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Belgrade School District

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Non-Resident Enrollment

Non-Resident Enrollment for 2026-2027

Open Enrollment Process

Non-Resident Enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year will open February 15th, 2026. The application process is as follows:

  1. Parents will submit an application packet to include an online application (linked below), three years of behavior and attendance records from the student’s current school, and the state form required by the Office of Public Instruction. Every student needs their own application. 
  2. The District will reach out within 10 days of receipt of the completed application to let the family know their assigned application number and the date the applications will be reviewed by the Board. The application number is assigned to maintain confidentiality for each of the applicants. 
  3. The District will evaluate each application and provide a recommendation to the board for approval or denial. Parents will be notified prior to the board meeting and can attend and request a closed session if their application is pulled for review by the Board. 
  4. The District will communicate the decisions to families, other districts, the County Superintendent, and the State Superintendent. Entry into Belgrade School District does not guarantee placement into a particular school. Elementary students will be notified by August 15th of their school of attendance.

Please refer to school board policies 3141, 3141P, 3141F for more information on the nonresident enrollment process. 

Non-Resident Enrollment Application 2026-2027

Nonresident Enrollment FAQ

  • Montana has established boundaries for each school district. Open enrollment means a student/students can apply to attend school outside of the district boundaries where they live. 

  • HB 203 was signed into law in May 2023 which mandates open enrollment for all school districts in Montana. The District is neither supportive of nor opposed to open enrollment as a concept. The legislation was passed during the 2023 session and BSD44 will implement the legislation as required by MT law.

  • No, if a student is approved to attend an out-of-district school, the family is not required to pay tuition.

  • No, a family is responsible for their own transportation to and from school when attending out-of-district.

  • Students living within the district boundaries have priority over out-of-district students. Montana State Law requires a district to accept any students who live within their boundaries.

  • There are a number of reasons why a student may not be accepted into an out-of-district school, including but not limited to: capacity in the school and/or grade level, attendance history of the student, and behavioral history of the student. Decisions must comply with all non-discrimination policies.

  • Athletics/activities are regulated by Montana High School Association (MHSA) and all transfer protocol must be followed for a student to participate in the new district. Please refer to the MHSA Handbook.

  • No, you will need to apply every year, during the open enrollment period for the district you want your child to attend. The student is not automatically enrolled outside their district each year.

Contact the administrative office if you have additional questions regarding the information on this page, or If you are experiencing difficulty accessing the information on this page. Please call 406-924-2492.