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Niles City Schools

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Enrollment

Enroll for 2025-26

Starting February 1, 2025 the district will begin accepting applications for the listed enrollments for the 2025-26 school year. With the exception of Open Enrollment students, current students do not re-register. All applications are completed online. 

Available Applications:
  • Mini-Dragons Preschool
  • K-12th Grade (NEW Students)
  • Open Enrollment (Renewals Only): deadline to reapply and submit proof of residence is March 31, 2025. (NEW OE applicants can apply for enrollment consideration starting March 1, 2025. New OE is closed to students entering grades 1 and 4.)
Continue below to begin the enrollment process.
Welcome to the Niles City School District - we are pleased to welcome you and your family to our Red Dragons community! Our district is currently home to about 2000 students in grades PK through twelve. Niles' proud educational history began in 1844, in a one-room schoolhouse called the “Little White School.” (United States President William McKinley attended this school until he was around 10 years old.) The district now has four buildings and one administrative office building to serve students. We are pleased to be able to provide a rigorous curriculum that includes preschool through College Credit Plus (CCP) classes for high school students, as well as advanced and honors classes. In addition to our commitment to academic excellence, the district also boasts a wide variety of performing arts, athletic activities, service groups, and after-school clubs to engage and involve our students.

Again, we are pleased to welcome you to the Niles Red Dragons family and look forward to meeting you and providing your family with a rewarding educational experience!

HOW TO ENROLL WITH THE DISTRICT

The district's enrollment process is done online through FinalForms. Parents/guardians will have to create an account to access the forms. Information on creating an account can be found below. 

In addition to the online forms, the following documents are also required to complete the enrollment process:
  • Child's Birth Certificate
  • Child's Immunization Record (see immunization requirements below)
  • Two (2) forms of  Acceptable Proofs of Residency (Acceptable Proofs of Residency can be found under Resources)
  • Photo ID of Parent/Guardian
  • Court/Custody Documentation (if applicable.) Applications for custody changes must be filed in and stamped by the court; final custody orders must be signed by the judge/magistrate. Documents notarized only are not acceptable.
  • Most Recent IEP/ETR/MFE, if applicable
Questions regarding FinalForms or registration should be emailed to [email protected]

TYPES OF ENROLLMENT/REGISTRATION

The district offers multiple enrollment/registration options for families. We have provided information on each type of enrollment/registration and details on how and when to apply below. Click the drop down arrow for additional information. 

New Student Registration

Registration for the 2025-2026 school year will open on February 1, 2025 
Please ensure you are selecting the correct school year of 2024-2025 if registering for the remainder of this year or the school year of 2025-2026 to register for next year

New student enrollment is for those families who live within the Niles City School District limits and meet the necessary age requirements

  • Kindergarten registrants must be age 5 by September 30th of the current year to register
  • Mini Dragons Preschool registrants must be age 4 by September 30th of the current year to apply

Getting Started
Create your FinalForms parent account and register your student by clicking the blue NEW ACCOUNT button (as shown)

Final Forms screenshot
You MAY already have a FinalForms account that you used to submit online forms for academics or athletics at the High School or Middle School; if so, you should register your NEW student by clicking the blue ADD STUDENT button that is available when you log into your FinalForms Parent Account

Complete the following steps to register your child:
Please be sure to select the correct school year when enrolling your child

1. Add your Student
Click the blue ADD STUDENT button (as shown below) to begin registering your child
Note: Student's Legal Name must be full name as shown on child's birth certificate
FinalForms screenshot
2. Complete ALL Required Forms
Once you click UPDATE STUDENT in your account you will see a list of student forms in the left hand margin of your page
Note: Each form must include Parent/Guardian Signature and be submitted by clicking the blue SUBMIT FORM button at the bottom of each form's page (as shown below). Once completed, the form will change from pink to green. If you do not sign and submit, the information on the form you entered will be lost and you will have to start over
Final Forms screenshot


