Burbank, Loma Alta students jump ahead in school choice line

Students who are attending the soon-to-close Loma Alta and Burbank schools will get to jump ahead of other Pasadena Unified students in the priority enrollment lottery.

PUSD released new boundary maps this week to show where students will go once the two Altadena schools have closed in the fall -- Loma Alta students’ new “residential” schools are either Franklin or Altadena Elementary Schools, and Burbank students “residential” schools are Webster or Longfellow.  Burbank’s Mandarin language immersion program will be moved to Field Elementary.

However, starting Dec. 6 and going through Dec. 17, Burbank and Loma Alta parents and guardians can come into the district’s permit office to put in their bid to attend another school, outside of their residential area, and ahead of the district's usual priority enrollment process.  “Priority” enrollment -- a category that includes siblings of students who attend a non-residential school -- starts district-wide Dec. 13.  General open enrollment for all PUSD students runs from Jan. 24, 2011 through Feb. 11.  Transportation to a school outside of the residential area is the responsibility of the parents.

PUSD is sending out letters now to Loma Alta and Burbank parents informing them of their children’s new school, and of the option to put in a bid to attend a school outside of their residential area.  The district will hold meetings next week for parents and guardians: Tues., Dec. 7 at 6 PM for Burbank parents, and Thurs., Dec. 9 at 6 PM for Loma Alta parents.  Burbank and Loma Alta parents who wish to choose a non-residential school must come in person to the district office, 351 S. Hudson St., Pasadena, to make their choices.  Final placements will be made starting in April, 2011.

New school area map for Burbank students

New school map for Loma Alta students