It's called School Choice. Every child that is 1. new to the area, 2. entering Kg, 3. Entering Middle school, 4. entering high school fill out an application ranking their school preferences. When application is submitted, the computer recognizes if the student currently has siblings attending a specific school, also which school is nearest in proximity. In April, students' applications are drawn out randomly and the student is assigned, ideally, to their #1 choice of schools. If the #1 choice is fll for that grade, they will be assigned to the #2 choice & their name placed on a waiting list for #1 choice. As everyone shuffles around, it is possible a spot may open up at your #1 choice, and you will receive a call & and an opportunity to accept placement in your #1 choice, but it's up to you at that point.

Most people are placed in their #1 or #2 choice - the trick is when a fmily enrolls more than one child at a time; there is no guarantee one school will have openings in all the right grades, and siblings may end up attending different schools. The nice part is, that in 5 years living in Cape Coral, there really isn't a "bad" elementary school - our oldest sone received his #2 choice, but we stayed and are thrilled & have been for 5 years now, as are all our friends who have kids at the other schools in town.