1.
Can I work directly with a school site to enroll my student?
No. In NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS), there is a unified enrollment process for all schools. Students are enrolled by the NOLA-PS district enrollment team, and individual schools are not permitted to enroll students directly. During the summer, the only way students are assigned to a school is through the Open Enrollment process. View all the schools we serve here.
2.
How do I get a seat during Open Enrollment?
To get a seat in Kindergarten through the 12th grade for the 2025-2026 school year, families can participate in K-12 Open Enrollment, which runs from May 14 through September 12, 2025. Log into the Parent Portal online and click "Opt in to Open Enrollment" to complete the form to enroll your student in their new school immediately.
Once you've selected a school and submitted the form, you'll work directly with the school to answer any questions and to register within five days of placement.
3.
Do I need to come in person to get a school assignment during Open Enrollment? Will I get any different or better access to seats if I do come in person?
No. Open Enrollment seats are filled first-come, first-served. The fastest way to secure a seat is to enroll online using the Parent Portal as soon as you can. You are welcome to come in person if you don’t have access to enroll at home or need assistance. The Open Enrollment process is the same from our Family Resource Centers.
4.
How do I know which schools have available seats during Open Enrollment?
The Seat Availability Report shows which schools have available seats in real time during Open Enrollment. There are three levels of availability in the report: no availability means 0 seats are available; limited availability means 5 or fewer seats remain; and availability means there are 6+ seats available.
5.
Where can I learn more about the schools with available seats?
Visit our Explore Schools Tool. You can enter your home address in the search bar or use the filters to search schools that offer special programs (examples: after care, transportation services, sports, etc.). Check out our how-to video for tips on how to use the tool.
6.
What is “Eligibility Criteria” and how do I enroll my student in those schools?
There are 10 schools with Eligibility Criteria—meaning students must complete required steps to be eligible to enroll, such as an academic proficiency test, a foreign language assessment, or an open house requirement. Each school has different requirements, as well as availability for completing requirements in the summer. For more information, visit: https://enrollnolaps.com/eligibilityschools
7.
The school I want to go to says there are no available seats for Open Enrollment, should I wait?
If your student does not have a placement for the upcoming school year, we recommend using the form in the Portal to enroll in a school with an available seat. You can still transfer one more time during the Open Enrollment period ending September 12. Kindergarten through 12 grade is mandatory for students in Louisiana, so it’s best to choose a school with an available seat so your child is ready to start the school year in August. The Seat Availability report will stay up to date if you want to keep an eye on the availability of your preferred school.
8.
Why do some schools appear on the Seat Availability Report, but I can’t select them on the Open Enrollment Form?
Seat availability is changing all the time. The
Seat Availability Report is updated in real time, so it's important to refresh to see the latest availability. The options listed on the dropdown menu in the
Parent Portal are the schools with available seats at the time of viewing.
There are 10 schools with Eligibility Criteria and some grades at those schools will never appear as options on the Open Enrollment Form. Students must work with the school directly to complete an assessment (academic or foreign language assessment in French or Spanish) or other next steps to see if your child is eligible. Eligible students are assigned manually (if a seat is available) according to set procedures by the NOLA-PS enrollment team once the school confirms students are eligible. Learn more about
Eligibility Schools here.
9.
How can I enroll my child into their sibling's school?
During Open Enrollment, some schools offer Sibling Unification, which means that an applying student who is a sibling of a current student at the school can enroll even if there is not a seat available. First, you need to check if the school where your child currently attends offers Sibling Unification at the grade level of your applying sibling. You can check to see if a school offers Sibling Unification in the Seat Availability Report.
You should only use the Sibling Unification feature in the Open Enrollment form if the school has No Availability AND they have Sibling Unification turned on. If there is an available seat at the school, you can enroll in that seat without using the Sibling Unification tool.
For example, if I have a 6th grade student who attends Andrew Wilson and a 3rd grade student who attends another school. If 3rd grade has No Availability, I can check if Sibling Unification is available for 3rd grade at Wilson. If Sibling Unification says "yes" for 3rd grade, I can enroll my 3rd grader at Wilson using the online form in the Parent Portal. Please note the other sibling must be enrolled to attend that school for 2025-2026 in order for the sibling match to work in the form.
Once you have confirmed Sibling Unification is enabled for your child's grade level, use the online form in the Parent Portal to enroll your child. On the second page of the form, answer "Yes" to the question asking if you'd like to unify siblings. Select the appropriate sibling from the options displayed (the sibling who attends the school where you would like your other child to go and where Sibling Unification is enabled). Once you select the sibling, type their school name into the dropdown menu and select the school. Then submit your form to enroll your child.
If you do not see your child's sibling unified, submit a help desk ticket.
10.
Does my child get sibling priority during Open Enrollment? Does my child get geographic priority if we live close to the school we’re interested in?
No. Open Enrollment is a first-come, first-served enrollment process. As soon as you pick a school your student is enrolled in that school. Priorities are only considered in the Main Round application process.
11.
Do schools offer waitlists?
The only schools to offer waitlists are schools with Eligibility Criteria. Eligible students are added to the waitlist if there are no available seats. See the
Schools with Eligibility Criteria page for more information about which schools, programs, and grades have a waitlist.
If your student has been added to a waitlist and you would like to check on your waitlist position, log into the
Parent Portal and click the Waitlist tab.
12.
My student attended a NOLA-PS school last year, but left mid-year, am I able to reactivate?
