Columbia Heights closes Highland Elementary grades 3 and 4 to open enrollment to preserve capacity for resident students

The Columbia Heights Public Schools board voted to close open enrollment for grades 3 and 4 at Highland Elementary, citing classroom capacity and the need to reserve space for resident students who move into the school’s boundary over the summer.

Superintendent Stendahl told the board that principal Janke and her staff had verified family intent to return and that the district is not seeing typical summer mobility; the district seeks to ensure room for resident students moving into the neighborhood. "Students who reside within the boundaries of their home school, get to attend their home school, and the district by statute has the right to assign open enrolled students to whichever placement we see fit," Stendahl said when board members asked whether resident students would still be guaranteed placement.

The closure applies to open-enrolled students (those who do not reside in Highland’s attendance boundary) and runs through August 2025 or until enrollment numbers decrease. Board members clarified that families who initially open-enroll elsewhere and later move into Highland’s boundary may request a boundary exception to remain at the nonresident school or be assigned to their home school; staff said the district typically handles such requests via boundary-exception procedures.

The board approved the motion; the vote carried. Staff will monitor enrollment packets over the summer and report back if numbers change.