LRSD Open Enrollment 2027–28: Which Window Is Yours?
LRSD's November Window Is for Current Students
November is almost here, so here's a quick update on Little Rock School District enrollment for 2027–28.
LRSD's November 9–20 magnet application window is for students who already go to an LRSD school. If your child is in private school, charter school, homeschool, or another district right now, or is starting school for the first time, your dates are different.
If your child goes to McDermott, Western Hills, or Mabelvale Elementary, there's more to know. Those three schools close after this school year, so skip down to "If Your Child's School Is Closing."
Not sure which group you're in? Email LRSD Student Registration at sro@lrsd.org.
Who to Contact at LRSD
• Registration and general enrollment questions: sro@lrsd.org or 501-447-2950
• Magnet applications and in-district transfers (TNT): Andre Williams, andre.williams@lrsd.org or 501-447-2965
• McDermott, Western Hills, and Mabelvale Elementary families: Hilda Padron, hilda.padron@lrsd.org or 501-447-2953
• Pre-K questions: ECC@lrsd.org or 501-447-3960
• Online: LRSD Student Registration page
Which LRSD Window Is Yours?
Your child goes to an LRSD school now
Your child rolls up automatically November 2–6, 2026. If you want a magnet school instead, apply November 9–20.
Your child is finishing Pre-K, 5th, or 8th grade in LRSD
Your child moves to your zoned school automatically. If you'd like a magnet instead, apply November 9–20.
Your child goes to McDermott, Western Hills, or Mabelvale Elementary
These schools close after this school year, so your child won't roll up to the same building. See "If Your Child's School Is Closing" below.
You live in LRSD, but your child isn't in an LRSD school now
Email sro@lrsd.org to confirm when to register and apply. If you're interested in Parkview or Forest Heights, the round for prospective students runs January 19–29, 2027.
You live outside LRSD
Apply for a magnet January 1–15, 2027, with an Arkansas School Choice form.
You want an in-district transfer (TNT)
Email Andre Williams at andre.williams@lrsd.org to ask when to submit your request. LRSD processes transfer requests after the magnet lotteries and notifies families by February 12, 2027.
If Your Child's School Is Closing
The LRSD board voted October 15 to close McDermott, Western Hills, and Mabelvale Elementary after the 2026–27 school year. Students at those schools will move to new zoned schools, and your new school depends on your address:
• Western Hills: Bale Elementary, with Williams Magnet as an option
• McDermott: Fulbright, Terry, Jefferson, or Bale, with Williams Magnet as an option
• Mabelvale Elementary: Otter Creek, Chicot, or Watson
LRSD is running its own transition process for these families, with its own dates. If you're not sure where your child is headed or what to do next, email Hilda Padron in LRSD Student Registration at hilda.padron@lrsd.org. She handles school assignments for all three schools. You can also check LRSD's school transitions page.
LRSD Open Enrollment Timeline for 2027–28
• November 2–6, 2026: Current-student rollup
• November 9–20, 2026: Magnet applications for current LRSD students. This is also when current students submit Forest Heights documents and set up Parkview auditions.
• November 30 – December 18, 2026: Parkview auditions and Forest Heights document review for current LRSD students
• January 1–15, 2027: Out-of-district magnet applications, with an Arkansas School Choice form
• January 19–29, 2027: Parkview auditions and Forest Heights document review for prospective students
• February 1–5, 2027: Magnet lotteries
• February 8, 2027: Magnet lottery letters go out to current and prospective students
• By February 12, 2027: In-district transfer (TNT) notifications
• January 1 – June 1, 2027: Arkansas School Choice window, with decisions by July 1
Forest Heights STEM Academy and Parkview
Two LRSD schools add a step to the magnet process. Forest Heights STEM Academy holds a document review, and Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School holds auditions. Each one runs two rounds:
• Round one, November 30 – December 18, 2026: current LRSD students
• Round two, January 19–29, 2027: prospective students
Each round falls right after an application window, so put both on your calendar at the same time.
For Forest Heights, email sro@lrsd.org to ask which documents your child's grade needs, and gather them before your round starts.
