Letters sent home Monday with exemption criteria, transfer process
On Monday, Jan. 27, students in Las Cruces Public Schools will take home letters from the district indicating their updated zoned school for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. Not every student will be impacted by the redistricting changes, which were voted on by the LCPS Board of Education on Dec. 17, 2024.
The letters, which are unique to each student, will indicate which school the student will be automatically enrolled in for the next school year. Some students will automatically qualify for an exemption from the new school zones based on certain criteria approved by the LCPS Board of Education, including:
- Students who will be in 5th grade in Fall 2025.
- Students who will be in 8th grade in Fall 2025.
- Students who will be in 11th or 12th grade in Fall 2025.
- Students on a 2024-25 competition roster for athletics, activities, or fine arts.
- Students currently enrolled at the same school as a sibling who meet one of the above criteria.
- Students currently enrolled in a magnet program at their current school.
· Students currently enrolled in a dual language program not available at their zoned school. (Dual Language programs are available at: Alameda, Booker T. Washington, Central, Cesar Chavez, Columbia, Conlee, Doña Ana, E. Picacho, Fairacres (K), Hermosa Heights, Highland, Jornada, Loma Heights, MacArthur, Sonoma, Sunrise, Tombaugh, Valley View, Mesa, Zia, La Cruces).
St Students attending a school of choice (e.g., Arrowhead Park, Mesilla Valley Leadership Academy, Rio Grande Prep).
· Students enrolled in specialized special education satellite classrooms or programs will be contacted individually regarding their school assignments for next year.
Parents may complete a transfer request form if their child(ren) meets one or more of the exemptions. The form is available using this link and the deadline to submit a transfer request is Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, at 5 p.m. One form request should be submitted for each student.
Earlier this month, the LCPS Board of Education also approved a revised transfer policy to support balanced enrollment. Transfer approvals will be limited, and transportation will not be provided. Parents who wish to apply for a transfer out of their zoned school can use this link to start the process. The deadline to apply for a transfer is Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, at 5 p.m.
The district has set up a hotline for parents who have questions. That hotline is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (575) 525-7121. Questions can also be emailed to [email protected]. Additional information on the redistricting process, which launched in August 2024, can be found here.