The city shall be divided into nine (9) elementary school Districts. Children living within these defined Districts shall attend the elementary school of that District unless specific permission to attend another school is granted in accordance with Policy 6120 or for individual program purposes by the Superintendent of schools of his/her designee.
Boundaries or Districts are organized with only the best educational interests in mind for all the
children of Wauwatosa. This includes the optimum and economical use of the school system's phy-sical facilities and teaching staff. District boundaries are not permanent, and changing conditions may occasionally require the shifting of boundary lines. These nine (9) elementary school District's shall be defined as follows, with the middle of the streets named as boundaries being considered as the legal boundaries and homes on either side being considered as falling in their respective Districts:
Eisenhower--that portion of the city bounded on the west by the city limits; on the south by
Watertown Plank Road; on the east by North Mayfair Road to West Burleigh, thence east on West Burleigh to the city limits, thence north on the city limits to West Keefe Avenue; on the north by West Keefe Avenue and West Keefe Avenue extended to the City Limits.
Jefferson--that portion of the city bounded on the west by the west side of and including North 76 Street; on the south by the city limited; on the east by the city limits; and on the north by the C.M. St. P&P Railroad tracks.
Lincoln--that portion of the city bounded on the east by Wauwatosa Avenue from West North Avenue south to West Garfield Avenue east on West Garfield Avenue to North 73rd Street, North 73rd Street south to West Lloyd Street, east on West Lloyd Street to North 71st Street, south on North 71st Street to Hillcrest Drive, east on Hillcrest Drive to North 69th Street, south on North 69th Street to Milwaukee Avenue, east on Milwaukee Avenue to North 68th Street south on North 68th Street to C.M. St. P&P Railroad tracks from North 68th Street along the railroad tracks west to Walnut Road extended; on the west by North 83rd Street to West North Avenue; on the north by West North Avenue.
Madison--that portion of the city bounded on the west by North 124 Street; on the sound by West Keefe Avenue and West Keefe Avenue extended; and on the east and north by the city limits.
McKinley--that portion of the city bounded on the North by the city limits to the Blue Mound Country Club, then north to West Burleigh Street and west to Mayfair Road; on the west by Mayfair Road; on the south by Menomonee River Parkway from 86th Street to Swan
Boulevard and by a line equivalent to Fisher Parkway extended from Mayfair Road to
Menomonee River Parkway; on the east by North 81st Street from the north city limits to West North Avenue, North 83rd Street from West North Avenue south to Hillcrest Drive, west on Hillcrest to 85th Street, thence at a diagonal line to Menomonee River Parkway.
Roosevelt--that portion of the city bounded on the east by the city limits; on the north by the north city limits; on the west by North 81st Street; and on the south by West North Avenue
except for that area bounded by Wauwatosa Avenue on the west, West Garfield Avenue on the south, and north 73rd Street on the east which shall also be included in the Roosevelt area.
Underwood--that portion of the city bounded on the west by the city limits; on the south by the city limits, on the east by a line equivalent to the extension of North 97th Street from Blue Mound Road to Watertown Plank Road and, east of 97th Street, by a line equivalent to the
extension of 92nd Street from Menomonee River Parkway south to Watertown Plank Road; and on the north by Watertown Plank Road from 124th Street east to Mayfair Road and east
of Mayfair Road by a line equivalent to the extension of Fisher Parkway east to Menomonee River Parkway.
Washington--that portion of the city bounded on the east by the city limits; on the south by
the C.M. St. P&P Railroad tracks; on the west by North 68th Street from the railroad tracks to Milwaukee Avenue, west on Milwaukee Avenue to North 69th Street, North 69th Street to Hillcrest Drive, Hillcrest Drive to North 71st Street, North 71st Street to West Lloyd Street, West Lloyd Street to North 73rd Street, North 73rd Street to West North Avenue; and on the north by West North Avenue.
Wilson--that portion of the city bounded on the south by the city limits; on the east by North 76th Street, but not including North 76th Street; on the north by the C.M. St. P&P Railroad tracks to the extension of West Walnut Street at 92nd Street and, from 92nd Street west, by Watertown Plank Road, on the west by 92nd Street and, from Watertown Plank Road south to the city limits, by a line equivalent to the extension of North 100th Street.
