Enrollment and Registration
Welcome to the Ames Community School District! Thank you for choosing to partner with our District for your child’s education. Whether you are enrolling a first-time student, registering a returning student, or considering a transfer, we are here to assist. Need to learn more about our schools? Be sure to check out our About Us page to learn more about the size and statistics of our school.
Students in the Ames Community School District experience amazing opportunities for learning and growth from preschool to graduation, with teachers and staff focused on helping them succeed. We are excited to have you as part of our Little Cyclone family. Find everything you need to enroll and register your child with the Ames Community School District here on this page.
Select the specific area below for registration instructions.
Currently Attending Students
Registration Verification for the 2023-2024 is open. To view registration information, sign on to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.
Update Contact Information
During the online registration verification period, you may update your contact information and preferences. Outside of the online registration verification period, you may update your information at any time through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. To change your address, please contact the District Registrar.
New/Returning Students
All students must complete the enrollment process before they may attend school. You may register online, at home, or in the Registrar’s Office. Please keep in mind the enrollment process may take one to three days to be fully complete.
Enroll a New Student Online
1. Go to Online Registration.
2. Gather the required documents.
Even though you will enter most enrollment information online, there are a few paper documents you must submit to the Registrar.
- Proof of age
- Visa for international students
- Immunization records
- Proof of residency, such as utility bill, bank statement or lease agreement
- If you have purchased a home but not yet closed, please provide a copy of the purchase agreement with your name, address, closing date and signatures.
- Current transcript for students in grades 9 – 12
- Please note, students enrolling in our high school must meet with a school counselor before they start school, to set up their class schedule.
3. Complete other required forms.
Required health forms may vary based on the grade your student is entering. You may pick up the required forms at the Registrar’s office, or click on the links to print the forms and complete them before you meet with the Registrar.
Touring Your New School
After the Registration process is complete, the District offers new students and their families an opportunity to tour the school they will be attending. Contact the school you will be attending to schedule a tour. If you are enrolling during the summer, there will be a new student orientation in August.
Kindergarten/EK
Know a child who will be 5 years old on or before September 15 who is eligible for kindergarten? Enroll now!
We assign kindergarten students to the school in the boundary area that corresponds to their home address. Students who enroll after classes are full in their grade level at their boundary school may be assigned to a different school. If your resident district is outside of Ames, open enrollment is required to attend in the district. 2024-2025 Open enrollment applications are available online.
To register your student, please follow the directions under New/Returning Students.
Preschool
Northwood Preschool Center provides free preschool classes four days a week: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Incoming Preschool students must be 4 years old on or before September 15.
To register your student, please follow the directions under New/Returning Students.
Open Enrollment
Open enrollment is a process that allows parents/guardians residing in an Iowa school district the option of enrolling their children into another Iowa school district.
Eligibility
Students in kindergarten through high school are eligible to open enroll into a district of their choice. Students who move out of the district who have attended through 10th grade may continue to attend school in the District without applying for open enrollment.
How To Apply
Beginning July 1, 2024, state code requires open enrollment applications to be submitted to both the resident district and the receiving district by March 1 in the year of enrollment. Get more information about open enrollment on the Iowa Department of Education website.
To send an application by mail, address it to:
Ames Community School District
District Offices
Attention: Enrollment Specialist
2005 24th St.
Ames, IA 50010
If your student is currently open enrolled into the Ames Community School District and would like to continue attending next year, you do not need to submit a new application. Once you have been approved for open enrollment, the approval continues until your student graduates or you notify the district you are ending your open enrollment and enrolling in a different school district.
Resources
- Families of students who live outside the District must arrange for transportation to the school they are assigned for open enrollment or arrange for transportation to an Ames school bus route. Learn more about Transportation.
- Students who open enroll into grades 9-12 must wait 90 days before participating in interscholastic contests at the varsity level. For questions of eligibility, contact the Iowa High School Athletic Association at 515-432-2011.
Currently Attending Students
Registration Verification for the 2023-2024 is open. To view registration information, sign on to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.
Update Contact Information
During the online registration verification period, you may update your contact information and preferences. Outside of the online registration verification period, you may update your information at any time through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. To change your address, please contact the District Registrar.
