NEW STUDENT Registration

Permanent residency (physical presence with an intention to remain) in the Town of Westport is the primary requirement for enrollment at Staples High School. Living with a Westport resident - even a close relative - for the purpose of attending Staples High School is forbidden under Connecticut law and Westport Board of Education policy. Also in accordance with Connecticut school law, being a land owner, tax payer, or business owner in the Town of Westport does not confer residency privileges for school purposes. 

When registering their child, parents/guardians must be prepared to prove residency by providing the following documentation:

• A rental lease or proof of home ownership (deed to home, mortgage statement, current property tax bill)

• Secondary proofs in the form of:

  • Two current utility bills (land line telephone, water, electric, gas, oil, or cable television - not cell phone) AND

  • Photo ID (parent/guardian's CT driver's license, State ID card, or passport showing current Westport address)

  • New residents must provide secondary proofs within one month of enrolling their child.

Also required for registration are:

• Student's birth certificate, passport, or adoption papers

• Proof of guardianship (if applicable)

• Academic records (transcript/report card for elementary, middle, and high school, grades to date of withdrawal for current courses in progress, and standardized and state test results)

• Special Education/504/ESL/EL/ELL records (if applicable)

• Student Handbook and Code of Conduct Acknowledgement Form (included in registration packet)

• Release to Obtain Prior School Student Records (included in registration packet)

• New Enrollee Verification of Residence (included in registration packet)

• State of Connecticut Health Assessment Record (included in registration packet)

• Notice of Student Admission Form (included in registration packet)

• New Student Questionnaire (included in registration packet)

A family may wish for their child to attend Staples prior to the closing on their new Westport property. This is allowed under certain circumstances, and with certain stipulations:

• Future residents may provide a contract of purchase with closing date, a construction contract with anticipated move-in date, or a dated rental agreement. This contract or agreement must be signed and dated by both parties.

• Future residents must apply for admission through the Office of the Superintendent of Schools.

Occasionally circumstances arise that require a living arrangement different from those outlined above. In such cases, as with all changes in residence, Staples administration or the school counseling department must be notified immediately. Legal documentation must then be completed through the Superintendent of Schools office in order for the student to remain in school.

With the start of the 2000-2001 school year, the Westport Public Schools stopped accepting new non-resident tuition students, except for the children of Board of Education employees and special education students placed by their school districts through the Special Education department.

Arrangements for foreign exchange students must be made through the Office of the Superintendent of Schools.