School Choice
School Choice Program Status
The School Choice Program has opened for the:
- Pelham Elementary School District
- Amherst-Pelham Regional School District
- Amherst Elementary School District
School Choice Policy
Students admitted through the Massachusetts School Choice Program may remain enrolled only in the district that accepted them, through the highest grade level offered in that district, as long as they maintain continuous enrollment and remain in good standing. School Choice does not allow automatic continuation into another district within the region. For example, students School-Choiced into Amherst Public Schools (Grades K–6) must reapply for School Choice to attend Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools (Grades 7–12). Likewise, students School-Choiced into Leverett or Shutesbury must apply for School Choice into Amherst-Pelham Regional to attend ARMS or ARHS.
Important Transition Notice for Current School Choice Families
The 2025–2026 school year will be the final year that currently enrolled School Choice students may transition into the next grade span without reapplying.
Beginning Fall 2026 (School Year 2026–2027):
All students currently holding School Choice seats must apply and be accepted through the School Choice process to attend Amherst-Pelham Regional Middle Schools (Grades 7-8), regardless of whether they previously attended Amherst Public Schools, Leverett, Pelham, or Shutesbury under School Choice.
There will no longer be automatic continuation into the Regional Middle School.
How This Applies by District
|
Current School Choice Placement (Grades K–5) |
To Attend Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools (Grades 6–12), Families Must: |
|
Amherst Public Schools (K–5) |
Submit a new School Choice application to Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools |
|
Leverett Elementary (K–5) |
Submit a new School Choice application to Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools |
|
Pelham Elementary (K–5) |
Submit a new School Choice application to Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools |
|
Shutesbury Elementary (K–5) |
Submit a new School Choice application to Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools |
Why This Change Is Happening
As the Amherst district transitions to a K–5 and 6–12 structure, School Choice procedures are being aligned to:
- Ensure equitable access
- Maintain enrollment stability
- Match available program capacity at the Regional level
When to Apply for 2026–2027
The application window for School Choice for the 2026–2027 school year will be posted on this page once finalized.
Please check back for updates.
Questions?
Contact the Enrollment Office for assistance:
📧 registration@arps.org
📞 413-362-1893
- Amherst Elementary School District
- Pelham Elementary School District
- Amherst-Pelham Regional School District
Amherst Elementary School District
School Choice Guidelines
Unless accepted into the Amherst, Pelham, or Amherst-Pelham School Choice Program, non-resident students must attend school in the town in which they reside. The School Choice Program permits non-resident students the opportunity to attend our schools while residing in a surrounding town. Each of the three districts of the Amherst-Pelham Schools must annually vote to participate in the School Choice program, which is generally voted in February or March of the preceding school year.
There are a limited number of School Choice seats, and an application is required for each student applying. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but they must be received by a deadline which is annually established - generally in mid-June of the school year preceding. Applications from siblings of students already enrolled in the Amherst-Pelham Schools under the School Choice program and who will remain in the School Choice program during that school year will, by law, receive priority in acceptance for available Choice seats. Once siblings have been placed, and if there are more sibling applicants than the number of seats, a lottery will be conducted to determine placement. Should the number of applications exceed the number of vacancies, all applicants not accepted will be randomly selected and placed, in the order of their selection, on a waiting list.
Parents will receive a Notice of Acceptance indicating their child's status (tentative seat awarded or wait list status) via email, and a response from parent must be emailed by the deadline provided in the notification by the Superintendent’s Office. If your child is accepted into the Choice program, the student is entitled to attend the Amherst Schools through high school graduation, if continuously enrolled.
Bus Transportation is not available for School Choice students. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the parents/Guardians to provide daily transportation and to ensure students arrive at school on time and are promptly picked-up after school.
The School Choice Lottery will take place in June, with notifications emailed the following week.
Please be aware that residents of Amherst, Pelham, or the four towns which comprise the Amherst Pelham Regional Schools who move out of the district but wish to have their child(ren) remain as students in the district do not have any unique claim to the seats their children vacated. Those parents must apply for admission to the school choice program in the same manner as any other parent who does not reside in town.
School Choice Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Do the Amherst, Pelham, and Amherst-Pelham Regional School Districts accept School Choice students every year?
- How many School Choice seats are available each year and in what grade levels?
- How do I enroll my child in the Amherst, Pelham, or Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools through the School Choice program?
