Ankeny students interested in enrolling in high level courses in another school district may be permitted to do so per specific eligibility regulations. Consideration may begin in 8th grade. Students will be able to take only those courses in other districts which are not offered in the Ankeny Community School District. Students may enroll in up to 3 courses per semester outside the Ankeny Community School District. Students may not enroll in more than one school district without the approval of all the districts involved. The final decision for enrollment will rest with the Ankeny Community School District. Regulations have been established for Central Academy. If a request for a placement other than Central Academy is made, regulations similar to those established will be applied.

R.R. for Policy #604.12: ACSD Central Academy Enrollment Regulations

Students, who wish to attend the Central Academy of the Des Moines Public Schools as early as grade 8, may be permitted to do so per the eligibility regulations. Students will be able to take only those courses at Central Academy that are not offered in the Ankeny Community School District. The student and/or parent must demonstrate how the Ankeny Community Schools Curriculum does not meet the student’s needs. Students may enroll in up to 3 courses per semester outside the Ankeny Community School District. Students may not be enrolled in more than one school district without the approval of all districts involved.

• Purposes of this Regulation:
  • To establish eligibility criteria that will help ensure the students attending the Central Academy of Des Moines Public Schools have the skills needed to experience success.
  • To establish communication processes that provide students and parents with the information necessary to make informed decisions about attending Central Academy.
• Academic Eligibility Guidelines:
  The following guidelines shall be met before a student may be considered eligible to attend Central Academy:
  • ITBS/ITED scores: Mathematics total and reading comprehension should be at or above the 95th percentile of Iowa norms.
  • Overall GPA of at least 3.5 in the previous semester in middle school or high school.
  • Appeals: Students who narrowly miss the eligibility requirements may appeal to the principal.
• If the above eligibility guidelines are met and the student will be an eighth-twelfth grade student in the District in the following year, the student may request the Ankeny Community School District pay tuition to the Des Moines Public Schools’ Central Academy. Transportation to Central Academy will be the responsibility of the student and/or parent/guardian.
• Communication Process Guidelines: The following procedures (a and b) shall be completed before the principal makes a recommendation.
• The request must be submitted, in writing, to the principal of the building to which the student is assigned. The request is to be received on or before the last school day in April of the current school year. Exceptions to this date are at the discretion of the Superintendent or his/her designee.
  • Upon receipt of the request, the principal will arrange a time to meet with the student and ask the student to write an essay describing his/her academic goals and why he/she would like to consider dual enrollment in Central Academy. This meeting should occur within 10 school days of the parental request.
• Additionally, the principal/designee will schedule a meeting with the parent/guardian, the student, and two district counselors. One counselor who works at the current school the student is attending, and one from the district school the student would be attending in the ensuing school year. Other district staff knowledgeable of the student’s abilities or of the district curriculum may also be invited to attend. The purpose of this meeting will be to review the educational needs of the student and seek to understand how the Ankeny Community District’s curriculum can or can not meet those educational needs. The meeting should be held within 15 school days of the parental request.
  • Topics addressed at the meeting to provide information about the possible implications of attending Central Campus include:
    • Program implications
    • 3.5 GPA
    • Ankeny Community School District course availability
    • Electives offerings (including music courses)
    • Course articulation between Central Academy and Ankeny CSD
    • Extra-curricular involvement (including student leadership)
    • Long-term plans
    • Family transportation plan and loss of a period for travel

The principal will make a recommendation to the Superintendent/designee and parents within 20 days of the original request. Each student will be reviewed on an individual case-by-case basis. The final decision will rest with the Ankeny Community School District.

The following criteria will be met before a student request for Central Academy enrollment is approved:

• ITBS/ITED scores: Mathematics total and reading comprehension should be at or above the 95th percentile of Iowa norms
• Overall GPA of at least 3.5 in the previous semester in middle school or high school.
• The school and family have participated in the communication process and the principal has determined that Central Academy will be a necessary element in meeting the student’s educational goals.

If the principal’s recommendation to attend Central Academy is approved by the Superintendent/designee, dDstrict counseling staff will work with the student and Central Academy staff to design the best schedule for the student using the resources of both institutions. Parents will be responsible for providing transportation to and from Central Campus.

