Los Alamos Public Schools Opens Enrollment for Out-of-District Students

Los Alamos Public Schools opened its application window for out-of-district students seeking enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year, with spots available from preschool through 12th grade and a first day of school set for August 10, 2026.

The district released the announcement March 18-19, targeting students who reside outside Los Alamos County, including those who previously attended a LAPS school but have since moved away and have not yet secured an out-of-district acceptance. Applications are considered in the order received, under priority rankings established by School Board Policy and Regulation 5118, and parents will be notified if their child is accepted.

LAPS spans five elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, and the district has positioned the open enrollment push around its academic record. All seven schools carry "Spotlight School" designations from the New Mexico Public Education Department, an honor the state awards for outstanding performance and student achievement. The district markets itself as one of the highest-performing in New Mexico, offering students access to advanced placement coursework, career technical education, athletics, art and music programs, and a range of clubs and student support services.

To apply, out-of-district families must complete the New Out-of-District Registration online. Only a parent with legal custody or a formal guardian holding a Power of Attorney for both educational and medical purposes may enroll a child. Required documents include proof of the parent-guardian relationship (a birth certificate naming the parents, a court order, a separation or divorce decree, or other legal documents), a current immunization record, and proof of residency. The residency documentation requires a Los Alamos County utility bill dated within the last 60 days, paired with at least one of the following: a mortgage statement dated within 60 days, an original rental or lease agreement dated within the last year, a house closing statement, a property tax bill dated within the last year, or a deed. All application information must be current as of the August 10 first day of school.

Families navigating the online registration process should verify the current system and links directly through the official LAPS district website. District registration pages reference two different platforms, PowerSchool Enrollment and SchoolMint Registration, and at least one page contains instructions referencing the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years, suggesting some web content has not been updated to reflect the current enrollment cycle. LAPS has not yet published an application deadline for 2026-2027 out-of-district enrollment.