Open Enrollment

At Mason School District, we believe that every student deserves an education tailored to their unique strengths, interests, and learning styles. Through New Hampshire’s Open Enrollment framework, we are pleased to offer flexible public school options for families both inside and outside our traditional residential boundaries.

What is Open Enrollment?

Under New Hampshire state law (RSA 194-D), open enrollment allows students to apply to a public school outside of their residentially assigned district. This choice is subject to available space, staffing, and specific program capacity within the receiving school. Because open enrollment is a local option, participation requires local school district voters to approve both accepting out-of-district students and establishing local caps on transfers. While public school choice remains a highly debated topic in Concord with ongoing legislative discussions, our district strictly operates under current state statutory frameworks.

Families living within our district can apply to transfer to another NH School District. At the elementary level (K-5) 1% of the population (1 student) can request to attend another district. At the middle and high school level (6-12) up to 10% of the population (8 students) can request to attend a district other than Milford.
Families living in neighboring New Hampshire communities can apply for their children to attend Mason Elementary School, subject to local board approval and seat availability.

Note on Transportation: Per state guidelines, families participating in the open enrollment program are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from school.

2026–2027 Guidelines & Capacity Limits

To ensure high-quality education and manageable class sizes for all students, Mason Elementary School establishes strict annual capacity guidelines. Open enrollment applications are accepted based on available staffing, building limits, and optimal student-teacher ratios.

Open Programs for This Academic Year:

For the upcoming school year 2026 -2027, we have a limited number of seats in the following grade levels:

Kindergarten - 0
Grade 1 - 3
Grade 2 - 0
Grade 3 - 3
Grade 4 - 5
Grade 5 - 1

How the Application Process Works

When Applying to send your child to Mason Elementary School

1. Review Availability: Check to see if your child’s grade level has open seats.

2. Submit the Application: Complete the online Open Enrollment Application (Open Enrollment Application)

3. District Review & Notification: Our administration reviews applications based on first come, first serve. If applicants exceed available spots, a lottery system will be utilized. Families will be formally notified of acceptance or waitlist status by April 15th.

Important Open Enrollment Application Information

Standard Application Deadline Window: Applications must typically be completed and submitted no earlier than February 1st and no later than April 1st.
Special Extension (2026–2027 School Year): For the upcoming school year, we will continue to accept applications through an extended deadline of August 1, 2026.
Annual Enrollment Only: Please note that Mason Elementary only accepts open enrollment students at the start of each academic year. Midyear enrollments are not permitted.
First-Come, First-Served: Applications are processed in the order they are received. Eligible students who are not immediately admitted due to classroom capacity limits will be placed on a waitlist.

Action Item for Parents: Be sure to contact your student's current home school district to inform them of your intent to utilize open enrollment. Policies, paperwork, and notice requirements can vary significantly by district and some districts are not participating in open enrollment.

Out-of-District Open Enrollment Policy

If you reside in Mason and are interested in enrolling your child in a public school district other than Mason Elementary or our contractually designated partner, the Milford School District, please be aware of our strict local cap limitations.

To balance family choice with local taxpayer impact and existing regional agreements, Mason voters approved an amendment at the March 2026 town election establishing the following annual limits on outbound open enrollment:

Grades K–6: Limited to a maximum of 1% of the Mason Elementary population which is currently 1 student,
Grades 7–12: Limited to a maximum of 10% of the middle and high school population which is currently 8 students.

Why Are Outbound Transfers Limited?

These structural limits were enacted due to the severe financial hardship that un-capped elementary tuition transfers place on our local town operating budget, as well as the necessity to honor our formal, long-term contractual obligations with the Milford School District.

The Outbound Application Process
If you wish to apply to send your child to an alternative public school district, you must complete the following steps:

1. Verify Receiving District Availability: First, contact the school district you wish to join to confirm they are actively accepting out-of-district students and to learn their local application procedures.

2. Check Mason's Outbound Capacity: Because our outbound slots are strictly capped, you must contact Kristen Kivela, Superintendent of the Mason School District, to verify if an open slot is available for your child's grade level before finalized transfer funding can be authorized.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does it cost anything to participate?
For public school students transferring within guidelines, tuition arrangements are handled directly between the sending and receiving school districts according to state formulas.

What if my child has an IEP or 504 Plan?
Mason School District is committed to serving all students. When a student with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan applies, a review team will meet to ensure that the receiving school has the necessary resources, staffing, and accommodations to fully support the student’s needs. The student's IEP team may also have input into the placement change.

Can an application be denied?
Yes. Applications may be declined if a grade level or program has reached maximum capacity, or if the student has a history of severe disciplinary action or chronic absenteeism as outlined by state policy.