Students attending Central Academy must maintain a yearly overall 3.5 GPA or higher or their enrollment the following school year will be subject to review.

R.R.F1 for Policy #604.12

DATE

PARENT/GUARDIAN NAME
ADDRESS
_______________, IA 5002_

Dear ____________:

I have received your letter of request for your [son/daughter], _______, to attend Central Academy beginning [his/her] ___th grade year in the fall of 20__.

The following three criteria need to be met before a student may be considered for Central Academy:
ITBS/ITED scores: Mathematics total and reading comprehension should be at or above the 95th percentile on Iowa norms. *
Overall GPA of at least 3.5 in the previous semester in middle school or high school. *
The school and family have participated in the communication process and the principal has determined that Central Academy will be a necessary element in meeting the student’s educational goals.
*Students who narrowly miss the eligibility criteria may appeal to the principal.

Before I make a recommendation to the Superintendent/designee regarding your request, I will meet with _____________ within the next ten days and ask [him/her] to write an essay describing [his/her] academic goals and why [he/she] would like to attend Central Academy.

Within the next 15 days, I will contact you to schedule a meeting with you, your [son/daughter], and two District counselors (one from your child’s current school and one from their schedule school of attendance next school year). Other District staff knowledgeable of your student’s abilities or of the district curriculum may attend as well. The purpose of the meeting will be to review ____________’s educational needs and to seek to understand how the Ankeny Community School District’s curriculum can or can not meet those educational needs. Topics likely addressed at the meeting will include:
Program implications
3.5 GPA maintenance
Ankeny Community School District course availability
Electives offerings (including music courses)
Course articulation between Central Academy and Ankeny CSD
Extra-curricular involvement (including student leadership)
Long-term plans
Family transportation plan and loss of a period for travel time
The purpose for discussing these topics is to provide you with information about the possible implications for attending Central Academy.

I will call you in the near future to schedule a meeting time. If you have any questions, please contact me at 965-______.

Sincerely,

NAME
Principal, _____________________ School
cc: Chief Academic Officer
Officer of Curriculum
Officer of Special Programs

R.R.F2 for Policy #604.12

DATE

PARENT/GUARDIAN NAME
ADDRESS
_______________, IA 5002__

Dear ____________:

Thank you for meeting with me and other members of our District on _____________, 20__ to review ____________’s educational needs and to seek to understand how the Ankeny Community School District’s curriculum can or can not meet those educational needs.

I have thoughtfully considered what I learned about your [son’s/daughter’s] needs, as well as the options available in our District. Based on what I have learned and believe, I will recommend to the Superintendent/designee that your request for ________ to attend Central Academy be granted.

Our District counseling staff will work with _______________ [student] and the appropriate staff at Central Academy to design the best schedule for [him/her] using the resources of both institutions. If you have any questions, please contact me at 965-______.

Sincerely,

NAME
Principal, _____________________ School

cc: Chief Academic Officer
Officer of Curriculum
Officer of Special Programs

R.R.F3 for Policy #604.12

DATE

PARENT/GUARDIAN NAME
ADDRESS
_______________, IA 5002__

Dear ____________:

Thank you for meeting with me and other members of our District on _____________, 20__ to review ____________’s educational needs and to seek to understand how the Ankeny Community School District’s curriculum can or can not meet those educational needs.

I have thoughtfully considered what I learned about your [son’s/daughter’s] needs, as well as the options available in our District. Based on what I have learned, I am confident that our District can meet ____________’s educational needs next year. (Include statement here about specific reasons/options, etc.).

As a result, I will not make a recommendation to the Superintendent/designee that your request for ________ to attend Central Academy be granted. As your [son’s/daughter’s] principal, you can count on me to expect the best of _____________ and each teacher who will serve [him/her] next year.

If you wish to meet again, or have any questions, please contact me at 965-______.

Sincerely,

NAME
Principal, _____________________ School

cc: Superintendent
Chief Academic Officer
Officer of Curriculum
Officer of Special Programs

Approved:
June 21, 2010

Reviewed:
May 19, 2010
August 17, 2015
April 2021

Revised:
August 17, 2015
May 17, 2021