Enrollment
New student enrollment for the 2021-2022 school year is scheduled to open on March 26, 2021.
- NEW STUDENT ENROLLMENT PROCESS
- KINDERGARTEN & TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN
- ANNUAL DATA CONFIRMATION (ALL STUDENTS)
- ANNUAL RESIDENCY VERIFICATION (CURRENTLY ENROLLED STUDENTS)
- ANNUAL NOTICE TO PARENTS/GUARDIANS
- INTERDISTRICT TRANSFERS
- RESIDENCY VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS (NEW ENROLLMENTS)
NEW STUDENT ENROLLMENT PROCESS
- 1. MEET DISTRICT RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS
- 2. OBTAIN REQUIRED INFORMATION
- 3. COMPLETE ONLINE STUDENT ENROLLMENT
- 4. COMPLETE/PRINT ADDITIONAL REQUIRED FORMS
- 5. DELIVER COMPLETED DOCUMENTS TO SCHOOL
- 6. SCHOOL SITE ENROLLMENT CONTACT INFORMATION
1. MEET DISTRICT RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS
The first step in the enrollment process is to verify residency by completing the Residency Verification Affidavit and providing supporting documentation. Please review LBUSD Residency Requirements below. If you are unsure whether you reside within the LBUSD boundaries, use the LBUSD Street Listing.
2. OBTAIN REQUIRED INFORMATION
With new student enrollment, you will be asked to enter required information into the Aeries Internet Registration (AIR) online enrollment system. Please gather the documents listed below and make sure you have this information available before continuing. If you do not have this information available, please return to this online enrollment system when you do.
Proof of Age
Acceptable documents to show proof of age:
- Official birth certificate
- Certificated copy of the birth certificate: (how to get a registered birth certificate copy)
- Baptismal certificate
- Alternate birth record
- Affidavit of birth by parent/guardian
- Current valid passport
Proof of Immunization Records
Required for certifying up-to-date immunizations for each student. Click the link below for an explanation of the student health requirements for school entry. All forms and information can also be found in the Health Services Department.
Required Immunizations by Age and Grade
Senate Bill 277 Frequently Asked Questions
All kindergarten students must have completed a physical examination no more than six months prior to entering kindergarten. If an exam is completed between six and 12 months prior to kindergarten entrance, another physical exam will be required prior to entering first grade. All first-grade students must have completed a physical examination no more than 18 months prior to first-grade entry.
Report of Health Examination for School Entry (English)
Report of Health Examination for School Entry (Spanish)
The following additional information:
- Names and contact information for at least three (3) emergency contacts
- Previous school’s name(s), address(s), and district information for the prior two years
- An academic transcript or report card from your previous school.
- Proof of withdrawal from any previous school district
- Court Custody, Restraining Orders, or other papers (if applicable)
- For Special Education students: current or most recent IEP and assessments.
- For GATE (Gifted And Talented Education) students: prior test scores and/or certification forms.
- For EL (English Learners) students: a copy of current ELPAC scores.
3. COMPLETE ONLINE STUDENT ENROLLMENT
LBUSD Student Online Enrollment
**The online process will take approximately 20 minutes to complete and requires a valid email address. You can logout and resume if the process takes longer than expected.
4. COMPLETE/PRINT ADDITIONAL REQUIRED FORMS
5. DELIVER COMPLETED DOCUMENTS TO SCHOOL
Until further notice, no enrollment documents may be delivered in person to school sites. All documents should be emailed to the school site email addresses shown below. If you are unable to email documents, you may mail them via the US Postal Service to school sites. Thank you for your understanding.
Laguna Beach High School - enrolllbhs@lbusd.orgThurston Middle School - enrolltms@lbusd.orgEl Morro Elementary - enrollems@lbusd.orgTop of the World Elementary - enrolltow@lbusd.org
6. SCHOOL SITE ENROLLMENT CONTACT INFORMATION
Laguna Beach High School - enrolllbhs@lbusd.orgThurston Middle School - enrolltms@lbusd.orgEl Morro Elementary - enrollems@lbusd.orgTop of the World Elementary - enrolltow@lbusd.org
KINDERGARTEN & TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN
Note: Once you finish reviewing this section, please continue on the "Student Enrollment" section above to begin the enrollment process.
Kindergarten: Your child must be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2020, to enroll for the 2020/21 school year as a kindergarten student.
El Morro and Top of the World elementary schools offer a full-day kindergarten program for students which is held daily from 8:15 a.m. to 2:10 p.m., except on Wednesdays, when dismissal is at 1:10 p.m.
