First, determine the school district your children will attend. If you think you know the district, its is best to call and confirm both the district and, if attending a neighborhood school, the attendance area of the school that serves your new home. If you don't know which district serves your new home, look at the maps on the this web site, then call the district to confirm. Realtors can also provide this information, and each district has a web site - some with very complete information. For example, the Denver Public Schools has a web site section in which the user can enter the address of a home, and the system will respond with the elementary, middle and high schools serving that address. See the public school district information on this site to find the phone number and links to web sites for each district.

To enroll children in any of these public school districts, certain basic information must be provided.

• Immunization records - Colorado law requires current immunization records before the enrollment process can begin. The required immunizations are chickenpox; diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis; hepatitis B; haemophilus influenza type B; and measles, mumps, rubella, polio.
• State certified birth certificate. Children entering kindergarten must be five years old by September 15 in all local school districts except the Englewood Schools (September 1) and the Boulder Valley Schools (September 30).
• Proof of residency - such as a utility bill, home ownership contract, lease agreement, or rent receipt
• Student social security card or number
• Name and address of the child’s previous school so that academic records may be obtained

After enrollment, high school students will need to provide transcripts from the previous school attended. In most cases the school will send for these documents after a release form is signed by the student or parent. Other cumulative records for younger transfer students, such as past report cards, writing samples, or test scores, may be required by individual schools, but these are also acquired by the school.

The first day of classes varies from mid to late August for each school district. Many alternative, magnet, focus, or charter schools determine their own schedules, so the start date may be different from that of the district. The Douglas County, Cherry Creek, and Aurora districts have some year-round, four track elementary schools, so these schedules will vary. Additionally, several Denver elementary schools follow an extended-year calendar.