School Attendance Areas, Middle Schools
The city shall be divided into two (2) middle school districts. Children shall attend the middle school within their residence district for grades 6, 7 and 8 unless permission for transfer is given in accordance with Policy 5120 or for individual program purposes by the Superintendent of schools or his/her designee. These two (2) Districts shall be defined as follows:
Eisenhower, Madison, Underwood, and the McKinley Elementary School District west of North 92nd Street shall constitute the Whitman School District.
Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Washington, Wilson and the McKinley Elementary School
District east of North 92nd Street shall constitute the Longfellow School District.
School Attendance Areas, High Schools
The city shall be divided into two (2) high school districts. One shall be designated as the East High School District and one shall be designated as the West High School District.
These two (2) districts shall be defined as follows:
Eisenhower, Madison, Underwood, and the McKinley Elementary School Districts shall con-stitute the West High School District.
Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Washington, and Wilson Elementary School Districts shall constitute the East High School District.
Students shall attend the high school within their residence district for grades 9 through 12 except
as permitted in Policy 5120 or unless an administrative assignment, due to program or individual
requirements, is made.
Transfers to Alternate Attendance Areas
Attendance area boundaries for Wauwatosa's public schools provide guidelines for where children will attend school. However, at the elementary and middle school level, the School District also offers an intra-District transfer program which allows parents, based on space and appropriate program, to choose a school outside the home attendance area best suited to their child's needs and interests. At the high school level, the intra-District transfer program is limited to transfers which do not: 1) negatively affect the overall enrollment balance in the school, 2) negatively affect the proportion of inter-District transfer students relative to the general population in either school, or 3) do not negatively affect the proportion of special needs students (defined as students receiving special education or ESL services) relative to the general population in either school. This policy does allow for "grand-fathering" of current intra-District transfer high school students and siblings of current (as of the effective date of this policy) and past high school students so that they may attend the high school of their choice. The District will inform parents that this choice option is available annually. School selection must be completed by March 1st for the next school year, using established district procedures. Response will be made by April 1st. Exception to deadlines will be made for families who change attendance boundaries within Wauwatosa or are residents new to Wauwatosa after March 1st. In these cases, response will be made within thirty (30) days of the request.
If the requested transfer involves a student with an exceptional educational need who has a current Individualized Education Plan (IEP), the Director of Student Services or designee will review the IEP to determine if the plan can be delivered in the school site requested. If the request involves the transfer of a student with limited English proficiency and who is receiving English Language Learning
services (ELL), the ELL teacher and Coordinator will be consulted regarding the transfer request.
Once approved, the transfer will remain in effect until the student completes the highest grade level of the school s/he is enrolled in (elementary, middle, high school) unless continuation of the transfer would result in overcrowding of the school or class requested.
Transfer requests may be rejected due to ongoing behavioral problems or truancy. Transfers may be withdrawn for failure to follow school rules and policies. Parents have the right to rescind transfers at a time deemed appropriate by the principal.
Transfer requests may be denied if the intent of the transfer is to resolve a problem at the current school.
The Wauwatosa School District provides quality and equitable opportunities at every building in the District. Conflict resolution practices/procedures are available to all members of the school community.
High School Transfer Principles/Guidelines
"At the high school level, the intra-District transfer program is limited to transfer which do not: 1) negatively affect the overall enrollment balance in the school, 2) negatively affect the proportion of inter-District transfer students relative to the general population in either school, or 3) do not negatively affect the proportion of special needs students (defined as students receiving special education or ELL services) relative to the general population in either school. This policy does allow for "grand-fathering" of current intra-District transfer high school students and siblings of current (as of the effective date of this policy) and past high school students so that they may attend the high school of their choice."
General Guidelines for all Transfer Requests
Any right to remain in a school after a move or remain in a school through the intra-District transfer program is negated if it is later determined that attendance at the school has occurred through deceit.
Intra-District transfer will remain in effect until graduation unless continuation of the transfer would result in overcrowding of the school or class requested.
Transfers may be withdrawn for failure to follow school rules and/or attendance policies.
If the request to transfers involves a student with a need for special education services, the
director or supervisor of student services will review the IEP to determine if the plan can be
delivered in the school site requested.
