In May the Clover Park School District Board of Directors approved school attendance boundary adjustments for elementary schools located on Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM). The adjustments take effect for the 2014-15 school year, which will begin on Aug. 27, and are the result of the opening of two new schools, Rainier Elementary School on JBLM Main and Meriwether Elementary on JBLM North. A third new elementary school is anticipated to open on base in fall 2015.

Although a public hearing for families to learn about the proposed boundary adjustments was held on April 21, the school district is continuing to reach out to parents to ensure that everyone affected is aware of the changes. Highlights of the proposed boundary adjustments and decisions regarding acceptance of attendance waivers include:  

• Kindergarten waivers will not be accepted for Hillside and Rainier Elementary Schools. This includes those families who may have siblings currently attending Clarkmoor, Greenwood and Hillside Elementary Schools this school year.

• No waivers (K-5) will be accepted for Meriwether Elementary School.

• All waiver students currently enrolled in an elementary school will be allowed to continue for the 2014-15 school year. A new waiver request form must be completed for final approval. A waiver request does not guarantee enrollment of siblings not currently enrolled.

• Current Clarkmoor Elementary students, who reside in the Parkway housing area, will attend Hillside Elementary starting with the 2014-15 school year.

• Boundaries were developed to define the residential areas on JBLM-North to a specific school of attendance (Meriwether or Beachwood). As such, students residing in the newly defined Beachwood attendance area will attend Greenwood Elementary School as a transitional school for the 2014-15 school year only.

If a student has special needs, the school assignment will be dependent upon where the special program is offered. For more information, please contact the special education department at 253.583.5170.

>>> The new attendance boundary map for Rainier Elementary on JBLM. Photo courtesy of Clover Park School Disrict

Kindergarten registration for the upcoming school year is open now. To enroll, kindergartners must be five years old by midnight on Aug. 31, 2014. For more information, go to cloverpark.k12.wa.us/Admin/Kindergarten.aspx. School offices will be closed in July so general student enrollment will resume the week of Aug. 4.

All of the relevant, revised school boundary maps can be found here.

By mid-July, parents may also visit the CPSD website and use the school/bus stop locator.

Additionally, each school has a complete list of addresses for its attendance boundaries. If you have questions contact your neighborhood school or the assistant superintendent of elementary schools, Othene Wade, at 253.583.5160.