Schools of Choice

Program Information

The Dexter Community Schools district is a limited schools of choice district. Each year, we look at our current enrollment and estimate the number of students we can accept for schools of choice slots without exceeding our optimum class sizes and available space.

Application window dates for 2026-2027 will be determined in December, 2025. Additional info is below.

Accepted SOC students must be enrolled in Dexter by the end of the first week of school. If you move out of the district after the school year starts, please contact Hope Vestergaard (734-424-4102) for options to stay in Dexter.

The information below describes the program and requirements in detail. If you have any further questions about the application process, contact SOC coordinator Hope Vestergaard or call 734-424-4102.

Students who are currently enrolled in Dexter Schools with schools of choice status do not have to re-apply for SOC each year as long as they stay continuously enrolled and live at an eligible address.

SOC Program Details

Eligibility

Students are required to live in the Washtenaw ISD school district or a school district within a different ISD or ESA that borders on the Washtenaw Intermediate School District. There are special considerations regarding special education students (see below).

Here is a map of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District to check if your ISD/ESA borders us: WISD Boundaries

GUIDELINES FOR APPLICANTS FOR GRADES 9-11 ONLY

Our schools of choice program requires high school students to participate in the IB Programme. To be eligible for the IB program, students must be in good standing and on target to graduate with their class. They must intend to become International Baccalaureate Programme students in the appropriate year as stated above and live in a Washtenaw ISD school district or a school district within a different ISD that borders on the Washtenaw Intermediate School District.

Students who enroll in this schools of choice option will be required to enroll in and successfully complete courses in their International Baccalaureate and pre-International Baccalaureate course schedule, making progress toward the requirements of the Diploma Programme. They are not required to pursue the full IB diploma. We use the student's transcript to make a preliminary determination as to whether the student would be successful in IB courses. If our administrators have any concerns about an applicant's potential for IB success, we will schedule a meeting with the student and parent/guardian for further consideration before offering a SOC slot. If you have questions about the IB Programme, please contact DHS Principal Melanie Nowak or call 734-424-4240 ext. 7001.

Please Note:

Students who are accepted and enroll as schools of choice students and later move to a new address may continue to attend Dexter as long as they remain continuously enrolled and live at an eligible address.
Applications are good for enrollment through the end of the first week of the applicable school year.
SOC families who wish to enroll additional siblings through the SOC program must do so individually during the application windows for the desired fall start.
Currently enrolled students and siblings of currently enrolled students have first priority for available openings. In the event that the number of applications exceeds available space, we conduct a lottery of eligible applicants.

Openings and Dates

2025-2026 School Year Info

Each year, the Board of Education determines the available number of schools of choice spots based on enrollment projections. At its December 2025 meeting, the Board of Education will approve openings for the 2026-2027 school year.

For reference, here is what was approved for the 2025-2026 school year. This is subject to change depending on enrollment.

at least ten spots in each grade from young 5 through 8;
at least one virtual spot;
at least one spot in Dexter Early Middle College;
at least thirty spots in the Dexter High School IB Program - ten each in 9th, 10th, and 11th grades.

Applications can only be accepted during official application windows.

The first window for the 2026-2027 school year will be Feb 16-28, 2026.
The second window generally falls in the later part of July.

How to Apply

Applications are only accepted during the application window. They are posted at the top of this page when the window is open.

Please note:

Applications cannot be accepted outside of the application window.
You must complete a separate form for each student.
Applications for students in first grade and higher must include a report card or transcript in order to be considered complete. Failure to submit the report card or transcript during the application window may disqualify the application.
SOC acceptance is not a first-come, first-served proposition. We wait until the application window is closed before making any determinations. If we receive more applications than available spots, siblings of currently enrolled students receive first priority, then we do a lottery for all remaining spots. We maintain a waiting list for eligible applicants who do not receive a spot and they have first shot at any spots that subsequently open up.
While there is no advantage to being the first application within an application window, there are more available spots during the first window than during the second, so we recommend you apply during the first window if you know that you might need it.
IMPORTANT: No transportation is provided for schools of choice students, with the exception of verified in-Dexter care arrangements AND only on a space-available basis. District approval is required.

FAQ

When will we know the status of our application? Applicants are notified within five business days of the window closing.

If my family moves out of Dexter mid-year, do we have to do schools of choice to finish the current school year? No. Students who move are generally permitted to finish the school year in their current setting. They will have to apply for SOC status to continue in Dexter the following fall. Please note: the District does not provide transportation for students who do not live in Dexter, even if parents want to drive them to an existing stop.

Do I have to apply for my current SOC student's siblings to attend or are they automatically granted a spot? You must apply separately for each student. Eligible siblings of currently enrolled students receive priority for SOC openings. In the event that we receive more applications than we have space for, we conduct a lottery of all eligible students and keep a waiting list in case some accepted students decline enrollment.

Can I drive my kids to a bus stop in Dexter and have them ride to school from there? No. DCS does not provide transportation for schools of choice students, with the exception of verified in-Dexter care arrangements AND only on a space-available basis.

The application forms asks for a transcript but my child is entering kindergarten and doesn't have one. Students entering kindergarten or young 5 do not need to provide a transcript or report card.

Do students currently attending Dexter who apply for schools of choice have to provide a transcript? No.

Does my elementary-aged student have to be an IB candidate to qualify for schools of choice slots? No, only high school applicants.

I know the young 5 program has limited space, does getting a SOC spot guarantee a young 5 spot? No. All SOC spots depend upon the available space in each grade. Current Dexter residents get first priority for all available young 5 spots. Half-day young 5 spots are very limited.

We may be moving in the summer and are not sure if we can find housing in Dexter, but would like to stay in the district. How should we proceed? Please contact our office for guidance regarding your specific situation.

Will we have to reapply each subsequent year? No, once a child is accepted as a schools of choice student in Dexter, he/she may complete their education within the district as long as he or she lives at a SOC-eligible address and remains a student in good standing. Siblings of choice students who wish to enroll in subsequent years must apply at the time they want to enroll.

SPECIAL EDUCATION

Special education status is not a factor in whether a student will be accepted for a schools of choice opening. It may make a difference for enrollment, however. This is outside of our control.

Per state law, Special Education funds stay in the student's resident ISD/ESA, so we must request a shared services agreement in order to enroll students who live outside of the Washtenaw ISD as schools of choice students. This is not guaranteed. If your student with special education services is accepted for an available SOC spot in Dexter, we will request copies of the IEP and any relevant documents to assist in requesting a shared services agreement.

Currently enrolled Dexter students who have an IEP and move out of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District but want to stay in Dexter as a schools of choice student must receive a shared services agreement or they may not be able to maintain Dexter enrollment.

If you are a parent/guardian of a student who enrolls as SOC and is later determined to have special education needs, we will pursue a shared services agreement at that time. However, SOC students who enroll and are subsequently identified as needing special education services will not be excluded from attending DCS on the basis of not getting a shared services agreement.

We recommend that parents/guardians considering Dexter for SOC and who do not live in Washtenaw County but have concerns that their student may need special education services first contact your local ISD or ESA for evaluation. This will ensure that your student gets services as soon as possible, as well as avoid potential disruptions to their education should they enroll as SOC, have identified special services needs, but not receive a shared services agreement from their home district.