Transitional Kindergarten (TK): TK is for 4 year olds who turn 5 between September 2 and December 2. LBUSD's TK program is held at El Morro Elementary School. TK children who reside in the Top of the World (TOW) attendance area will attend El Morro for TK and transfer to TOW for kindergarten the following year.
TK is a half-day program with the early session held from 7:55 a.m. to 11:25 a.m. and the late session held from 9:55 a.m. to 2:10 p.m., except on Wednesdays when dismissal is at 1:17 p.m.
Top of the World Elementary 2020 Kindergarten Orientation
All kindergarten students must have completed a physical examination no more than six months prior to entering kindergarten. If an exam is completed between six and 12 months prior to kindergarten entrance, another physical exam will be required prior to entering first grade. All first-grade students must have completed a physical examination no more than 18 months prior to first-grade entry.
According to a California law, Education Code Section 49452.8, all kindergarten and/or first-grade students, whichever is his or her first year in public school, are also required to have an oral health assessment (dental check-up). Oral Health assessments completed up to 12 months before your child enters school will meet this requirement. The law specifies that the assessment must be done by a licensed dentist or other licensed dental health professional.
Report of Health Examination for School Entry
Oral Health Assessment - English
Oral Health Assessment - Spanish
ANNUAL DATA CONFIRMATION (ALL STUDENTS)
Education Code #48980 requires that at the beginning of each school year, all school districts shall notify parents/guardians of their educational rights and responsibilities under the law. Additionally, LBUSD policy requires that an annual update of student information be completed prior to the first day of school. The LBUSD Data Confirmation Process combines these two requirements within the Aeries Parent Portal.
ANNUAL RESIDENCY VERIFICATION (CURRENTLY ENROLLED STUDENTS)
Each school year, every family is required to submit a Residency Verification and Affidavit form and one acceptable form of residency verification. Residency verification is necessary to preserve the quality and safety of the learning environment for students in Laguna Beach, as well as comply with the California Education Code and Laguna Beach Unified School District's Board Policies and procedures. All students who attend LBUSD schools must physically reside at the address listed on student records and within the LBUSD boundaries, unless they have an approved inter-district permit.
Residency verification documents must be provided to your student’s school before May 15th each year in order to assure that your student will remain enrolled. Parents with students in more than one school must submit the residency forms to the school where the oldest student is enrolled. Students who do not have verified residency documents on file may be dis-enrolled and unable to start the new school year. You may submit your residency verification forms anytime between April 15 and May 15, in person, by mail, or by email at the following addresses:
- Laguna Beach High School: LBHSresidency@lbusd.org
- EL Morro School: EMSresidency@lbusd.org
- Thurston Middle School: TMSresidency@lbusd.org
- Top of the World: TOWresidency@lbusd.org
***Please make sure to put your child's last name, first name in the subject line if submitting through email.
ANNUAL NOTICE TO PARENTS/GUARDIANS
California Education Code section 48980 requires that, at the beginning of the first semester or quarter of the regular school term, the governing board of each school district must notify parents/guardians of their rights or responsibilities under certain provisions of the Education Code. Other provisions of California and United States law also require notification of parents/guardians.
Education Code section 48982 requires that this notice be signed by the parent/guardian and returned to your child’s school. Your signature on this notice is an acknowledgment that you have received the notice and have been informed of your rights, but the signature does not indicate that consent to participate in any particular program has been either given or withheld.
California and United States law requires certain other notices in the event that specific circumstances should arise, affecting your child’s education and attendance at school. If any such circumstances should arise, the District will provide notice as required by law.
INTERDISTRICT TRANSFERS
LBUSD Interdistrict Transfer Process/Timeline
In accordance with LBUSD Board Policy #5117
LBUSD will be accepting and processing Interdistrict Transfer Agreements for the following school year from March 1 through May 15 of each year. Failure of a parent/guardian to meet any timelines established by the district shall be deemed an abandonment of the Interdistrict Transfer request . Exceptions will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
The Superintendent or designee may deny initial requests for Interdistrict Transfer Agreements due to limited district resources, or overcrowding of school facilities at the relevant grade level.
If a student's Interdistrict Transfer Agreement is denied, the Superintendent or designee shall, in writing, notify the parents/guardians of their right to appeal to the County Board of Education within 30 calendar days from the date of the final denial. (Education Code 46600.2)
Interdistrict Transfers are valid for one year only and must be renewed annually, with the exception of students who are on an Interdistrict Transfer Agreement during grade 10 and wish to continue on the Agreement for grades 11 and 12. In this case, the Interdistrict Transfer Agreement shall not be rescinded after the student's completion of grade 10. An Interdistrict Transfer Agreement is required if a student is a first-time applicant in grades 11 or 12.
