The Student Assignment First Application period (Batch 1) for the 2013/2014 school year is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 14, through Friday, March 1. The first application period is mandatory for: Current students of Lee County Public Schools attending Pre-K, fifth or eighth grades; kindergarten and new students to the District.

In addition, students currently enrolled in a school may participate if they want to change schools next year.

On Friday, Jan. 11, pre-printed applications will be sent to parents of Pre-K students attending Lee County Public Schools who are eligible for kindergarten for 2013/14, as well as current fifth- and eighth-grade students who currently attend a Lee County Public School.

Parents of children who will be 5 on or before Sept. 1 should apply for kindergarten for the 2013/14 school year. Parents need to register their child even if they have an older child already in school – there are NO automatic assignments.

Contrary to a popular misconception, the system is based on a lottery, NOT first come, first served. That means a family who registers the first day of Batch 1 has the same chance of getting a school as that of a family no need for families to stand in long lines when Batch 1 starts.

In addition, if families received a pre-printed application, they are strongly encouraged to apply online via the Districts’ Web site (studentassignment.leeschools.net). This option is not available to new students to the District or students who attended a Lee County public school, left the District and are now returning to our county.

Parents and students may also visit schools during open house. Parents may visit the District’s Web site (www.leeschools.net/calendar/districtwide.asp) or call the school to find out the open house date and time.

Student Assignment offices are open from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the following locations:

* Lehigh Acres Office, 1262 Wings Way Suite #207, Lehigh Acres, FL 33936

(Located on Beth Stacey Blvd off of Homestead Rd. in the Community Health Association Complex.)

* Cape Coral Office, 370 Santa Barbara Blvd. North, Cape Coral FL, 33993

(Located in the Lee County High Tech Center North, off of Pine Island Road, just north of Roger Dean Chevrolet.)

* Fort Myers Office, 2855 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33966

(Located at the corner of Colonial Blvd and Metro Pkwy behind McDonalds.)