3. Provide Required Documentation
Click the Manage Documents button in your account to upload your child's required documents OR contact us at the number listed to the right to schedule an appointment to bring in your documents
No documents should be taken to the school buildings unless our office specifically instructs you to do so.
The following documents are required:
  • Child's Original Birth Certificate
  • Child's Immunization Record
  • 2 Forms of Proof of Residency (additional information below)
  • Photo ID or Parent/Guardian
  • Court/Custody Documentation, if applicable. Applications for custody changes must be filed in and stamped by the court; final custody orders must be signed by the judge/magistrate. Documents notarized only are not acceptable.
  • Most Recent IEP/ETR/MFE, if child receives services
4. Submit Registration Forms
Your child's registration in Niles City Schools is NOT COMPLETE until you submit ALL FORMS for your child AND provide ALL required documentation. Our office will contact you if any additional information is needed. Once we approve the registration, your child's file will be sent to their building of attendance.

5. Welcome to Niles City Schools!
You will be contacted by your child's school building regarding their start date, schedule, etc.
If you have questions regarding that information, please contact your child's school building directly

Open Enrollment

2025-2026 NEW Open Enrollment Applications will be accepted from March 1, 2025 through March 31, 2025
Applications for NEW Open Enrollment will be accepted from March 1, 2025 through March 31, 2025 and registration must be completed in full by March 31,2025 for your application to be considered. Late applications will not be accepted.

Grades 1 and 4 are closed to new open enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year and no NEW applications will be accepted for students in those grade levels (this does not apply to CURRENT Open Enrollment students now in grades KG and 3 moving to grades 1 and 4 next year)

To apply, please click the link below to open the 25-26 NEW Open Enrollment Application (for students who did not attend Niles through Open Enrollment in 2024-2025)

Parents of current Open Enrollment students musts reapply for 2025-2026 between February 1, 2025 - March 31, 2025
Parents/Guardians of students CURRENTLY attending Niles City Schools through Open Enrollment will be required to REAPPLY for the 2025-2026 school year between February 1, 2025 -March 31, 2025 and provide one current proof of residency by March 31, 2025 for their application to be considered. If you do not complete this process, our district will assume you are either moving into Niles over the summer or you do not plan to send them to Niles next year and you will need to withdraw your child to their home/resident district and enroll them there.

To reapply, please click the link below to open the 25-26 Open Enrollment Application to Reapply for this year (only for students currently attending Niles through Open Enrollment)

Once your application to reapply has been submitted, please provide one current proof of residency by emailing it to [email protected] or dropping it off at our office located at 309 N Rhodes Avenue.

Open Enrollment Approval Notification
Parents/Guardians will be notified of the approval of their applications in early June.
Parents/Guardians of incoming kindergarten applicants may not be notified until August.

OE Information
  • Open to eligible students within the State of Ohio
  • Due to class size, open enrollment will be on a limited basis for the 2024-2025 school year
  • Open enrollment is approved for one (1) school year only and you must re-apply for open enrollment each year; a notice to reapply will be emailed to you in February of the following year
  • You must provide one current proof of residency each year you reapply as part of your application
  • Transportation of students accepted under open enrollment is the sole responsibility of the parent/guardian
  • Athletic eligibility for students in grades 9-12 transferring to another school district through open enrollment is determined by the Ohio High School Athletic Association. Please contact the Niles City Schools Athletic Director for eligibility information at (330) 652-9968, extension 0061
Questions regarding Open Enrollment may be emailed to [email protected] 

Preschool Registration

Niles Mini Dragons Preschool
The Mini-Dragons preschool program is available at no cost to families and is open to in-district resident students who will be four years of age by September 30th of the current calendar year. (Students who are already 5 years old must enroll in Kindergarten.) Students attend the program Monday-Friday from 8:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. Free breakfast and lunch meals are provided. Bussing is also available. Space is limited.

Parents may apply for 2025-2026 Mini Dragons beginning on February 1, 2025.