- Since School Choice seats are limited, how are students selected for the program from the applications received?
- I used to live in one of the towns served by the Districts, but have moved out of that town. Is my child automatically eligible to remain in the district via the School Choice program?
- If a lottery is required for School Choice placement, what happens to applicants not selected through the lottery?
- How and when will I know the status of my child’s School Choice application?
- My child has been accepted into the School Choice program. Will the Amherst, Pelham, or Amherst-Pelham Regional School Districts provide transportation?
- My child has been accepted into the School Choice program at the elementary level in the Amherst, Pelham, Leverett, or Shutesbury School Districts. Will they be automatically enrolled in the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District for secondary school?
Do the Amherst, Pelham, and Amherst-Pelham Regional School Districts accept School Choice students every year?
How many School Choice seats are available each year and in what grade levels?
The number and grade level of School Choice seats is determined annually based on the current and anticipated enrollment in each grade level at each school. School Choice seats are opened only when enrollment of resident students is low enough that choice students can be accepted without exceeding the class size limits set by the School Committees.
How do I enroll my child in the Amherst, Pelham, or Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools through the School Choice program?
Since School Choice seats are limited, how are students selected for the program from the applications received?
Applications from siblings of students already enrolled in the Amherst-Pelham Schools under the School Choice program, and who will remain in the School Choice program during that school year will, by law, receive priority in acceptance for available Choice seats. Once siblings have been placed, or if there are more sibling applicants than the number of seats, a lottery will be conducted to determine placement.
I used to live in one of the towns served by the Districts, but have moved out of that town. Is my child automatically eligible to remain in the district via the School Choice program?
Please be aware that residents of Amherst, Pelham, or the four towns which comprise the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools who move out of the district but wish to have their child(ren) remain as students in the district do not have any unique claim to the seats their children vacated. Those parents must apply for admission to the School Choice program in the same manner as any other parent who does not reside in town
If a lottery is required for School Choice placement, what happens to applicants not selected through the lottery?
How and when will I know the status of my child’s School Choice application?
The School Choice Lottery will take place in June, with notifications the following week. Parents will receive a Notice of Acceptance indicating their child's status (tentative seat awarded or waitlist status) via email, along with the Registration information, which must be completed by the deadline indicated in the letter.
My child has been accepted into the School Choice program. Will the Amherst, Pelham, or Amherst-Pelham Regional School Districts provide transportation?
My child has been accepted into the School Choice program at the elementary level in the Amherst, Pelham, Leverett, or Shutesbury School Districts. Will they be automatically enrolled in the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District for secondary school?
No. Starting with the fiscal year 2020, the school year 2019-20, a school choice student admitted to an elementary or K-6 district does not have a right to attend the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District when they complete sixth grade. If they are interested in enrolling in the Regional District, they will have to apply for school choice seats at the 7th-grade level; these choice seats are not guaranteed, nor will graduates of the elementary school districts receive preference.
Pelham Elementary School District
School Choice Guidelines
Unless accepted into the Amherst, Pelham, or Amherst-Pelham School Choice Program, non-resident students must attend school in the town in which they reside. The School Choice Program permits non-resident students the opportunity to attend our schools while residing in a surrounding town. Each of the three districts of the Amherst-Pelham Schools must annually vote to participate in the School Choice program, which is generally voted in February or March of the preceding school year.
There are a limited number of School Choice seats, and an application is required for each student applying. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but they must be received by a deadline which is annually established - generally in mid-June of the school year preceding. Applications from siblings of students already enrolled in the Amherst-Pelham Schools under the School Choice program and who will remain in the School Choice program during that school year will, by law, receive priority in acceptance for available Choice seats. Once siblings have been placed, and if there are more sibling applicants than the number of seats, a lottery will be conducted to determine placement. Should the number of applications exceed the number of vacancies, all applicants not accepted will be randomly selected and placed, in the order of their selection, on a waiting list.
Parents will receive a Notice of Acceptance indicating their child's status (tentative seat awarded or wait list status) via email, and a response from parent must be emailed by the deadline provided in the notification by the Superintendent’s Office. If your child is accepted into the Choice program, the student is entitled to attend the Amherst Schools through high school graduation, if continuously enrolled.
Bus Transportation is not available for School Choice students. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the parents/Guardians to provide daily transportation and to ensure students arrive at school on time and are promptly picked-up after school.
