Attendance Area School
What is an attendance area school?
An attendance area school is an elementary, middle, junior, or senior high school where students are assigned to a public school based on where they live, so long as the school offers services the students need.
Who decides which student goes to what school?
Geographical jurisdictions, also known as attendance boundaries or school attendance zones, are defined by school district administrators in the state or city where applicable.
Definitions of school districts change over time, so to keep up with the fluctuating school-age population, every five years, the U.S. Census Bureau also plays its part in updating school district boundaries, also known as school catchment areas.
Why are school attendance zones significant?
The calculations for attendance area schools explore the distribution of educational outcomes among local school systems. They are also often popular searches in home and rental research for those with children or planning parenthood.
Attendance area schools utilize attendance zones to prevent overcrowding of public educational institutions, and also guarantee that students who live in the area can go to their local schools.
Magnet, charter, and alternative schools are not attendance area schools and do not have set attendance zones.
To learn more about Goodwin University Magnet Schools, please visit Riverside Magnet School (pre-K through grade 5) and/or Connecticut River Academy (Grades 6 through 12).
Magnet schools offer several benefits including:
- Academic success that prepares students for a lifetime of achievement
- Diverse student body that encourages respect, empathy and collaboration
- Family and community involvement that instills a passion for learning and growth
- Flexible and innovative curriculum centered around a unifying theme
