School of Choice

Background & Plan

Having heard concerns with open enrollment for School of Choice (SOC), Houghton-Portage Township Schools approved an enrollment strategy to limit SOC. This strategy will keep current numbers for sections and teachers in our buildings to maintain adequate space for students and staff and avoid influxes caused by external factors that are not in projections. It also uses the board's target to keep class sizes at or below levels to maximize instruction. The SOC window is now closed and will be opened back up on Monday January 12, 2026 for the second semester. Slots available in each grade will be published on Monday December 8, 2025.

Following state law, "a district shall give preference for enrollment under this section ...to other school-age children who reside in the same household as [the enrolled choice pupil]."

Any student currently attending HPTS as a SOC student does not need to reapply and remains a student in the district until they graduate, unless they enroll in another district and come back to HPTS.

This plan and process will be evaluated annually.

New Student – School of Choice Application

Timeline

•  December 8, 2025 2nd Semester Openings Publicized

•  January 12, 2026 – January 22, 2026 SOC Applications Accepted

• January 23, 2026- Accepted Students notified, Waiting List Developed – remaining slots filled in order names appear on list