K-5 Elementary Transition

How do I know which school my child will attend in fall 2025?

Families should have received a letter in February with their child's school assignment based on home address. If you did not receive the letter or are unsure of your child's placement, please check with your child's school or consult the map below.

What are the benefits to switching to a K-5 elementary school model?

Families with multiple elementary-aged students will no longer have to juggle multiple arrival/dismissal times for their elementary schoolers, or schedule conferences at multiple locations, or attend events at multiple buildings.

With students living closer to their assigned elementary school buildings, our hope is that more students can walk to school with an adult or older sibling instead of needing bus transportation or being driven to school, which should reduce traffic and congestion around all four elementary schools.

In addition, it is our hope that a move back to K-5 neighborhood schools will help build stronger connections between families and schools, as students will be in the same school for a longer period of time.

Will my child still receive bus transportation?

Families who live more than ½ mile from their school will still receive bus transportation. All Bellview students who live on the east side of Gratiot will be offered transportation regardless of distance.

My child has been assigned to a different school than the one they attend now. Will he/she have friends and familiar teachers there?

Even if your child is moving to another school, chances are good that many of their current classmates and some of the teachers from their current school will be there as well.

Will older students be separated from younger students?

Buildings are being set up and scheduled to avoid very young students from frequently interacting with older students. For example, kindergarten classrooms and fifth grade classrooms will likely be in different hallways or areas of the building, and our youngest students will not share lunch/recess periods with the oldest ones.

That being said, we do expect there will be opportunities for older students to be leaders and mentors for the younger ones. 

My child loves the after-school activities at their current school. Will they still have a chance to participate in drama club, fashion club, music, or other activities?

The district and individual schools will be making a significant effort to make sure all students, regardless of their school placement, receive equitable access to academic and extracurricular opportunities. Some activities may take place at one central location for students from all four elementary schools.

Will latchkey still be available for before and after school care?

We will continue to offer latchkey through the YMCA, with bussing between the latchkey location and elementary schools provided. Latchkey will remain in its current location at Bellview Elementary. 

What if I want my child to attend a different school than the one in our neighborhood?

Parents can apply for an in-district transfer. Requests will be considered based on space available at the requested school. Transfer applications be accepted but not guaranteed, and placement will not be made until August. Bus transportation is not available for students attending a school through in-district transfer.

Can families still apply for Schools of Choice for grades K-5? How many spots are available?

We are accepting unlimited Schools of Choice for grades K-10 as a district, but not all elementary schools may have space at all K-5 grade levels. K-5 families will need to rank their choices and will be placed based on space available.

Schools of Choice applications are open through the first week of school, placement of summer applications will be made in August and then rolling afterwards based on space.