Highland Community School admits students of any gender, race, color, creed, ethnicity and national origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The Highland Community School policy of nondiscrimination due to disability complies with U.S. Department of Education regulations for the implementation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Children who live outside the City of Milwaukee may attend Highland Community School through DPI open enrollment, only if seats are available. In-district students take priority. If applying for prekindergarten (K3, K4), a prekindergarten program must be available, and your child eligible, in your resident district. Milwaukee resident applications for pre-K must be exhausted before out of district applicants can be considered. The open enrollment period for MPS is February 1st through April 30th. More information can be found on MPS website.
All children K3 through eighth grade are eligible for admission, subject to openings for appropriate age groups. Priority admission status is granted to siblings of Highland students and children of Highland employees.
Questions about our admissions process can be directed to Ms. Shanness Williams, Programs and Admissions Director.
The Admissions Process
1. The school highly encourages that interested parents make an appointment to tour the school and observe classrooms in session.
2. Applications are accepted for enrollment beginning on October 1st and ending December 15th. Applications will be made available on the school website and in the school office throughout this time frame.
3. If the number of applications submitted by eligible applicants during the application period exceeds the number of available seats, acceptance will be determined by a lottery. If the number of applicants does not exceed the number of seats available, a lottery selection is not necessary and all applicants will be admitted to the school.
4. If there are still seats available on December 15, a second application period will be held. Applications will be accepted until the end of Milwaukee Public Schools 3-Choice application period. If the number of applications submitted by eligible applicants during this period exceeds the number of available seats, acceptance will be determined by a lottery.
5. At the time of the lottery, all applicants not receiving a seat will be kept in a lottery pool. Any applications received after this date will be added to the lottery. If a seat becomes available, another lottery will occur.
6. Because seats in K4 through 8th grade only become available through attrition, a lottery will be held after each application period. Students will be accepted through a lottery when and if a seat becomes available.
7. The lottery pool is only valid until September 30th. Applications will not be carried over to the following year. New applications must be submitted. October 1st begins the application process for the next school year.
8. Approximately two weeks before the start of the new school year, in-person registration sessions are held where all new and returning families are required to complete or update their records and pay their first month’s program fees.
Toddler Admissions
Toddler admission occurs annually for the academic school year. Seats are available for the year-round or school year program. If space becomes available throughout the year we notify families on the waiting list. Once they are accepted, toddler families must attend the new parent orientation or an individual interview. A visit to the classroom will also be set up by the toddler directress for a special introduction between the child and the directress. This helps the child have a smoother transition when the student begins school. Toddler admission is not done through the lottery. It is based on the age and gender of the child. This ensures balance within the classroom and makes certain the child-to-adult ratios are in accordance with state licensing rules. Applications are available on the school website or in the main office.
Probationary Policy for Toddler Program
Children enrolled in the toddler program will be accepted on a one-month probationary basis. During that time the program staff, the director and/or the parents will be able to determine if the program is appropriate for the current individual needs of the child.