Please click on each tab below to view all Admissions Information.

Two Rounds of Open Enrollment

For students to be eligible for an enrollment offer, parents and guardians must complete the Open Enrollment process. Open Enrollment is conducted in two rounds each year. The information below will help guide you through the process.

First Round: November 2 – December 1, 2026

The first round of Open Enrollment opens at 8:00 a.m. on November 2, 2026, and closes at 4:00 p.m. on December 1, 2026.

  • Randomized Sorting: All students who open enroll during this period are randomly sorted on their respective grade-level lists.
  • Priority Status: Students eligible for priority status will receive priority placement only if they open enroll during the first round.
  • Confirmation Email: School registrars cannot view applications until after the first round closes. Upon completing Open Enrollment, you will receive an email confirmation listing your school selection(s). Please save this email for your records.

Important Note About School Tours

If you submit an application during First Round, your child will be eligible for an offer in December. If visiting BFA is an essential factor in your decision-making process, please register for a tour early.

  • Tour Availability: BFA offers more than 10 tours before first-round offers are extended in December, and another 10+ dates from January through April. No tours are offered from May through August.
  • Why Book Early? Waiting until you receive an offer risks having no tour slots available before your deadline, and no extensions are given. 
  • Book Tickets: Book your tour tickets early so you can make an informed choice if an offer is extended.

 First-Round Offers and Admissions

  • ​Checking Offers: Log in to the EngagED Parent Portal starting at 8:00 a.m. on December 8, 2026.
  • Acceptance Deadline: The deadline to accept a first-round offer is 4:00 p.m. on December 15, 2026. The portal will close after this deadline until the second round begins.
  • Completing the Admissions Application: After accepting an offer, parents/guardians of students new to the district (or returning after a previous withdrawal) must complete the full admissions process by January 11, 2027.
    • A separate email containing admissions details will be sent by December 18, 2026.
    • Please locate all required admissions paperwork in advance, as some items may take time to gather.
    • Note: Offers will be withdrawn if the admissions process is incomplete or not submitted by the deadline. 

 Subsequent Offers & Waitlist (January – August)

  • As of January 5 (after Winter Break) through the final day of Open Enrollment in August, our Director of Admissions may extend additional offers as spots become available.
  • All offers sent from January forward are delivered via email only.
  • Parents have 24 to 36 hours to respond to an offer.
  • Checking Waitlist Status: If your child does not receive a first-round offer, please wait until the third full week of January to request general, non-priority waitlist status. Email the BFA’s Director of Admissions/Registrar with your child’s name(s) and 2027–28 grade level(s) in the subject line.

Second Round: January 22 – August 2, 2027

If you were unable to complete Open Enrollment during the first round, you may apply during the second round. Second-round applications are added to the bottom of the existing First-Round waitlists in the order they are received.

  • Confirmation Email: Upon submitting your application, you will receive an email confirmation listing your school selection(s). Please save this email for your records.

Second-Round Offers and Admissions

  • All offers made from January forward will be sent via email only.
  • Parents have 24-36 hours to reply to an offer.
  • Accepting an offer is the first step. For new students and those returning to the district after a previous withdrawal, ​parents/guardians must complete the admissions process. 
  • Locate the Required Admissions Paperwork in advance of an offer, as some items might not be readily at-hand. You will need to upload this paperwork as part of the admissions process.
  • ​If you do not complete the admissions process​ by the specified deadline,​ or it is incomplete/missing required items, the offer will be withdrawn​.

Important Note About School Tours

  • Tour Availability: BFA offers 25+ tour dates from September through April. No tours are offered from May through August.
  • Why Book Early? Offers are released on a rolling basis with strict response deadlines and no extensions. Waiting until you receive an offer risks having no tour slots available before your reply deadline.
  • Checking Waitlist Status: Starting the third full week of January, parents may email BFA’s Director of Admissions/Registrar to inquire about general, non-priority waitlist status. Please include your child’s name(s) and 2027–28 grade level(s) in the email subject line.
Douglas County School District Nondiscrimination Notice: The Douglas County School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, age, marital status, genetic information, or physical characteristics, disability or need for special education services in admissions, access to, treatment of, or employment in educational programs or activities. Ben Franklin Academy's Compliance Officer is Diana Simpson, Principal, 2270 Plaza Dr., Highlands Ranch, Colorado 80129,  dsimpson@bfacademy.org, 720.383.4519. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees and members of the public.

Douglas County School District (DCSD) Open Enrollment

Ben Franklin Academy (BFA) participates in the annual DCSD Open Enrollment (OE) process to fill available kindergarten through 8th-grade spots. To be eligible for an offer, you must complete the Open Enrollment process for your child. Please note that previous year’s waitlists do not roll forward.

Questions?

  • For the most up-to-date information and questions about the process, please review the FAQs on the DCSD Open Enrollment page.
  • For information and answers related to BFA admissions, select K-8 Admissions FAQ from the Admissions/Records menu.
  • If your question is not answered in either of those resources, email BFAs Director of Admissions/Registrar.

How Open Enrollment Works

Creating/Accessing Your Parent Portal Account

If you are new to DCSD (have never had a child enrolled at a DCSD school, including any charters):

  • You can create a DCSD Parent Portal account during an active Open Enrollment window.

If you are a current or past DCSD family:

  • You already have a Parent Portal account (even if you’ve never activated it).
  • Do not create a new account on the Open Enrollment site, as this could void your child’s application. 

Portal Account Issues

  • Forgot Portal username or password? Go here.
    • Provide your personal email address to retrieve your username.
  • Need to activate your Portal account? Contact DCSD Choice Programming. 

Required Registration Documents: Gather These Documents In Advance of an Open Enrollment Admissions Offer!

If your child receives and you accept a BFA Open Enrollment admissions offer, you will need to complete the registration process within 5-7 days. Be prepared. Some of the required documents might not be right at-hand. Locate them in advance of an Open Enrollment offer, saved in PDF or JPEG format. For the most up-to-date requirements visit the Admission Services page from the Douglas County School District’s website.

Required Documents to Upload via Online Registration (visit the Admission Services page from the Douglas County School District’s website for the most up-to-date requirements):

  • Parent/Guardian Government Issued ID (e.g. Drivers License)
  • Student(s) Government Issued Birth Certificate
  • Student(s) Immunization Records (Colorado Law/CDPHE website)
  • Student Learning Plans (IEP, 504, ALP, etc.) if applicable
  • Proof of Residency (ONE from list below)
    • Signed Lease Agreement, including tenant names, address, lease term dates and signature of both the Lessee and Lessor
    • Signed Purchase Agreement, including address, buyer names and signature of both the Buyer and Seller
    • Warranty Deed, Property Tax Notice, or County Assessor’s Page
    • Notarized Proof of Residency Form – Used if your family currently lives with another family member or friend and, therefore, the POR does not have your name on it. With this option you must provide (1) a copy of the family member or friend’s POR and (2) the completed and notarized Notarized Proof of Residency Form.