  • Your registration/application for Mini Dragons will not be considered unless and until ALL FinalForms have been submitted  and ALL required documents have been received
  • Mini Dragons screening will be held in August; however, your child will not be screened if their registration has not been completed
  • Once registration is completed your application for a spot in this program will be considered and you will be notified of their approval on a date yet to be determined by our Administration

    • Click here to enroll in the Mini Dragons preschool program (see New Student Enrollment for enrollment information)
    Trumbull County Educational Service Center's Integrated Preschool Program
    Parents may apply for the TCESC Integrated Preschool Program no earlier than February 1, 2025. Parents should follow the instructions for New Student Enrollment via FinalForms and, once that process is complete and all required documents have been provided, your child's information will be forwarded to the Trumbull County ESC who will notify you regarding your application for enrollment in their program.

    The Trumbull County Educational Service Center (TCESC) Preschool Program provides preschool services for both typically developing and students with disabilities ages 3-5.
     
    Preschool students with disabilities have received a school based multi-factor evaluation and meet one of the 14 ways a preschool child qualifies for special education in public school according to the Ohio Department of Education definitions. If you have questions about how to pursue an evaluation for your child, you can contact TCESC Early Childhood Supervisor, Marilyn Fredenburg, at 330-505-2800 extension 503.
     
    Typically developing children must be registered with the Niles City school district. 
    To enroll:
    • Child must be potty trained
    • Child's age is determined to be their age as of October 1st of the current year
    TCESC is a recipient of an Early Childhood Grant (live link) from the Ohio Department of Education.  This grant provides funding for typically developing children who meet specific financial criteria.  All typical developing children families will be asked to complete the Early Childhood Education Income Eligibility Screening Tool (live link). Results of the information on the form may result in a request for proof of income.
    Trumbull County ESC Preschool Evaluation Requests 

    If you have spoken with the Trumbull County ESC and your child is pending an evaluation from the Trumbull County Educational Service Center and you reside within the Niles City School District, your child must be registered in our district before their evaluation. Once registered, you will be contacted by our Office for Exceptional Children

    Click here to register with the Niles City School District (see New Student Enrollment for enrollment information)
    ALTA Head Start

    Alta Head Start/ Early Head Start offers quality educational programs in a nurturing, secure and developmental appropriate setting for children birth to five. Qualified, credentialed teachers who are trained in best practice academic and social- emotional standards, as well as other trained support staff, provide children a preschool experience focused on school readiness skill development.

    Children qualify for services based on federal income guidelines and this is a no cost program located in the Niles Board of Education Building at 309 N Rhodes Avenue, Niles, OH 44446. ALTA Head Start is not part of the Niles City School District; therefore, children to not need to be registered in our district nor can we provide any specific information regarding their program.

    To apply, visit their website (link below) or visit one of their locations at Campus of Care, 1960 E County Line Rd. in Mineral Ridge or their Administrative Office at 142 Javit Court in Austintown. You will need to provide them with Proof of Residence, Proof of Birth and Proof of Income.

    Fairhaven's Integrated Preschool Program

    All children enrolling in this program, who reside in Niles City School District, must be registered in Niles City Schools.
    Click here to register with the Niles City School District (see New Student Enrollment for enrollment information)

    Tuition Enrollment

    Residents of Niles City School District are entitled to a tuition-free public education in our district. There may be extenuating circumstances in which a parent/guardian of a student who is not a resident of our district wishes to pursue enrollment as a paid Tuition student.

    The FY24 Tuition Rates are as follows and will be updated once the FY25 Tuition Rates are available:
    • FY25 In-State Tuition Rate (paid by parent/guardian) $4,306.42
    • FY25 Out of State Tuition Rate (paid by parent/guardian) $11,342.30

    If you are interested in enrolling your child into Niles City Schools as a Tuition student, please email your request to [email protected]

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    Acceptable Proofs of Residency


    To enroll your child in Niles City Schools tuition free, the residential/custodial parent or legal guardian must provide documentation that verifies their residence within the boundaries of the Niles City School District. To verify you reside in the Niles City School District, check your property tax report on the Trumbull County Auditor's website. A link has been provided above.

