Rockford Public SchoolsEnrollment Procedures
2025/2026 New Student Enrollment
Will Open February 13, 2025
Welcome to Rockford Public Schools!
Whether you are a new or a returning RPS family, we are excited about you becoming a Rockford RAM!
Preschool Registration
Explore the variety of preschool programs that Rockford Public Schools offers.
Developmental Kindergarten - 8th Grades Required Enrollment Documentation
Children who turn five years old on or before December 1, 2025 will be eligible to enroll
for Developmental Kindergarten/Kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year.
Find Your Elementary School Here
You must physically reside within the Rockford Public Schools district boundaries to be considered a resident. If you do not reside within the Rockford Public Schools district boundaries, please refer to the Out of District/Schools of Choice information before continuing with the enrollment process.
Note to Out-of-District Families: Developmental Kindergarten is only available to out-of-district families with household students currently attending Rockford Public Schools. All other out-of-district students who screen Developmental Kindergarten will not be eligible for enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year.
If you do not reside within the Rockford Public Schools district boundaries, you must first apply for Schools of Choice for enrollment consideration prior to submitting an enrollment application. You may complete the enrollment application and attach the required documentation ONLY when your RPS Schools of Choice Application has been approved and you have received your acceptance letter from the district. Please use the Notification of Acceptance, including the parent/guardian signature, as ONE piece of proof of residency, and use your property tax statement (reflecting 100% Primary/Principal Residence Exemption or PRE% 100), property/warranty deed or signed lease agreement, as stated below, as the SECOND piece of proof of residency.
Please note the property tax statement, warranty deed and the signed lease agreement are required to list the parent/guardian’s name and residential street address. In addition, please note utility bills used as a second piece of proof of residency for Out of District/Schools of Choice applicants will not be accepted.
Required Enrollment Documentation For New Enrollments or Reenrollments
1) TWO items are required for proof of residency. Please note a driver’s license, cell phone bill and/or a mortgage statement are NOT valid proofs of residency.
Renters - Signed and dated lease agreement listing the parent/guardian's name and the residential street address.
Homeowners - Property tax statement (reflecting 100% Primary/Principal Residence Exemption or PRE% 100) and the parent/guardian’s name and residential street address listed OR the
property/warranty deed with the parent/guardian's name and property information listed.
If you need assistance obtaining your property tax statement, please click the appropriate link below to locate your property tax statement. Once you enter your address, please click print, save the document and upload it to the enrollment application as ONE piece of proof of residency.
AND
Current utility bill (gas, electric or water only) – reflecting the service address AND the resident’s name.
For Out of District/Schools of Choice applicants, please see the third paragraph above under "Find Your Elementary School Here".
2) Copy of original birth certificate. The Michigan Missing Children’s Act (MCL 380.1135) requires that you provide a copy of the child’s original Birth Certificate when you are enrolling in
school. If you do not meet this requirement within 30 days, the school must notify local law enforcement.
3) COMPLETE immunization record AND/OR a CURRENT YEAR State of Michigan Immunization Waiver AND/OR a CURRENT YEAR, physician-signed State of Michigan Medical
Contraindication Form.
For consideration into Rockford Public Schools, please provide the district with a record or records showing that your child has received all of the required immunizations OR an immunization
waiver from the health department. The immunization waiver must list the revision date with the current calendar year.
4) For Developmental Kindergarten and Kindergarten Students Hearing and Vision Screening Results
Special education and 504 programming. If your child qualifies for a 504 or Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) please note this in the enrollment form and contact Rockford Public Schools Special Services Department at 616-863-6326.
Begin Enrollment Here:
Scenario #1: Enrolling New Students into Rockford Public Schools (RPS)
- Definition: New families to the district enroll here.
- If your child is a current DK, Early Childhood Special Education or SIP student, an additional enrollment application is not required.
- Early Childhood and Region 1 student enrollments, please enroll here.
Scenario #2: Current Rockford Public Schools (RPS) Family Enrolling an Additional Child or Children
- Definition: Families that have at least one child currently enrolled in RPS and are enrolling an additional child or children.
- Please log into FAMILY ACCESS and click on the New Student Enrollment tab located in the left column.
Scenario #3: Returning Rockford Public Schools (RPS) Family
- Definition: Students who previously attended and are returning to RPS AND do not have currently enrolled siblings.
- Please log into FAMILY ACCESS using the primary guardian’s login credentials. If you do not recall your login credentials, click “Forgot Password” to receive your login credentials and a reset link. You will be directed to the online enrollment application upon logging in.
A district representative will be in contact with you after your enrollment application has been successfully submitted. Thank you!
If you have any questions regarding the required documentation or the enrollment process, please email:
Developmental Kindergarten or Kindergarten rpskenrollment@rockfordschools.org
1st - 8th Grades rpsenrollment@rockfordschools.org
9th-12th Grades Required Enrollment Documentation
Please ensure all required documentation is attached to your online enrollment application PRIOR to submission. An incomplete application will be returned, resulting in the need to submit a new application.
You must physically reside within the Rockford Public Schools district boundaries to be considered a resident. If you do not reside within the Rockford Public Schools district boundaries, please refer to the Out of District/Schools of Choice information before continuing with the enrollment process.