If the request involves the transfer of a student with limited English proficiency who is receiving English Language Learning services (ELL), the ELL teacher will be consulted.
A parent may request return to the home attendance area school at a time mutually agreed upon between the school and the parent. Most returns will be required to occur at the start of a new semester or the beginning of the following school year.
For Transfer Requests to the Larger High School
Transfer to the larger high school will not be approved as long as the size discrepancy
between the two (2) high schools remains at 100 or more students.
"Grandfathering" for initial assignment to East High School applies only to students who had a sibling attending East High School on or before the adoption of the transfer policy (April, 1997).
If a resident student who has attended the larger high school and who has achieved senior status moves to another attendance area during a school year, s/he will be permitted to
complete his/her education at the larger high school. If a resident student who has attended the larger high school and who has achieved senior status moves out of the School District and intends to continue attending a Wauwatosa school through a tuition waiver or the open enrollment program, that student will be permitted to complete his/her education at the larger high school.
If a non-resident student who has attended the larger high school and who has achieved
senior status moves into the School District, but not in the larger high school's attendance area, that student will be allowed to complete his/her education at the larger high school.
Students that move out of the boundary area or out of the District after attending a high school for an entire school year (two (2) complete semesters) at either high school, are allowed to remain at the building they have attended for their high school experience. Necessary paperwork (inter-district transfer or tuition waiver) must be completed.
Siblings of students whose family moves out of the larger high school's attendance area or out of the School District and who plan to attend a Wauwatosa school through a tuition waiver or participation in the open enrollment program may attend the larger high school if the older sibling has attended the larger high school for two full semesters or has achieved senior status at the larger high school. This does not apply if older siblings have graduated or will graduate within the same year that the request for tuition waiver or open enrollment has been submitted.
For Transfer Requests to the Smaller High School
Transfer requests to the smaller high school will be approved at all levels as long as the size discrepancy between the high schools is 100 students or more, and as long as they meet the requirements of Board policy as listed above and the attendance and behavioral guidelines as delineated in the intra-district transfer form.
The District may request an interview with the student/parent or guardian to discuss the reason and goals of the transfer. The District may deny the transfer if it is determined the transfer may jeopardize current achievement/climate of the building.
Senior Status Privilege
According to Wisconsin State statute, students who move from the School District and have senior status are permitted to remain in/return to the District to complete the senior year of high school. In the case of students who move after completing the junior year, no paperwork is necessary to return. If a student moves prior to completing the junior year, an additional year tuition waiver form must be completed and submitted. The student will then be allowed to return to complete the final year of high school. The student who has not completed the junior year at the time of the move will be assigned to the smaller school to complete the student's senior year.
Inter-District transfer students will be assigned to a Wauwatosa school upon entry to the
program.
Students assigned to Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Washington and Wilson will be assigned to Longfellow Middle School and East High School.
Students assigned to Eisenhower, Madison, McKinley and Underwood will be assigned to Whitman Middle School and East High School.
Parents may request an intra-district transfer to another elementary school in the District. HOWEVER, the students middle and high school assignment is based on the original
elementary school assignment.
Because the middle school boundary is not congruent with the high school boundary, students may transfer between the middle school as long as there is space available in the school and grade requested. The student's high school assignment is based on the original elementary school assignment.
At the high school level, the "grandfathering" clause of the high school transfer policy, which allows siblings of students who attended East High School on or before April 1997 to attend East High School, applies to both resident and transfer students.
If a student attending the larger high school through the Chapter 220 or open enrollment program moves into the School District, but to the smaller school's attendance area during a school year, and who has achieved senior status in the year of the move, s/he will be permitted to complete his/her education at the larger school.
Siblings of high school students who move out of the School District and plan to attend the School District through a tuition waiver or participation in the open enrollment program may attend the larger high school if the older sibling has attended the larger high school for two full semesters or has achieved senior status at the larger high school. This does not apply if older siblings have graduated or will graduate within the same year that the request for tuition waiver or open enrollment has been submitted.
All requirements that apply to transfers between the high schools as described on the first page of this document also apply to open enrollment and Chapter 220 student transfer requests.
Approved/Adopted: July 13, 2009
Revised: December 14, 2015
