Transportation & Boundaries

School Boundaries - Frequently Asked Questions

Please click on the appropriate question. If you do not find the answers you need, please contact our office.

How does a parent/guardian find out which school their child should attend?
What determines which school a child should attend?
There are maps of school attendance area boundaries on the District web page. Can I use those maps to determine which school my child should attend or whether property is within the Boise School District?
What are the grades for elementary, junior high school, and high school?
When can I register my child for school?
What documents do I need to register my child for school?
What is the minimum age for a child to attend kindergarten?
How do I register my kindergarten student?
What is the minimum age for a child to attend 1st grade?
Does the Boise School District have open enrollment?
What are attendance zones?
I live outside the Boise School District. Can my child attend school in the Boise School District?
My mailing address says Boise. Am I in the Boise School District?
My residence is within the Boise City limits and I pay taxes to Boise City. Am I in the Boise School District?

How does a parent/guardian find out which school their child should attend?

Please call the Boise School District Boundaries and Transportation Office at (208) 854-4167 or e-mail us at . Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

What determines which school a child should attend?

The Boise School District is divided into attendance areas for elementary, junior high, and senior high schools. The Boise School District Policy Manual (#3130) reads, in part, as follows:
"Attendance Zones. A student's designated attendance area shall be based on the legal residence of his/her parent(s)/guardian(s). If the parent(s)/guardian(s) move to a different attendance zone, the
student shall transfer to the appropriate school."

There are maps of school attendance area boundaries on the District web page. Can I use those maps to determine which school my child should attend or whether property is within the Boise School District?

The maps on the District web pages are intended to provide a general representation of where school attendance area boundaries are located. These maps are not intended to be used for commercial purposes or transactions. Please call the District Boundaries and Transportation Office at (208) 338 - 3661 or e-mail us at to determine which school a child should attend or whether property is within the Boise School District.

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What are the grades for elementary, junior high school, and high school?

Boise School District grades are structured as follows:

• Elementary K - 6
• Junior High 7 - 9
• Senior High 10 - 12

When can I register my child for school?

• Anytime school is in session during normal office hours
• 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for elementary schools
• 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for junior and senior high schools
• About two weeks before school starts in the fall. Please contact your school for the date registration begins.

What documents do I need to register my child for school?

You will need a certified birth certificate and a current immunization record. Please contact the principal or secretary at the school your child will attend for complete information about what documents are needed to register a student. The school also can help you with the record transfer process.

What is the minimum age for a child to attend kindergarten?

The Boise School District Policy Manual (#3110) reads, in part, as follows:
" Definition of School Age. All children wishing to enroll in kindergarten must be five years old on or before September 1 of the school year in which the child enrolls."

How do I register my kindergarten student?

Each April elementary schools have a kindergarten registration and open house day for incoming kindergarten students and their parent(s)/guardian(s). Please contact your school for the exact date of the registration and open house day. Attendance is encouraged but not required. New kindergarten students may be registered anytime during normal school office hours after the registration and open house day.

What is the minimum age for a child to attend 1st grade?

The Boise School District Policy Manual (#3110) reads, in part, as follows:
" Definition of School Age. For a child wishing to enroll in first grade, the child must be six years old on or before September 1 of the school year in which the child enrolls. A five-year-old child who has completed a private or public out-of-state kindergarten for the required 450 hours, but has not reached the "school age" requirement shall be allowed to enter the first grade."

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Does the Boise School District have open enrollment?

Yes. The District's open enrollment policy (3113) allows in-district and out-of-district parents/guardians, under specific conditions to choose among the District's schools.

What are attendance zones?

The school district is divided into attendance zones, assigning certain specific addresses to attend specific schools. The intent is to adhere as closely as possible to the neighborhood school concept in establishing attendance zones.

Attendance Zones. The Superintendent or designee shall use the legal residence of the student's parent/guardian as a student's designated attendance area. If the parent/guardian moves to a different attendance zone, the student shall transfer to the appropriate school unless a written request to stay in the original school is granted.

The administration may permit a student to attend a school outside of his/her attendance zone under the open enrollment policy (3113). Applications must be submitted to the principal of their attendance zone school (home school).

I live outside the Boise School District. Can my child attend school in the Boise School District?

The District's open enrollment policy (3113) allows out-of-district students to attend Boise Schools under specific conditions. For further details and an application visit our open enrollment page.

My mailing address says Boise. Am I in the Boise School District?

School district boundary lines do not coincide with mailing addresses. You can have a Boise mailing address and live in either the Boise School District or another district. Please call the Boise School District Boundaries and Transportation Office at (208) 854-4167 or e-mail us at to find out which school district serves your address.

My residence is within the Boise City limits and I pay taxes to Boise City. Am I in the Boise School District?

School district boundary lines do not coincide with city limits. You can be within the city limits of Boise City, pay taxes to Boise City, and be served by either the Boise School District or another district. The Boise School District is not associated with the City of Boise City. They are two separate and distinct governmental units. Please call the Boise School District Boundaries and Transportation Office at (208) 854-4167 or e-mail us at to find out which school district serves your address.

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