New/Returning Students
All students must complete the enrollment process before they may attend school. You may register online, at home, or in the Registrar’s Office. Please keep in mind the enrollment process may take one to three days to be fully complete.
Enroll a New Student Online
1. Go to Online Registration.
2. Gather the required documents.
Even though you will enter most enrollment information online, there are a few paper documents you must submit to the Registrar.
- Proof of age
- Visa for international students
- Immunization records
- Proof of residency, such as utility bill, bank statement or lease agreement
- If you have purchased a home but not yet closed, please provide a copy of the purchase agreement with your name, address, closing date and signatures.
- Current transcript for students in grades 9 – 12
- Please note, students enrolling in our high school must meet with a school counselor before they start school, to set up their class schedule.
3. Complete other required forms.
Required health forms may vary based on the grade your student is entering. You may pick up the required forms at the Registrar’s office, or click on the links to print the forms and complete them before you meet with the Registrar.
Touring Your New School
After the Registration process is complete, the District offers new students and their families an opportunity to tour the school they will be attending. Contact the school you will be attending to schedule a tour. If you are enrolling during the summer, there will be a new student orientation in August.
Kindergarten/EK
Know a child who will be 5 years old on or before September 15 who is eligible for kindergarten? Enroll now!
We assign kindergarten students to the school in the boundary area that corresponds to their home address. Students who enroll after classes are full in their grade level at their boundary school may be assigned to a different school. If your resident district is outside of Ames, open enrollment is required to attend in the district. 2024-2025 Open enrollment applications are available online.
To register your student, please follow the directions under New/Returning Students.
Preschool
Northwood Preschool Center provides free preschool classes four days a week: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Incoming Preschool students must be 4 years old on or before September 15.
To register your student, please follow the directions under New/Returning Students.
Open Enrollment
Open enrollment is a process that allows parents/guardians residing in an Iowa school district the option of enrolling their children into another Iowa school district.
Eligibility
Students in kindergarten through high school are eligible to open enroll into a district of their choice. Students who move out of the district who have attended through 10th grade may continue to attend school in the District without applying for open enrollment.
How To Apply
Beginning July 1, 2024, state code requires open enrollment applications to be submitted to both the resident district and the receiving district by March 1 in the year of enrollment. Get more information about open enrollment on the Iowa Department of Education website.
To send an application by mail, address it to:
Ames Community School District
District Offices
Attention: Enrollment Specialist
2005 24th St.
Ames, IA 50010
If your student is currently open enrolled into the Ames Community School District and would like to continue attending next year, you do not need to submit a new application. Once you have been approved for open enrollment, the approval continues until your student graduates or you notify the district you are ending your open enrollment and enrolling in a different school district.
Resources
- Families of students who live outside the District must arrange for transportation to the school they are assigned for open enrollment or arrange for transportation to an Ames school bus route. Learn more about Transportation.
- Students who open enroll into grades 9-12 must wait 90 days before participating in interscholastic contests at the varsity level. For questions of eligibility, contact the Iowa High School Athletic Association at 515-432-2011.
Moving
If you are moving out of the Ames Community School District please take a moment to fill out this form. This information will help ensure that your students’ records are sent to the correct school. By filling out this form, your students will not be added to a class list and will be removed from Infinite Campus once a records request is received.
*Please complete a separate form for each student.*
Translations:
Arabic: Moving Out of Ames Request Form
Chinese: Moving Out of Ames Request Form
Spanish: Moving Out of Ames Request Form
Vietnamese: Moving Out of Ames Request Form
Homeschool Assistance
The Home School Assistance Program provides a channel for parents to be in compliance with state legal requirements and offering educational enrichment activities, programs, and resources to supplement the parent’s home schooling efforts.
District Boundaries
The Board has set boundaries for attendance centers throughout the District. All elementary resident students shall attend school in their neighborhood elementary building. All students in grades 6-8 attend Ames Middle School. All students in grades 9-12 attend Ames High School. Please contact the District Registrar to determine the boundary school for a specific address.
Contact Us
