TEHALEH community: As new homes within the Tehaleh community are built, the district is working to verify resident school districts for each individual home. Click here for instructions on how to determine if your home is located in Sumner-Bonney Lake School District or Orting School District.

The Sumner-Bonney Lake community is experiencing significant growth. As of April 1, 2023, all Sumner-Bonney Lake schools are currently at enrollment capacity and unable to approve any further intra-district and inter-district waivers for the 2023-2024 school year.  Intra-district and inter-district applications received will be denied and placed on a waitlist.  

For students residing outside the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District: 

The District allows for students living outside the district boundaries to apply for an inter-district waiver to attend school in the district. Per SBLSD Board Procedure 3141, if the anticipated needs of resident students, homeless students, current non-resident students and non-resident students of school employees are met, and if the specific school does not exceed its student enrollment capacity, new non-resident students may be allowed to attend a school in the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District. New non-resident students will not be permitted to displace resident students in a school. Submitting the inter-district waiver and completing the Choice Transfer Request must be completed annually.

Students should remain enrolled at their resident school until receipt of an approved waiver.

If you have questions regarding your waiver application, please contact Amanda Nelson at amanda_nelson@sumnersd.org. 

Elementary Schools

• Bonney Lake Elementary: All grades at capacity, applications will be denied and placed on a waitlist. 
• Crestwood Grades: All grades at capacity, applications will be denied and placed on a waitlist. 
• Daffodil Valley Elementary: All grades at capacity, applications will be denied and placed on a waitlist. 
• Donald Eismann Elementary: All grades at capacity, applications will be denied and placed on a waitlist. 
• Emerald Hills Elementary: All grades at capacity, applications will be denied and placed on a waitlist. 
• Liberty Ridge Elementary: All grades at capacity, applications will be denied and placed on a waitlist. 
• Maple Lawn Elementary: All grades at capacity, applications will be denied and placed on a waitlist. 
• Tehaleh Heights Elementary: All grades at capacity, applications will be denied and placed on a waitlist. 
• Victor Falls Elementary: All grades at capacity, applications will be denied and placed on a waitlist. 
• Sumner Early Learning Center: All grades at capacity, applications will be denied and placed on a waitlist. 

Middle Schools

• Mountain View Middle School: All grades at capacity, applications will be denied and placed on a waitlist. 
• Lakeridge Middle School: All grades at capacity, applications will be denied and placed on a waitlist. 
• Sumner Middle School: All grades at capacity, applications will be denied and placed on a waitlist. 

High Schools

• Bonney Lake High School: All grades at capacity, applications will be denied and placed on a waitlist. 
• Sumner High School: All grades at capacity, applications will be denied and placed on a waitlist. 

2024-2025 Attendance Waiver Applications:

Waiver Acceptance Criteria:

The waiver application timeline for the 2024-2025 school year has been updated in order to align with District spring staffing timelines. Intra and Inter District waiver applications will be accepted March 15, 2024-April 26, 2024 for first consideration.   

Waiver Applications are considered on a first-come, first-served basis and are based on the following criteria: building and program capacity, academic performance, attendance record, discipline record, and student’s academic programs of interest as identified on the waiver application. 

Residents of the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District applying for a waiver (Intra District waivers) will receive consideration before out-of-district applications (Inter District waivers). And in accordance with RCW 28A.225.225 children of full-time certificated and classified district employees will receive consideration before out-of-district applications. 

2024-2025 Waiver Application Timeline:

March 15, 2024-April 26, 2024: All waiver applications must be submitted during this timeframe for first consideration. Families will be notified if applications have been approved or denied within 45 days of submitting their application and all required documents. 

Please Note:

• Registering for next year’s classes: Students who are requesting renewal of a waiver will be allowed to choose next year’s classes. 
• If a waiver application is incomplete at the end of the waiver window, the student’s waiver will be denied and the student will need to register at their resident school.
• Out of District (Inter District) families must submit an Sumner-Bonney Lake Inter District waiver application and a Choice Transfer Request through the OSPI portal. Your application is not considered complete until a Choice Transfer Request is submitted and approved by the releasing district. Applications submitted without a Choice Transfer Request approved by the releasing district will be considered incomplete and will be denied at the end of the waiver window.

Waiver applications submitted after August 1, 2024 will not be reviewed until September 13, 2024.  At that time, the District will review grade level, program capacity and building capacity families will be notified if space is available at the requested school.  Students should remain enrolled in their resident school and district until the District has processed the waiver application and Choice Transfer Request.

Waiver Process

Intra-District Waiver: 

Resident students who wish to attend a school other than their resident school must complete the Intra-District (in-district) Waiver Application. 

Intra-district waiver students need to remain in good standing and continually meet the criteria listed on the waiver application. If these areas become a concern, the student will be placed on probationary status and given an opportunity to improve.  Lack of improvement in the areas of concern could result in the student’s waiver being revoked at any time, requiring the student to return to their resident school.

Intra-district applications to the Sumner Early Learning Center are for one year only. Any in-district families wishing to have their child attend either Maple Lawn Elementary or Daffodil Valley Elementary for grades 1-5, would need to re-submit a waiver application during their child's kindergarten year.

All other In-District Waiver Applications are not required each year unless transitioning to another school. (Example: Elementary to Middle School, or Middle to High School).

Inter-District Waiver: 

For students residing outside of the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District attendance boundaries must submit the following documents:

1. Sumner-Bonney Lake Inter-District (out-of-district) Waiver Application 
2. Choice Transfer Request (Release of Attendance) from the resident district 

Out-of-District Waiver Applications are required each year for continued attendance.

Students need to remain in good standing and continually meet the criteria listed on the waiver application.  If these areas become a concern, the student will be placed on probationary status and given an opportunity to improve. Lack of improvement in the areas of concern could result in the student’s waiver being revoked at any time, requiring the student to return to their resident school.

Transportation: 

Students attending a school on a waiver do not receive district transportation to and from school or after-school activities. 

Updated November 17, 2023