During a recent Farmington Public Schools board meeting, officials discussed the annual approval of the district's participation in the schools of choice program, which allows students from Oakland County to apply for enrollment in Farmington schools. The board is set to recommend continuing intra-district transfers and limited section 105 schools of choice for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.

This year, the district received 671 applications for its STEAM Center, a lottery-based program, resulting in 96 placements, primarily in kindergarten. The board noted a decrease in applications for section 105, with 157 submitted compared to 223 the previous year. Of those, 140 were approved, and 80 students completed the enrollment process by count day, indicating a 63% acceptance rate among families.

The board emphasized the importance of maintaining space for local residents, particularly in highly sought-after elementary schools, which led to the closure of three schools to new transfers. The discussion also highlighted the need for ongoing monitoring of enrollment trends and family feedback regarding the schools of choice process.

Public comments during the meeting focused on the urgent need for a dedicated STEM facility within the district. Parents expressed frustration over the lack of resources for robotics and STEM programs, contrasting the district's investment in athletic facilities with the absence of similar support for academic programs. Community members urged the board to expedite plans for a STEM center, citing survey results that indicated a strong demand for such facilities among families in the district.

The board's commitment to addressing these concerns and the future of the schools of choice program will be further evaluated in upcoming meetings.