How does public school enrollment work in Albuquerque? What do parents need to know?

I found it significant to know how to request transfers to other public schools if the school in my neighborhood was not performing well. If a school has a certain rating, then APS will allow you to enter a request for transfer to another public school in the district that has a higher rating. You must enter the request by sometime in March for the following year and you list 3 schools in order of preference in case there isn't room in your first pick school. Also, ABQ has a ton of charter schools. They all work on a lottery entry system except for siblings of students already enrolled there. The lottery entry deadlines start in February and go through May depending on the school. Charter schools are tuition-free but you sometimes have to pay for things regular schools provide because charters don't get as much public funding as regular public schools. So, for example, you may pay the full $15 for a band shirt instead of $5. But it is WORTH it! My daughter starts Kindergarten at Montessori of The Rio Grande Charter School this Fall 2009! Got in on the first lottery draw! Whoot!