MUSD to Allow Interest-Specific School Choice

For the first time, Moorpark Unified School District (MUSD) is offering parents and students their choice of elementary school in order to allow students to attend a school that best fits their learning styles.

"Not all children learn the same and have the same interests," said Cathy Lasure, publicity and marketing coordinator at MUSD. "This allows parents the flexibility to send their children to schools that cater to their children's interest."

Open enrollment will run from Jan. 18 through Feb. 11 for the 2011-2012 school year.

Parents can choose to enroll their child in any of the six elementary schools, which each have a specific focus; however, Lasure said that final decisions will be made based upon a lottery system and the district's need to maintain diversity. She encourages parents to include a second choice school if their children do not get into their first choice.

Lasure said that the district hopes open enrollment will create more balance within the school district, as many of the neighborhoods in Moorpark are not balanced, leading to lower enrollment in some schools than in others.

Parents will need to provide transportation to the school outside of their neighborhood area. There may be opportunities for students to purchase District bus tickets.

If parents want their children to stay at their neighborhood school, they need not apply for open enrollment. Open enrollment is only for those parents who wish to transfer their student to a school that best fits their child's learning needs, Lasure said.

"Our goal is to provide the best education for all the students. We realize that all children don't learn the same," said Lasure. "We want to provide as many options and possibilities as we can."

Lasure said each school has a specialty that caters to different learning environments. Following is how the District describes each school:

: provides a holistic active learning experience that looks at the child as a whole and encourages children to ask questions and promotes exploration.

Campus Canyon – College Preparatory Academy: sees every child as having gifts and talents and nurtures these gifts through its curriculum. It offers further learning through partnerships with colleges and universities. It is also becoming a K-8 school and is accepting applications for the sixth grade.

: is a magnet school that specializes in science, math and technology. It offers hands-on activities and creates a strong community committed to student success.

: focuses on an active learning experience and teaches critical thinking, problem solving, communication and collaboration to students who are more adept to the technology and media-driven environment of the 21st Century.

: provides students with a core curriculum that focuses on cultural understanding, promotes learning using both sides of the brain, and implements high levels of literacy.

: creates a creative environment through integration arts and technology within its curriculum. Students are committed to both academic excellence and success in the arts.

Each school will host an information night and offer tours during the month of January. The dates are listed below.

Arroyo West: Thurs., Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. with school tours offered on Thurs., Jan. 20 at 10:15 a.m. and Wed., Jan. 26 at 8:45 a.m.

Campus Canyon: Wed., Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. with school tours on Tues., Jan. 18 and Thurs, Jan. 27 at 8:45 a.m.

Flory Academy: Mon., Jan. 10 with school tours on Wed., Jan. 12 at 9:30 a.m. and Thurs., Jan. 20 at 11:30 a.m.

Mountain Meadows: Thurs., Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. with tours on Fri., Jan. 14 and Fri., Feb. 4 at 8:30 a.m.

Peach Hill Academy: Wed., Jan. 12 at 6 p.m. with tours on Thurs., Jan. 20 and Tues., Jan. 25 at 8:45 a.m.

Walnut Canyon: Mon. Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. with school tours on Thurs., Jan. 13 and Fri., Jan. 28 at 9:30 a.m.

For further information and to download an application, visit the district website at www.mrpk.org.