New Student Enrollment

WELCOME
NEW STUDENTS & FAMILIES

We are excited to partner with you as your child grows and learns!

Enrollment Center Summer Hours: Monday – Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Complete the New Student Enrollment form, IF your student is...

New to the district — never attended a USD 497 school
Not currently enrolled — transferred to another district or private school, or did not finish the most recent school year in USD 497, and are now returning to our district
Applying for preschool — new or returning applicants, click here to learn more
Enrolling in kindergarten — includes students moving from USD 497 preschool (preschool enrollment does not carry over)
Enrolling in activities only — such as sports or specials (this enrollment type must be completed each year)
Enrolling in IEP or support services only (this enrollment type must be completed each year)
Enrolling in the Lawrence Diploma Completion Program (LDCP) — earning a high school diploma

If your student does not match the enrollment types listed above, go to Annual Student Enrollment instead, to be completed in July.

New Student Enrollment

To complete New Student Enrollment, please follow both steps listed below:

Step 1
Step 2

Step 1

A white background fills the frame, with no discernible foreground or background elements.

After you have completed the instructions for Step 1, please continue to Step 2 in the section below.

New Student Enrollment is now open for the 2026–2027 school year.
Click the link below to begin!

2026 - 2027
NEW STUDENT Enrollment
CLICK HERE TO BEGIN

Once you have completed Step 1, please submit the required documents listed below by emailing them to enrollment@usd497.org, faxing them to 785-596-6548, or bringing them directly to the district Enrollment Office at 110 McDonald Drive, Lawrence, KS 66044. Parents enrolling a kindergarten student may take the documents below to their child's school or the Enrollment Office.

Required Documents:

Certified Birth Certificate - For Kindergarten and First Grade students attending public school for the first time. You may email us a copy, and then present the original certified birth certificate in person.
Proof of Residency - Accepted forms: current utility statement, such as water/gas/electric bill; current car registration, or a new lease agreement. If purchasing a home, we can accept the Settlement Statement from closing. (We cannot accept: phone, cable, or other miscellaneous bills or tax and mortgage statements.) If you do not have these documents in your name, contact us at 785-330-1921.
Current Immunizations - View requirements
Health Assessment - If entering a Kansas school for the first time between the ages of 4-9. Health assessment must be performed by a physician/health care provider and dated within one year prior to school entry.
Parent/Guardian Picture ID
Guardianship Papers - If applicable.

Language Screening - If your student speaks a language other than English or lives in a household where another language is spoken, email cldscreening@usd497.org to schedule an appointment for your student to complete the state-mandated screening.
Kindergarten - Parents enrolling a kindergarten student will also be asked to complete the Ages & Stages Questionnaire as part of the Enrollment Process. This link will be emailed to you by your child's school.
Preschool - If your child is invited to participate in one of our preschool programs, you will then complete Step 2, along with the Ages & Stages Questionnaire. This link will be emailed to you by your child's school.

Program & Grade Level Information

Course Enrollment (High School)

High School Course Enrollment

Find High School Course Enrollment information and browse our High School Course Catalog online by using the links below.

Jayhawk Blueprint Courses

Earn college credit in high school! Learn more about the expanded Jayhawk Blueprint program in Lawrence Public Schools and available courses by going to blueprint.ku.edu or by clicking the link below.

Jayhawk Blueprint Website

Kindergarten Enrollment

Kindergarten

If you have a child who will be five years old on or before August 31, 2026, we would love to welcome you to kindergarten in the fall!

Enroll for kindergarten today by completing New Student Enrollment.

Enroll now

Visit our Kindergarten webpage to learn about daily schedules, curriculum, and discover ways to help your child transition smoothly into kindergarten.

If you are unsure of which school your student will attend, call (785) 330-1921 or simply enter your address in this interactive elementary boundary map.

Transition to Grade 6

Welcome to middle school!For information on middle school course enrollment, Grade 6 transition events, middle school parent night, counselor visits, middle school tours, and more, please use the resources listed below.

Grade 6 Transition Resources:

Preschool/Early Childhood Programs

Preschool applications for the 2026-27 school year are now open.

Applications for preschool programs are now open. Click the links below to apply or learn more about our available preschool/early childhood programs.

Apply Now Learn More

Please note: Families with children currently attending preschool in Lawrence Public Schools need to re-apply each year through New Student Enrollment.

Children turning 3 or 4 years old by August 31, 2026 are eligible.

Our preschool programs were created to support at-risk children who may not otherwise have access to early education opportunities.

Preschool Classrooms

Our preschool program includes classrooms at:

Kennedy Early Childhood Center
New York Montessori School
Deerfield Elementary School (New for 2026-27)
Prairie Park Elementary School (New for 2026-27)
Sunflower Elementary School
Woodlawn Elementary School

We encourage you to visit our Preschool webpage to learn more about our early childhood education programs and to review the eligibility requirements for at-risk children.

