis — but as with BVSD, applying late puts your family on a waitlist.

The Fully Online Application Process

One of SVVSD’s standout features is its completely digital application process:

• Apply for multiple students and multiple schools in a single session
• Submit from any device — computer, phone, or tablet — without visiting each school in person
• Receive an emailed confirmation upon successful submission

Charter school reminder: SVVSD charter schools use a separate process. Contact those schools directly for their specific application procedures.

Notifications, Confirmations, and What Comes Next

Here’s the post-window timeline to keep in mind:

1. Around January 8th — Families receive space-available admission status (approval or denial) through the family dashboard.

2. Around January 21st — Approved families must visit their school of choice and confirm their enrollment decision by this deadline.

3. After Confirmation — Families complete registration and submit student records through the online platform (Infinite Campus) to finalize the process.

What If You’re Denied or Miss the Window?

A denial or late application is not the end of the road:

• Denied applicants are placed on the requested school’s waitlist
• SVVSD’s Board policy provides a formal appeals process — families can submit an appeal form to the district’s open enrollment appeals team
• Rolling applications are accepted after the December deadline and considered as seats open

Important Note for Currently Open-Enrolled Students

Already attending a school on open enrollment? Good news — you generally do not need to reapply each year to remain at the same school.

Exception: Students finishing 5th or 8th grade who wish to continue within their current feeder system must submit a new open enrollment application, as the transition to middle or high school requires re-enrollment.

SVVSD Transportation Note

A critical practical consideration: transportation for open-enrolled students — including those from outside district boundaries — is the responsibility of the parent or guardian. Factor commute logistics into your school selection process.

Tips for Families Navigating Open Enrollment

Whether you’re applying to BVSD, SVVSD, or both, a thoughtful approach dramatically improves your family’s outcomes. Preparation, timing, and backup planning are what make the difference. 

Start Early and Know Your Calendar

Don’t wait until the window opens to start your research:

• Attend open houses and school tours in the weeks and months before applications open
• Use BVSD’s SchoolFinder tool to match your child’s interests to available programs
• Review each district’s enrollment events calendar to plan your school visits
• Note the exact opening dates for both windows — BVSD opens first (around November 1st), followed by SVVSD (around December 1st)

Apply During the Primary Window

Both districts give strongest consideration to on-time applicants:

• In BVSD, only applications submitted during the on-time window enter the lottery pool
• In SVVSD, early applicants have the best shot at space-available seats before they fill up
• Rolling applications after the window are accepted, but waitlist placement is far less predictable

Have a Backup Plan

Choice Enrollment is never guaranteed — this is true in both districts. Smart families plan for both outcomes:

• BVSD families should maintain their neighborhood school enrollment alongside their Choice Enrollment application
• SVVSD families should have a clear plan for their attendance area school in case open enrollment is denied
• Know your appeal options if you receive a denial — SVVSD has a formal appeals process; BVSD’s Board Policy (JECC-R) outlines open enrollment procedures and recourse. 

FAQs

When does BVSD open enrollment open and close?

BVSD’s on-time Choice Enrollment window opens around November 1st and closes in early January. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through approximately August 31st, though post-lottery applicants are placed on a waitlist.

When does SVVSD open enrollment open and close?

SVVSD’s primary window runs from approximately December 1st through December 15th. After the window closes, rolling applications are accepted on an ongoing basis as seats become available.

Is BVSD open enrollment first-come, first-served?

No. BVSD uses a lottery process, which means all applications submitted during the on-time window are treated equally. Submitting earlier in the window does not improve your odds over submitting closer to the deadline.

Can I apply to both BVSD and SVVSD open enrollment if we live near the district boundary?

Yes. Colorado state law allows students to apply to schools in any public school district, so families can pursue open enrollment in multiple districts simultaneously.

What happens if my child is denied open enrollment in SVVSD?

Denied students are placed on the requested school’s waitlist. SVVSD also provides a formal appeals process — families can submit an appeal form to the district’s open enrollment appeals team via email.

Do I need to reapply every year if my child is already open enrolled in SVVSD?

Generally, no — students already attending on open enrollment do not need to reapply to stay at the same school. The exception is students completing 5th or 8th grade who wish to continue within their current feeder system, as they must re-enroll for the transition to the next school level.

Who is responsible for transportation for open-enrolled students?

In both districts, transportation for students attending a school outside their designated attendance area is the responsibility of the parent or guardian. This is an important logistical factor to consider when choosing a school.