Orange County Schools announce registration, MLK Day closure, family events

Orange County Schools posted its regular "OCS Family Updates" on Jan. 11 with a slate of operational notices and family resources that bear on enrollment, scheduling and childcare for local households. The update reminded families that schools and district facilities will be closed Monday, Jan. 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and it outlined upcoming registration and outreach events.

The update confirmed that online registration for students new to the district opened Jan. 12 at 8:00 a.m. Parents who did not register before that time will need to complete the district’s online intake to enroll children for the current school year. The post also included enrollment and lottery information for year-round Hillsborough Elementary, indicating that place assignments at year-round campuses will be determined through the district’s established allocation process.

Family-oriented programming highlighted in the update includes Ready, Set, Kindergarten! registration and a Family Welcome event scheduled for Feb. 5 at the OC Sportsplex. Those events are intended to help incoming families navigate enrollment, meet staff and learn about school resources. The update also named the district’s classified employee of the month and listed other family supports and calendar reminders designed to keep parents informed.

For Orange County households, the announcements have practical implications. The Jan. 19 MLK Day closure affects childcare needs and work schedules for many families; planning ahead can reduce last-minute disruptions. Timely registration matters because school assignments, staffing and program funding hinge on accurate enrollment counts. In particular, year-round campuses such as Hillsborough Elementary typically have limited openings and use lottery systems to allocate seats, so missing registration windows can reduce families’ chances of securing preferred placements.

Beyond immediate logistics, the update underscores how district operations translate into community-level outcomes. Enrollment figures feed per-pupil funding and staffing decisions that shape class sizes and program availability across the district. Outreach events like the Feb. 5 Family Welcome and kindergarten registration efforts aim to smooth transitions for new students and reduce administrative friction that can delay services.

Parents and caregivers should note the calendar items and complete online registration if they have not already done so. Mark the Jan. 19 closure on household schedules and consider attending the Feb. 5 Family Welcome at the OC Sportsplex to connect with school staff and learn more about year-round and neighborhood school options. The district’s family updates will remain the primary channel for timing and procedural details as the school year progresses.