TRANSFER REQUESTS IN TO LBUSD
- When this process is used:
When a student zoned to attend school in another district wants to attend an LBUSD school, their parent/guardian must request an Interdistrict Transfer Agreement form from the District of Residence (e.g., Capistrano, Newport-Mesa, Saddleback, etc.). The District of Residence is the district the student is zoned to attend according to their residence address/location.
- How to complete the form:
The Interdistrict Transfer Agreement form is typically located on the District of Residence’s website. The parent/guardian/guardian completes STEP 1 of the form. The District of Residence completes and approves STEP 2. The form is then submitted via email to Brenda Joyce in the Instructional Services Office at bjoyce@lbusd.org or mailed via US Mail to Laguna Beach USD, Attn: Interdistrict Transfers, 550 Blumont Street, Laguna Beach, CA 92651.
- LBUSD Approval or Denial:
LBUSD reviews and either approves or denies the request. These requests are DENIED with the following two exceptions:
(1) The student’s parent/guardian is a full-time, permanent employee of LBUSD (classified employees who work 6-8 hours daily as a benefitted employee and teachers with a 60% or more teaching assignment). The parent/guardian must be a direct employee of the district, not simply work in the vicinity of the district for another company/entity in Laguna Beach.
(2) If a student has attended LBHS through the end of their 11th grade year and subsequently moves out of the district boundaries, they may apply to attend LBHS to complete their 12th grade year.
- After Approval or Denial:
LBUSD Instructional Services Office completes STEP 3 of the form. If the student meets at least one of the above two exceptions, the form is marked APPROVED and copies are sent to the parent/guardian and the District of Residence. If the student does not meet at least one of the above two exceptions, the form is marked DENIED and a letter informing the parent/guardian of this decision, and their right to appeal, is mailed to the parent/guardian and a copy is sent to the District of Residence.
TRANSFER REQUESTS OUT OF LBUSD
- When this process is used:
When a student zoned to attend LBUSD wishes to attend a school in another district, their parent/guardian must complete an Interdistrict Transfer Agreement form. This form is also available on our website under the “Enrollment” and “Interdistrict” tabs.
- Completing the form:
The form is divided into three steps. The parent/guardian must complete STEP 1 and submit the form to the LBUSD Instructional Services Office. The form can be completed online and submitted to Brenda Joyce in our Instructional Services Office at bjoyce@lbusd.org. For students who are not currently enrolled at LBUSD, Residency Verification must be provided to confirm that they reside within LBUSD boundaries prior to approval of the Interdistrict Transfer Agreement.
- LBUSD Approval or Denial:
Most of these requests are APPROVED. The requests are reviewed on a case-by-case to ensure awareness by the school of attendance and to verify that residency requirements are met in the case of a student who does not attend an LBUSD school.
- After Approval or Denial:
If approved by LBUSD, STEP 2 of the form is completed by the LBUSD Instructional Services Office with the appropriate “decision” box selected. The approved form is sent to the Proposed District of Attendance or provided to the parent/guardian to be delivered to said district.
Once the approved form is sent to the Proposed District by LBUSD, the final decision for admittance depends on the Proposed District. If there are questions regarding this step in the process, the parent/guardian must contact the Proposed District directly.
If the request is denied by LBUSD, the parent/guardian is notified by the Instructional Services Office in writing of the denial along with information regarding their right to appeal the decision.
- Form is Completed:
Once the Proposed District completes STEP 3 of the form, copies are distributed appropriately. A copy of the form is filed in our district records.
Denials by the Proposed District must be addressed between the parent/guardian and the denying district. Parent/guardian is responsible for enrolling their student/s at LBUSD.
RESIDENCY VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS (NEW ENROLLMENTS)
In accordance with Laguna Beach Unified School District Board Policy 5111.1, the Governing Board desires to admit all students who reside within district boundaries or who fulfill the district residency requirements through other means as allowed by law. This process is outlined in the New Student Residency Verification form linked below.
Residency documents must be submitted to the school of enrollment before a student may be enrolled in a school in the District. Students will not be enrolled if there is a failure to meet the residency requirements.
A Residency Declaration packet must be completed by a parent/guardian of each student who fits any of the following circumstances:
- New student to LBUSD
- Previously enrolled student who withdrew and is now returning to LBUSD
- Transferring a student from one school to another within LBUSD
- Address change/change of residency within LBUSD
- All LBUSD families annually for Annual Residency Verification proces
Reference Information:
CA Education Code, Section 48200
LBUSD Board Policy #5111.1