    To meet our district's criteria for proof of residency, you must provide documentation for BOTH POR #1 and POR #2 as outlined below.

    Depending on our residency status, notarized forms may be required to meet the criteria of POR #1. Notary services are provided within the district. Links to these forms can be found in the Resources section to the right. Items needed for POR #2 must be in the name of the residential/custodial parent or legal guardian.
    ACCEPTABLE PROOFS OF RESIDENCY
    POR #1
    If you are a HOMEOWNER, you need ONE of the following:
    • Mortgage Statement
    • Property tax bill
    • Homeowner's Insurance Statement
    • Purchase Agreement with Mortgage Statement to be submitted after closing on sale of home

    If you are a RENTER, you need ONE of the following:
    • Current Lease Agreement that includes the address of your residence and the signature page
    • Renter's Insurance Statement

    If you are a RENTER and can NOT produce a lease, you need ALL of the following:
    • Notarized Residency Affidavit completed and signed in the presence of a Notary Public by the residential/custodial parent or legal guardian (can be found in the Resources section to the right)
    • Notarized Certification of Tenancy to be completed and signed in the presence of a Notary Public by the property owner/landlord (can be found in the Resources section to the right)
    • A copy of the Owner/Landlord's Mortgage Statement, Property Tax Bill, or Homeowner's Insurance Statement

    If you RESIDE WITH ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL and the mortgage/lease is NOT in your name, you need ALL of the following:
    • Notarized Residency Affidavit completed and signed in the presence of a Notary Public by the residential/custodial parent or legal guardian
    • Notarized Certification of Dual Residency to be completed and signed in the presence of a Notary Public by the owner/lessee of the residence
    • A copy of the Owners/Lessee's Mortgage Statement, Property Tax Bill, Homeowner's Insurance Statement, Lease Agreement, or Rental Insurance Statement

    POR #2
    Must be in the name of the residential/custodial parent or legal guardian with a service address that is the same as their residential address and include the date that must be within 30 days.
    • Utility bill: gas, electric, water, sewer, garbage, television, Internet
    • Bank statement
    • Pay stub
    • Department of Job and Family Services Statement
    • Recent Voter Registration Card
    • Department of Jobs and Family Services written confirmation of custodial parent/guardian's address
      • Must be signed and dated on their letterhead
      • If an email is submitted, the transmission must be identifiable as the agency's internal email account
    • USPS Return Receipt from certified letter sent by school district of residence to custodial parent/guardian
      • Must include the date received and be signed by the residential/custodial parent or legal guardian
      • Not an acceptable POR if signed by another individual
    • Local Law Enforcement Agency's written confirmation of custodial parent/guardian's current address
      • Must be signed and dated on department letterhead
      • If an email is submitted, the transmission must be identifiable as the agency's internal email account
    • Residential school district's documented affirmation of custodial parent/guardian's current address
      • Documentation on their school district letterhead is sufficient

    Items That Can NOT Be Accepted
    The following items can not be accepted as proofs of residency:
    • Driver's License
    • Cell phone bill
    • Tax forms
    • Solicited mail

    Notary Services

    Notary Services are available for Proof of Residency Affidavits.

    • Notary services are available in our Central Registration Office for proof of residency affidavits or certifications, by appointment, at no charge
    • Affidavit forms can be provided at your appointment
    • To schedule an appointment, call (330) 989-5095 ext 4002 or email us at [email protected]
    • Documents needing notarized should NOT be signed prior to appearing before the Notary
    • All individuals signing documents must appear in person before the notary with their Photo ID

    Immunization Requirements

    According to Ohio law, all kindergarten students must provide proof of the following immunizations within 14 days of school attendance or they will not be permitted to attend school. (Updated immunizations are required for students entering 7th and 12th grades.)
    • 5 doses of DTaP vaccine
    • 4 doses of Polio vaccine 
    • 2 doses of MMR vaccine
    • 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccine
    • 2 doses of Varicella/Chickenpox vaccine