1. Which school should my child attend?
Assigned neighborhood attendance areas are determined by street name and number. For a rough idea, you may look at attendance area maps. Eighty to ninety percent of our students attend their neighborhood school (determined by street name). If you know the street address, you may look up the assigned neighborhood schools.
2. Can I enroll in a school other than my assigned school?
The district has an open enrollment policy that allows students to apply to attend a school other than their assigned school. Approvals are for one year, and are reviewed each year. Each school is required to serve the students who live within its attendance boundary before accepting students outside the boundary. Check our list of Closed Schools.
Open enrollment is conducted based on "space availability" via a waiting list. The waiting list order is determined by drawing. Open enrollment "School Choice Cards” can be picked up at any school office after Winter Break in January. The deadline to submit applications for open enrollment for the lottery drawing is noon on the last Friday in February. Residents new to Irvine applying for open enrollment after these deadlines are added to the bottom of the waiting list on a first-come, first-serve basis. No transportation is provided.
3. What is the school calendar?
See district calendar for general starting, ending and non-school dates. Contact the school site for more detailed calendar
4. How long is the student instructional day?
The number of instructional minutes is set by the state.
Example: Kindergarten requires 36,000 instructional minutes annually.
The decision for number of recess minutes and lunch minutes are determined by each school.
All schools have 181 days of instruction per year. The average daily minutes of instructional time are:
K: 200 minutes
Grades 1-3: 280 minutes
Grades 4-6: 310 minutes
Grades 7-12: 360 minutes
5. What are school starting and ending times?
The bell schedules are accessible on the IUSD web site and are published in Irvine World News in late August. A copy of the bell schedule may be picked up at the district office or you may call a school. The variance in starting and ending times is most often determined by bus schedules.
6. Do you provide transportation? Is there a fee? Transportation is rarely provided. Some Special Education students are provided transportation. Parents may call transportation at 949-936-5370.
7. What child care programs are available?
The City of Irvine provides online lists with live links to all licensed child care in the
City of Irvine at: Child Care Information for Families. IUSD maintains a list of Child Care Programs Operating in IUSD Facilities. You may call the centers directly. The school site does not operate the program. Programs are operated under the umbrella of the Irvine Child Care Project. Additional child care information may be obtained from the City of Irvine Child Care Coordination Office 949-724-6632 or you may contact your school site directly to see what before and after school care is available, if any. (Although some programs are held on IUSD property, the district itself is not responsible for these programs.)
8. What is required to enroll in Kindergarten?
The Kindergarten program is 200 minutes/day. Registration information may be obtained from your school site. Materials you need include birth certificate, immunization record, and proof of residency. (Proof of residency is established upon submission of a gas or electric utility bill displaying your name and address. In lieu of a utility bill, we will accept a letter of intent to hook-up from the gas or electric company and temporary driver's license, with the understanding that a utility bill will be provided to the school within 45 days). The district DOES NOT accept escrow papers or lease agreements. To enroll in Kindergarten for the 2012-2013 school year, a child must be five on or before November 1st, 2012. To enroll in Kindergarten for the 2013-2014 school year, a child must be five on or before October 1st, 2013. (This is a state law, and there is no way around it.) To enroll your student, please see Online Data Entry Process.
Each spring Irvine Unified School District provides a "Kindergarten Round-up" on March 7, 2013 at each school. Information will appear in the Irvine World News or websites for each of the schools.
The City of Irvine and IUSD presented an information night for parents interested in learning more about the 2013-2014 IUSD Kindergarten Program and enrollment process. Welcome to Kindergarten was held on Wednesday, February 13, 2013. To view the video presentation and download the information packet, please go to
www.irvinechildcare.org
9. When do the high schools register for classes?
Registration for classes is typically completed during the two weeks prior to the opening day of school. Contact high school site for specific dates and/or appointment.
10. Are there additional enrollment requirements for students arriving from a foreign country?
The district does not accept foreign exchange students and does not participate in the I-20 program.
Required documents include immunization records and birth certificate or passport. Required documents can be found here. Other forms to be completed require a notarized signature. Residence verification and enrollment in IUSD are required. English Language screening is required by California law for each student who has a language other than English in their linguistic background. IUSD staff personnel will schedule an appointment for the assessment once enrollment is completed. (add link to Language Minority Programs)
11. What programs are available for students who need to learn the English language?
The English Language Development Program includes the following: a) Newcomer Program K-6 at designated schools for students with little or no English language, and b) Sheltered English classes at middle and high school levels. For program questions specific to your designated school site, please contact the site directly.
12. What programs are available for Gifted and Talented students?
The district program for Gifted And Talented Education (GATE) has several strands, including APAAS, cluster grouping, and honors classes. The program varies by school and level. For additional information, you may contact the GATE office at 949-936-5120.
13. What Special Education Programs are available?
Please contact the Special Education office at 949-936-5230.
14. What private schools are available in the area?
You may call the Orange County Department of Education at 949-966-4231 for private school information.
15. What city programs are available?
You may call the City of Irvine at 949-724-6000.
16. Miscellaneous requests for phone numbers
Tustin Unified School District 949-730-7301
Saddleback Valley USD 949-586-1234
Newport Mesa USD 949-760-3200
Orange County Department of Education 949-966-4000
Santa Ana Unified School District 949-558-5501
City of Irvine 949-724-6000
Irvine Valley College 949-451-5100
17. Which schools are the best?
We believe all school rankings are flawed. Good schools are significantly more comprehensive and more complex than can ever be captured in a formula. What is happening to the average student is reflected in test scores. To find out what is happening to a range of individual students is equally important. Get as much information as you can about the school in your neighborhood. It is probably the best school for your family. This website provides much information about each IUSD school. Whenever space is available, open enrollment is also an option.