Students who were active at a school on 10/1 of the prior year but left the school mid-year (and did not attend another NOLA Public School in the meantime) can return if the school has decided to accept previous students even if they have no available seats. First, check to see if the school has available seats, if so, enroll. If there are no available seats, check the Seat Availability Report. From May 14 - September 12, 2025, if the school has “Reactivations” checked by the desired grade level, then contact us by submitting a help desk ticket, or calling 504-910-8500 to request the placement, even if the Seat Availability Report shows no availability.
13.
I enrolled in a new school through the Open Enrollment form. What do I do now?
Families must complete registration with their new school within five working days of assignment. If families do not complete registration, they can be dropped from the school’s roster. During Open Enrollment, it is possible your school may be on a brief summer break. In this case, the five days requirement will not include days the school is closed. If your school is out on temporary break, we encourage you to email the school, or leave a voicemail which they can return when summer break is over. See a list of all school registration directions for more information specific to next steps for your child’s school.
14.
If I change my mind, can I transfer to a different school during Open Enrollment?
Families can participate in Open Enrollment Form twice between May 14, 2025 and the end date on September 12, 2025.
Students can only hold one NOLA-PS placement at a time. Once the change is submitted, the student is immediately enrolled in their new placement, and they no longer hold the seat at their previous placement. This cannot be undone.
15.
What if I want to change my school after Open Enrollment ends on September 12?
Families cannot change schools based on preference alone after September 12. Families can submit a hardship transfer request on or after September 15, 2025. Learn more at the mid-year transfers page.
16.
My child often struggles in traditional settings and I'm interested in schools that offer supportive services.
EQA Schools offer a variety of options for students 7th grade and up including flexible schedules, small classes, free childcare, therapeutic settings, and more. For more information,
click here.
17.
Can my child enroll in summer school if they get a first-time placement at a NOLA-PS school during Open Enrollment?
Summer school is an option at some schools for some currently enrolled students. Once your child gets assigned to a school, families can reach out to the school to see if there are any opportunities for summer learning.
1.
We’ve never attended school here before. How do I enroll?
First-time families can participate in Open Enrollment even if you did not attend a NOLA-PS school last year. You will need to enroll via the Open Enrollment form on the Parent Portal. First, head to the Portal and create your user account and add your student as a new student. You will then see you student's name under My Students and there will be a link to complete the Open Enrollment form and choose a school for the 2025 - 2026 school year. For information on how to select the appropriate grade level, see our Grade Placement Guide.
If you’d like to see which seats are available, check the Seat Availability Report. If you’d like to learn more about which services are offered at local schools, check out our Explore Schools Tool. You do not have to come into the Family Resource Centers to enroll in school for 2025 - 2026 but are welcome to stop by in person if you need any assistance.
2.
Do I enroll in my closest neighborhood school?
New Orleans has a unique school system where 100% of our schools are public charter schools. See the 2025-2026 New Orleans Public School Governance Chart for more information about charter networks. Even though charter schools are managed by individual Charter Management Organizations (CMOs), the district manages enrollment and applications to all NOLA-PS schools through a unified enrollment system. Families can select any school across the city that has an available seat. Families are never automatically assigned to a default school. In New Orleans, every family must choose where they would like their child to enroll. To learn more about which schools have available seats, visit our Seat Availability Report. To learn more about what programs different schools offer, visit our Explore Schools Tool. If a school close to home is important to your family, enter your address on the Explore Schools Tool to see schools closest to your home.
3.
What documents will I need to enroll?
You will not need documents to participate in Open Enrollment. Families must complete registration with their documents at their new school within five working days of selecting a school through Open Enrollment. If families do not complete registration, they can be dropped from the school’s roster. See a list of all school registration directions for more information—different schools will have different registration directions. Every family is required to provide proof of residency in Orleans Parish annually.
4.
I would like to learn more about my school options.
Visit our
Explore Schools tool to navigate schools with confidence. Check out our
how-to video for tips on how to use the tool.
1.
I applied during Main Round, but I was not matched or waitlisted
Please participate in Open Enrollment and select a school from the available schools list now. Need assistance? Submit a help desk ticket, or connect with us.
2.
I applied during Main Round and was waitlisted, but I haven’t received an offer from a waitlisted school.
If you haven't received a waitlist offer yet AND you do not have a placement for next year, then you should participate in Open Enrollment. Getting a school assignment through Open Enrollment will not impact your student’s waitlist position. If you get a waitlist offer, you can trade into that school if you like, but if you don't have a placement at all, then you won't be assigned to a school for the start of the school year. If you are waitlisted and already have a placement for next year, you do not need to participate in Open Enrollment. Waitlist offers will be made by email by the NOLA-PS Enrollment team. You can see waitlist information in the Parent Portal starting April 10.
3.
If I don't choose a school, will NOLA-PS assign my student to one like a default choice?
No. Families must make a school choice and register with their school directly to secure a seat for the next school year. If families do not choose a school, their child will not have a seat for the 2025 - 2026 school year at a NOLA-PS school.
4.
I received a placement during Main Round, but I would like to switch my placement and select a new school.
Please participate in Open Enrollment and select a school from the available schools list now. Need assistance? Submit a help desk ticket, or connect with us.
*Please note families can only participate in Open Enrollment to make direct changes twice; families will need to contact NOLA-PS to request additional transfers.
1.
How do I recheck my school placement?
Log in to the Parent Portal to check to see what your placement is for the 2025 - 2026 school year. Placement details for each of your students can be found in the My Students section of the Portal.
1.
I still have questions and I need help.
For assistance, submit a ticket at the Help Desk, call us at 504-910-8500, or connect with us at a Family Resource Center.