The School Choice Lottery will take place in June, with notifications emailed the following week.
Please be aware that residents of Amherst, Pelham, or the four towns which comprise the Amherst Pelham Regional Schools who move out of the district but wish to have their child(ren) remain as students in the district do not have any unique claim to the seats their children vacated. Those parents must apply for admission to the school choice program in the same manner as any other parent who does not reside in town.
School Choice Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Do the Amherst, Pelham, and Amherst-Pelham Regional School Districts accept School Choice students every year?
- How many School Choice seats are available each year and in what grade levels?
- How do I enroll my child in the Amherst, Pelham, or Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools through the School Choice program?
- Since School Choice seats are limited, how are students selected for the program from the applications received?
- I used to live in one of the towns served by the Districts, but have moved out of that town. Is my child automatically eligible to remain in the district via the School Choice program?
- If a lottery is required for School Choice placement, what happens to applicants not selected through the lottery?
- How and when will I know the status of my child’s School Choice application?
- My child has been accepted into the School Choice program. Will the Amherst, Pelham, or Amherst-Pelham Regional School Districts provide transportation?
- My child has been accepted into the School Choice program at the elementary level in the Amherst, Pelham, Leverett, or Shutesbury School Districts. Will they be automatically enrolled in the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District for secondary school?
Do the Amherst, Pelham, and Amherst-Pelham Regional School Districts accept School Choice students every year?
How many School Choice seats are available each year and in what grade levels?
The number and grade level of School Choice seats is determined annually based on the current and anticipated enrollment in each grade level at each school. School Choice seats are opened only when enrollment of resident students is low enough that choice students can be accepted without exceeding the class size limits set by the School Committees.
How do I enroll my child in the Amherst, Pelham, or Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools through the School Choice program?
Since School Choice seats are limited, how are students selected for the program from the applications received?
Applications from siblings of students already enrolled in the Amherst-Pelham Schools under the School Choice program, and who will remain in the School Choice program during that school year will, by law, receive priority in acceptance for available Choice seats. Once siblings have been placed, or if there are more sibling applicants than the number of seats, a lottery will be conducted to determine placement.
I used to live in one of the towns served by the Districts, but have moved out of that town. Is my child automatically eligible to remain in the district via the School Choice program?
Please be aware that residents of Amherst, Pelham, or the four towns which comprise the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools who move out of the district but wish to have their child(ren) remain as students in the district do not have any unique claim to the seats their children vacated. Those parents must apply for admission to the School Choice program in the same manner as any other parent who does not reside in town
If a lottery is required for School Choice placement, what happens to applicants not selected through the lottery?
How and when will I know the status of my child’s School Choice application?
The School Choice Lottery will take place in June, with notifications the following week. Parents will receive a Notice of Acceptance indicating their child's status (tentative seat awarded or waitlist status) via email, along with the Registration information, which must be completed by the deadline indicated in the letter.
My child has been accepted into the School Choice program. Will the Amherst, Pelham, or Amherst-Pelham Regional School Districts provide transportation?
My child has been accepted into the School Choice program at the elementary level in the Amherst, Pelham, Leverett, or Shutesbury School Districts. Will they be automatically enrolled in the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District for secondary school?
No. Starting with the fiscal year 2020, the school year 2019-20, a school choice student admitted to an elementary or K-6 district does not have a right to attend the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District when they complete sixth grade. If they are interested in enrolling in the Regional District, they will have to apply for school choice seats at the 7th-grade level; these choice seats are not guaranteed, nor will graduates of the elementary school districts receive preference.
Amherst-Pelham Regional School District
School Choice Guidelines
Unless accepted into the Amherst, Pelham, or Amherst-Pelham School Choice Program, non-resident students must attend school in the town in which they reside. The School Choice Program permits non-resident students the opportunity to attend our schools while residing in a surrounding town. Each of the three districts of the Amherst-Pelham Schools must annually vote to participate in the School Choice program, which is generally voted in February or March of the preceding school year.
