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.  

The District will review enrollment and building capacity by September 13, 2023. Should space open in a building, schools will contact families.

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. 

Attendance Waiver Applications:

Waiver Acceptance Criteria:

Waiver Applications are considered on a first-come, first-served basis and are based on the following criteria: Building 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. 

Waiver Application Timeline for Consideration:

• December 15, 2022 – January 27, 2023:  All waiver applications must be submitted during this timeframe for consideration.
• March 31, 2023:  Building and/or District staff will have made decisions regarding waiver request(s)* received by January 27, 2023 and families will be notified of an approval, denial or waitlist decision by March 31, 2023.
  • Waitlisted applications will be reviewed again in June to determine if capacity exists in the requested grade level and/or program.
  • If a new waiver application is incomplete at the end of the waiver window, January 27, 2023, the student’s waiver will be denied and the student will need to register at their resident school.
  • Please note: Students looking to renew a waiver will not be allowed to choose next year’s classes and/or receive a schedule until the waiver is approved. Any waiver request not approved by March 31st will be placed on a waitlist to be reviewed again in June.
  • INTER DISTRICT WAIVER APPLICANTS: Due to OSPI’s timeline requirements if an Inter District waiver application is waitlisted your Choice Transfer Request will be denied at this time. Should capacity allow for approval at a later date a new Choice Transfer Request must be submitted.
• June 16, 2023:  Waiver applications submitted after the January 27, 2023 deadline will be added to the existing waitlist. By June 16, 2023, the District will review grade level and building capacity and families will be notified of an approval or denial. Applications that have been denied will be placed on the waitlist.  A final school capacity review will be reviewed by September 13, 2023.At that time, the District will review grade level and building capacity and all families will be notified if space is available at the requested school.  If an approval has not been granted, students should be enrolled in their resident school and district.
• September 13, 2023:  Waiver applications submitted after June 16th will be denied and added to the existing waitlist.  At that time, the District will review grade level and building capacity and all families will be notified if space is available at the requested school. While waiting to be notified by the District, students should be enrolled in their resident school and district.

* Please note that decisions regarding kindergarten may not be made until late August.

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, an Inter-District (out-of-district) Waiver Application is required. 

Additionally, a Choice Transfer Request (Release of Attendance form) from the resident district is also required to be submitted to the resident district electronically in conjunction with the Inter-District Waiver Application to be eligible for consideration.

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.