How, Where and When to Register

How to Register

If you are registering a child for the Boston Public Schools for the first time, you must visit a Family Resource Center (see below for locations). If your child is already enrolled in the Boston Public Schools and is in the highest grade of his or her school, your child will receive an application in class to bring home. 

Pre-register on-line using BPSExpress. This option, available to families registering a new to BPS student, this is a great way to save time during the registration process:

1. Log on from any computer with an Internet connection.
2. Complete your application form and make your school choices on-line in advance.
3. Go to any Family Resource Center with the required documents to complete the process.

Required Documents: Download a complete checklist here.

If you are visiting a Family Resource Center to register a new to Boston Public Schools student, please bring:

All of these:

1. Child’s original birth certificate (with raised seal), passport, or Form I-94
2. Child's up-to-date immunization record.  See the list of required immunizations for details. Contact BPS Health Services, 617-635-6788, if you have questions. 
3. Parent/Guardian photo Identification
4. A transcript from the child's last school (grade 1-12, if applicable)

Two of these:
Documents must be pre-printed with the name and current address of the student's parent/guardian (or the student if 18 years of age or older). Items may not be from the same bullet.

• A Utility Bill (not water or cell phone) dated within the past 60 days
• A current Lease, Section 8 Agreement, or BPS Landlord Affidavit
• A Deed, Mortgage Payment dated within the past 60 days, or property tax bill dated within the past year 
• A W2 form dated within the year or a Payroll Stub dated within the past 60 days 
• A Bank or Credit Card Statement dated within the past 60 days
• A Letter from an Approved Government Agency* dated within the past 60 days 

*Approved government agencies:  Departments of Revenue (DOR), Children and Family Services (DCF), Transitional Assistance (DTA), Youth Services (DYS), Social Security, any communications on Commonwealth of Massachusetts letterhead

NOTE: The exam schools have a separate application process and timeline. Visit the Exam Schools page for details.

Tips:

• Deeds may be downloaded from www.suffolkdeeds.com
• For online bill payment, a printout of the statement may also be acceptable, if it includes the parent/guardian name, home address and date.
• BPS Landlord Affidavit is available here or at any Family Resource Center.

When to Register

Please see "Where to Register" for Family Resource Center hours.

There are several registration periods for families applying for school year 2012-2013. To improve your chances of being assigned to a school of your choice, apply during the earliest registration period for your child’s grade. For FRC Hours, please see below.

• Here's a two-page flyer describing our process.

First registration period:
Kindergarten, Grade 6, Grade 9
January 3, 2012 - February 3, 2012

For students entering Kindergarten (K0 for 3-year-olds, K1 for four-year-olds, K2 for five-year-olds), and students entering Grade 6 or 9.   Families seeking an assignment to any of these grades -- including new-to-BPS and transfer requests for these grades only -- should register during this period. Families registering during this period who also have children in other grades may also register during this time, but the applications will be processed during the second registration period. Current students in BPS will receive their school applications for Grades 6 and 9 via their current schools. Only new to BPS students need to visit a Family Resource Center to register.

Assignment notices for kindergarten, grades six and nine students who registered during this period are mailed to families' homes in mid-March.

Second registration period: All grades
February 8, 2012 - March 30, 2012 

BPS has extended this round to March 30 due to a printing delay in Round One assignment notifications in early March.

Assignment notices for students registered during this period are mailed to families' homes in mid-May. 

Third registration period: All grades
April 2, 2012 - May 11, 2012

Assignment notices for students registered during this period are mailed to families' homes in late June.

Fourth registration period: All grades
May 14, 2012 - June 8, 2012

Assignment notices for students registered during this period are mailed to families' homes in mid-July.
 

Where to Register

Family Resource Centers (FRC)

Families with a child new to the Boston Public Schools can register at one of our Family Resource Centers (FRC). Feel free to visit whichever center is most convenient; you are not limited to the center in your zone of residence.

• All centers are open on school days, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., except Wednesdays.
• Wednesdays from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Family Resource Centers are closed on federal, state and city holidays.
   

Summer 2012:

• All Centers will be closed: July 2 – July 13, 2012
• Only the West Zone FRC will be open (serving all families): July 16 – August 3, 2012
• All Centers will re-open to the public: August 6, 2012  
   

Locations

• East Zone Family Resource Center
  1216 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester
  (behind Burger King)
  617-635-8015
  Help available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, French, and Haitian Creole
• North Zone Family Resource Center
  75 Malcolm X Blvd., Roxbury
  Entrance is now closer to Roxbury Crossing MBTA, at play space entrance to Madison Park.
  617-635-9010
  Help available in Cantonese, Cape Verdean Creole, English, Mandarin, Portuguese, and Spanish.
   
• West Zone Family Resource Center
  515 Hyde Park Ave., Roslindale
  (near Cummins Highway)
  617-635-8040
  Help available in Cape Verdean Creole, English, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish, and French.
   
• East Boston Satellite Registration Center
  Mario Umana Academy
  312 Border St., East Boston
  617-635-9597
       2011-2012 School Year: Tuesdays, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
       Help in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.