If you do not reside within the Rockford Public Schools district, you must first apply for Schools of Choice for enrollment consideration prior to submitting an enrollment application. You may complete the enrollment application and attach the required documentation ONLY when your RPS Schools of Choice Application has been approved and you have received your acceptance letter from the district. Please use the Notification of Acceptance, including the parent/guardian signature, as ONE piece of proof of residency, and use your property tax statement (reflecting 100% Primary/Principal Residence Exemption or PRE% 100), property/warranty deed or signed lease agreement, as stated below, as the SECOND piece of proof of residency. Please note the property tax statement, warranty deed and the signed lease agreement are required to list the parent/guardian's name and the residential street address. In addition, please note utility bills used as a second piece of proof of residency for Out of District/Schools of Choice applicants will not be accepted.
Required Enrollment Documentation For New Enrollments or Reenrollments
1) TWO items are required for proof of residency. Please note a driver’s license, cell phone bill and/or a mortgage statement are NOT valid proofs of residency!
Renters - Signed lease agreement listing the parent/guardian's name and the residential street address.
Homeowners - Property tax statement (reflecting 100% Primary/Principal Residence Exemption or PRE% 100) and the parent/guardian’s name and residential street address listed OR the
property/warranty deed with the parent/guardian's name and property information listed.
If you need assistance obtaining your property tax statement, please click the appropriate link below to locate your property tax statement. Once you enter your address, please click print,
save the document and upload it to the enrollment application as ONE piece of proof of residency.
AND
Current utility bill (gas, electric or water only) – reflecting the service address AND the resident’s name.
For Out of District/Schools of Choice applicants, please see the third paragraph above.
2) Copy of original birth certificate. The Michigan Missing Children’s Act (MCL 380.1135) requires that you provide a copy of the child’s original Birth Certificate when you are enrolling in school.
If you do not meet this requirement within 30 days, the school must notify local law enforcement.
3) COMPLETE immunization record AND/OR a CURRENT YEAR State of Michigan Immunization Waiver AND/OR a CURRENT YEAR, physician-signed State of Michigan Medical
Contraindication Form.
For consideration into Rockford Public Schools, please provide the district with a record or records showing that your child has received of the required immunizations OR an immunization
waiver from the health department. The immunization waiver must list the revision date with the current calendar year.
4) Transcript for grades 9-12.
- 9th grade – A transcript or 8th grade report card from your child’s previous school is required for placement and schedule assignment. An online enrollment application that is submitted without the transcript will be returned, resulting in the need to submit a new application. You can obtain your child’s transcript in their previous school’s family/student portal or by contacting their previous school’s counseling department. Please ensure all required documentation is attached to your online enrollment application prior to submission. If you have questions regarding your child’s transcript, please contact Betsy Connor at bconnor@rockfordschools.org
- 10th-12th grades – A transcript from your child’s previous school is required for placement and schedule assignment. An online enrollment application that is submitted without the transcript will be returned, resulting in the need to submit a new application. You can obtain your child’s transcript in their previous school’s family/student portal or by contacting their previous school’s counseling department. Please ensure all required documentation is attached to your online enrollment application prior to submission. If you have questions regarding your child’s transcript, please contact Stephani Lamancusa at slamancusa@rockfordschools.org
Special education and 504 programming. If your child qualifies for a 504 or Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) please note this in the enrollment form and contact Rockford Public Schools Special Services Department at 616-863-6326.
Foreign exchange students. Please contact the Rockford High Schools Guidance Office at 616-863-6033 regarding enrollment.
Begin Enrollment Here:
Scenario #1: Enrolling New Students into Rockford Public Schools (RPS)
- Definition: New families to the district enroll here.
- For Region 1 student enrollments, please enroll here.
Scenario #2: Current Rockford Public Schools (RPS) Family Enrolling an Additional Child or Children
- Definition: Families that have at least one child currently enrolled in RPS and are enrolling an additional child or children.
- Please log into FAMILY ACCESS and click on the New Student Enrollment tab located in the left column.
Scenario #3: Returning Rockford Public Schools (RPS) Family
- Definition: Students who previously attended and are returning to RPS AND do not have currently enrolled siblings.
- Please log into FAMILY ACCESS using the primary guardian’s login credentials. If you do not recall your login credentials, click “Forgot Password” to receive your login credentials and a reset link. You will be directed to the online enrollment application upon logging in.
A district representative will be in contact with you after your enrollment application has been successfully submitted. Thank you!
If you have any questions regarding the required documentation or the enrollment process, please email rpsenrollment@rockfordschools.org
Out of District/Schools of Choice
Rockford Public Schools participates in the Kent ISD Schools of Choice plan. This plan is for students who reside in one of the Kent ISD districts and would like to transfer to Rockford Public Schools. Please note this is an application process that requires an approval from our Superintendent's office and does not apply to preschool or special education transition programming.
After you submit a Schools of Choice application, please wait to proceed with a new student enrollment application until you receive a Notification of Acceptance offer from our Superintendent's office. If you agree to accept the offer, please sign the form and use this as ONE piece of proof of residency, and use your property tax statement (reflecting 100% Primary/Principal Residence Exemption or PRE% 100), property/warranty deed or signed lease agreement as the SECOND piece of proof of residency. Please note the property tax statement, warranty deed and the signed lease agreement are required to list the parent/guardian's name and the residential street address. In addition, please note utility bills used as a second piece of proof of residency for Out of District/Schools of Choice applicants will not be accepted.
Other Forms and Resources
Free and Reduced Lunch Application
Food Service (to create an account, click on "My Account" and then "I need to register as a Family Portal user").
Please visit the Nursing Services Webpage for health-related forms and protocols.