For Parkview, auditions are by program, and the programs range from band and dance to science and visual arts. Check the requirements for your child's program early, especially if there's a piece to prepare.
Curious how many families applied in past years? Our three-year look at LRSD magnet applications breaks it down school by school.
Little Rock Private School Admissions Dates for 2027–28
Private schools each set their own calendar, and several key dates land in the next few weeks.
Catholic High School for Boys
• Open house: Sunday, January 31, 2027, 12:30–2:30 p.m.
• Entrance exam: Saturday, February 6, 2027, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m., with check-in at 8:30. No preregistration needed.
• Interviews: March, with decisions by the end of March
• Freshman orientation: April 13, 2027
• Contact: chs@lrchs.org, 501-664-3939, or lrchs.org
Boys from Catholic parochial schools skip the application but still take the entrance exam. On exam day, bring a #2 pencil and $5, and dress in khakis, a button-down, and a tie.
Episcopal Collegiate School
• Kindergarten observations: November 2–5, 2026
• Pre-K4 observations: November 9–12, 2026
• Pre-K3 observations: November 17 and 19, 2026
• Shadow visits for grades 1–12: beginning after October 23
• Early admission decisions: November 20, 2026
• Contact: 501-372-1194 or episcopalcollegiate.org
Little Rock Christian Academy
• Applications for 2027–28: open November 1, 2026
• Tours: fall tours are available now
• Contact: littlerockchristian.com
The school doesn't keep waitlists for future years, so you can only apply the fall before your child would start.
Mount St. Mary Academy
• 2027–28 dates: not posted online when we checked, so ask admissions
• Contact: admissions@mtstmary.edu or 501-664-8006
Pulaski Academy
• Early application date: November 2, 2026
• Review time: allow 12 to 21 school days once a file is complete
• Contact: 501-604-1923 or pulaskiacademy.org
Arkansas School Choice for 2027–28
Arkansas School Choice lets families apply for a public school outside their zone, either in their own district or a different one. The window runs January 1 through June 1, 2027, and districts must respond by July 1. A district can turn down a transfer only when the school is out of room.
For the full rules, plus charter school lotteries and Education Freedom Account timing, see our 2027–28 school deadlines guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
We live in Little Rock, but our child goes to private school. When do we apply to LRSD?
LRSD lists its November 9–20 magnet window for current LRSD students. If your child isn't enrolled in LRSD now, email sro@lrsd.org to confirm when to register and apply. For Parkview or Forest Heights, the round for prospective students runs January 19–29, 2027.
Do current LRSD students need to do anything during open enrollment?
Most don't. Current students roll up automatically November 2–6, 2026, and Pre-K, 5th, and 8th graders move to their zoned school. Apply November 9–20 if you want a magnet. Families at McDermott, Western Hills, and Mabelvale Elementary should follow LRSD's transition process, since those schools close after this school year.
My child's school is closing. Who do I email?
Email Hilda Padron in LRSD Student Registration at hilda.padron@lrsd.org. She handles school assignments for McDermott, Western Hills, and Mabelvale Elementary. You can also email sro@lrsd.org.
When are the Forest Heights STEM Academy document review and Parkview auditions?
Round one runs November 30 – December 18, 2026, for current LRSD students. Round two runs January 19–29, 2027, for prospective students.
When do LRSD magnet lottery letters go out?
Lotteries run February 1–5, 2027, and magnet lottery letters go out February 8, 2027. In-district transfer notifications follow by February 12.
When is the Catholic High entrance exam for 2027?
Saturday, February 6, 2027, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with check-in starting at 8:30. You don't need to preregister.
Not Sure Which Window Fits?
Email LRSD Student Registration at sro@lrsd.org, or call 501-447-2950. The full timeline is also on LRSD's Student Registration page.
If this helped, send it to a friend who's just starting their school search. Plenty of families first hear about these windows from another parent, and you might be the one who saves a friend from a missed deadline.
LRSD, Catholic High, Episcopal Collegiate, Little Rock Christian Academy, and Pulaski Academy dates were checked October 26, 2026. Schedules can change, so please confirm with each school before you apply.