Preschool Information

Cost:

District preschool programs are provided at no cost to families who meet state eligibility criteria.
For families who do not qualify for state-funded preschool, we offer a tuition-based enrollment option at a rate of $690 per month.

Lawrence Virtual School

Enrollment for the 2026–27 school year is now open! Enroll for LVS via Annual Student Enrollment or New Student Enrollment.

Lawrence Virtual School (LVS)

Learn more about our K-12 virtual learning option at LVS by clicking the link below.
Learn About LVS

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For current USD 497 students wanting to transfer to LVS for the 2026–27 school year, please submit a Transfer Request Form for consideration. Please note that transfers are granted on a space-available basis.

Montessori Education at New York Montessori School

New York Montessori is Kansas' first public Montessori school.

The program began a phased approach to offering Montessori education tuition-free to qualifying families at New York Elementary School. Priority enrollment is given to students who live within the New York Elementary school attendance area.

Learn more about New York Montessori School and its Pre-K Program for three- and four-year-old children. All district preschool programs are free to eligible families meeting state requirements.

A fee-based preschool option of $660/month is available for students who are accepted but do not qualify for funding.

New York Montessori Info
Montessori Pre-K Program Info

Interested USD 497 families who reside outside the New York Elementary boundary may submit a Transfer Request Form for consideration during spring enrollment for the following school year. Transfers are granted on a space-available basis.

STEAM@LMCMS

STEAM@LMCMS is a program that approaches teaching and learning in the classroom with a focus on S.T.E.A.M. concepts.

Located at Liberty Memorial Central Middle School, STEAM@LMCMS has students combine science, technology, engineering, arts, and math to solve practical problems through creative projects, collaborative discussion, and hands-on experimentation. All students will learn English, math, science, and social studies in accordance with the state standards. This program is open to all students in Grades 6-8.

Learn more about STEAM@LMCMS by clicking the link below.

STEAM@LMCMS Info

Interested USD 497 families who reside outside the LMCMS boundary, may submit a Transfer Request Form for consideration during spring enrollment for the following school year. Transfers are granted on a space-available basis.

Adult Education Services (GED/Diploma Completion)

Enrollment for August 2026 GED/Adult Basic Education (ABE) classes and English Language Acquisition (ELA) classes is now open. Use the links below to enroll.

Enroll for GED/ABE Enroll for ELA

Lawrence Adult Education Center

For more than 40 years, learners of all ages have achieved their Kansas State High School Diplomas through completion of the GED at the Lawrence Adult Education Center.

Hundreds of graduates from the Lawrence Adult Education Center have furthered their education, achieved job promotions, and improved their employment position.

Learn more

Lawrence Diploma Completion Program

The Lawrence Diploma Completion Program (LDCP) provides the opportunity for students to complete requirements for a high school diploma.

Students who enroll receive a transcript review by high school counselors to determine how many credits are needed to complete requirements to receive a high school diploma. Upon completing the necessary credits, students receive a Lawrence Free State High or Lawrence High School diploma, depending on which school they previously attended or the attendance center boundary where they currently reside. Students also receive a completed transcript and grade point average.

Those wanting to enroll in the LDCP, may do so by completing New Student Enrollment. Click the link below to begin.

Enroll in LDCP

Additional Resources

School Boundary Maps

School Calendars

District Yearly Calendar

School Hours

Lunch & School Fees

Transportation

School Supply Lists
(Secondary school teachers will share requested supplies for their classes.)

In-District Transfer Request Form (available each spring for the following school year)

Out-Of-District Transfer Request Form (available each spring for the following school year)

Enrollment Center

REGULAR HOURS

MONDAY - FRIDAY
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

SUMMER HOURS

MONDAY - THURSDAY
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

ADDRESS

110 McDonald Drive
Lawrence, KS 66044

CONTACT

Call (785) 330-1921 or email us!

In This Section

New Student Enrollment

Complete the New Student Enrollment form, IF your student is...

New Student Enrollment

Step 1

New Student Enrollment is now open for the 2026–2027 school year.
Click the link below to begin!

Step 2

Required Documents:

Program & Grade Level Information

Course Enrollment (High School)

Jayhawk Blueprint Courses

Kindergarten Enrollment

Kindergarten

Transition to Grade 6

Grade 6 Transition Resources:

Preschool/Early Childhood Programs

Preschool Classrooms

Lawrence Virtual School

Lawrence Virtual School (LVS)

Montessori Education at New York Montessori School

New York Montessori is Kansas' first public Montessori school.

STEAM@LMCMS

STEAM@LMCMS is a program that approaches teaching and learning in the classroom with a focus on S.T.E.A.M. concepts.

Adult Education Services (GED/Diploma Completion)

Lawrence Adult Education Center

Lawrence Diploma Completion Program

Additional Resources

Enrollment Center

REGULAR HOURS

SUMMER HOURS

ADDRESS

CONTACT

Links & Resources