There are a limited number of School Choice seats, and an application is required for each student applying. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but they must be received by a deadline which is annually established - generally in mid-June of the school year preceding. Applications from siblings of students already enrolled in the Amherst-Pelham Schools under the School Choice program and who will remain in the School Choice program during that school year will, by law, receive priority in acceptance for available Choice seats. Once siblings have been placed, and if there are more sibling applicants than the number of seats, a lottery will be conducted to determine placement. Should the number of applications exceed the number of vacancies, all applicants not accepted will be randomly selected and placed, in the order of their selection, on a waiting list.
Parents will receive a Notice of Acceptance indicating their child's status (tentative seat awarded or wait list status) via email, and a response from parent must be emailed by the deadline provided in the notification by the Superintendent’s Office. If your child is accepted into the Choice program, the student is entitled to attend the Amherst Schools through high school graduation, if continuously enrolled.
Bus Transportation is not available for School Choice students. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the parents/Guardians to provide daily transportation and to ensure students arrive at school on time and are promptly picked-up after school.
The School Choice Lottery will take place in June, with notifications emailed the following week.
Please be aware that residents of Amherst, Pelham, or the four towns which comprise the Amherst Pelham Regional Schools who move out of the district but wish to have their child(ren) remain as students in the district do not have any unique claim to the seats their children vacated. Those parents must apply for admission to the school choice program in the same manner as any other parent who does not reside in town.
School Choice Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Do the Amherst, Pelham, and Amherst-Pelham Regional School Districts accept School Choice students every year?
- How many School Choice seats are available each year and in what grade levels?
- How do I enroll my child in the Amherst, Pelham, or Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools through the School Choice program?
- Since School Choice seats are limited, how are students selected for the program from the applications received?
- I used to live in one of the towns served by the Districts, but have moved out of that town. Is my child automatically eligible to remain in the district via the School Choice program?
- If a lottery is required for School Choice placement, what happens to applicants not selected through the lottery?
- How and when will I know the status of my child’s School Choice application?
- My child has been accepted into the School Choice program. Will the Amherst, Pelham, or Amherst-Pelham Regional School Districts provide transportation?
- My child has been accepted into the School Choice program at the elementary level in the Amherst, Pelham, Leverett, or Shutesbury School Districts. Will they be automatically enrolled in the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District for secondary school?
Do the Amherst, Pelham, and Amherst-Pelham Regional School Districts accept School Choice students every year?
How many School Choice seats are available each year and in what grade levels?
The number and grade level of School Choice seats is determined annually based on the current and anticipated enrollment in each grade level at each school. School Choice seats are opened only when enrollment of resident students is low enough that choice students can be accepted without exceeding the class size limits set by the School Committees.
How do I enroll my child in the Amherst, Pelham, or Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools through the School Choice program?
Since School Choice seats are limited, how are students selected for the program from the applications received?
Applications from siblings of students already enrolled in the Amherst-Pelham Schools under the School Choice program, and who will remain in the School Choice program during that school year will, by law, receive priority in acceptance for available Choice seats. Once siblings have been placed, or if there are more sibling applicants than the number of seats, a lottery will be conducted to determine placement.
I used to live in one of the towns served by the Districts, but have moved out of that town. Is my child automatically eligible to remain in the district via the School Choice program?
Please be aware that residents of Amherst, Pelham, or the four towns which comprise the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools who move out of the district but wish to have their child(ren) remain as students in the district do not have any unique claim to the seats their children vacated. Those parents must apply for admission to the School Choice program in the same manner as any other parent who does not reside in town
If a lottery is required for School Choice placement, what happens to applicants not selected through the lottery?
How and when will I know the status of my child’s School Choice application?
The School Choice Lottery will take place in June, with notifications the following week. Parents will receive a Notice of Acceptance indicating their child's status (tentative seat awarded or waitlist status) via email, along with the Registration information, which must be completed by the deadline indicated in the letter.
My child has been accepted into the School Choice program. Will the Amherst, Pelham, or Amherst-Pelham Regional School Districts provide transportation?
My child has been accepted into the School Choice program at the elementary level in the Amherst, Pelham, Leverett, or Shutesbury School Districts. Will they be automatically enrolled in the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District for secondary school?
No. Starting with the fiscal year 2020, the school year 2019-20, a school choice student admitted to an elementary or K-6 district does not have a right to attend the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District when they complete sixth grade. If they are interested in enrolling in the Regional District, they will have to apply for school choice seats at the 7th-grade level; these choice seats are not guaranteed, nor will graduates of the elementary school districts receive preference.
DESE Guidance on School Choice
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