Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Where will my child go to school?
To find the school that serves your child's address, click here.
Where do I enroll my child?
Take your child to the school the school that serves his or her address. Click here for more information on enrollment.
What is a magnet school?
JCPS magnet schools and magnet programs focus on a specific subject (such as environmental studies), offer training for a specific career (such as engineering), or provide a specialized learning environment (such as a Montessori school setting). Click here for more information on magnet schools and programs.
Where can I get test scores on JCPS schools?
Go to the Schools section of our Web site, select a school, and choose a report on the left of the page. You also might want to see reports from the Accountability, Research, and Planning Department.
What are school hours?
For most schools, hours are 9:05 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. for elementary students and 7:40 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. for middle and high school students. Call your child's school to confirm the hours because a few schools adjust them slightly.
Which bus will my child ride?
JCPS bus routes and schedules are available online through the Bus Finder. You just click the name of the school and display the routes. Or you can search by school and street name. Route information is also available at schools and Central Office locations.
JCPS offers bus transportation for most students living more than one mile from an assigned school. Specially equipped buses are available for special-needs students.
For more bus information, click here. To contact the JCPS Transportation Department, call (502) 485-3470.
Are before- and after-school childcare programs available?
Yes. The Childcare Enrichment Program, a partnership between JCPS and the YMCA, provides before- and after-school childcare as well as full-time childcare during winter and spring breaks, on snow days, on professional-development days, and during the summer. For more information, click here.
Are preschool and other early childhood programs available?
Yes. JCPS serves children four years old and younger through a range of programs designed to make the most of each child's natural desire to learn. For more information about the programs and the income-eligibility guidelines for free services, contact the JCPS Early Childhood Office at (502) 485-3919.
Do JCPS schools provide services for students with special needs?
Yes. Most district schools serve special-needs students; however, services for students with disabilities such as Hearing Impaired, Functionally Mentally Disabled, and Multiple Disabled are offered at specific schools. For more information, visit the Exceptional Child Education (ECE) Web page. If your child is new to JCPS and already has an Individual Education Plan (IEP) from a previous school, contact ECE Placement at (502) 485-3215.
When is spring break? When is winter break?
See the school calendar. It's set each year by the Jefferson County Board of Education. Students attend school 177 days from mid-August through May. If schools are closed because of bad weather, the board extends the school year.
How much do school meals cost?
For elementary students, lunch costs $2.30. For middle and high school students, it's $2.40. Breakfast is available at elementary schools for $1.75. At middle and high schools, breakfast is $1.85. À la carte milk is 35 cents.
Free or reduced-price meals are available to students who qualify. Call (502) 495-7080 for application information. A new application is required each school year. Reduced price breakfast costs 30 cents; lunch, 40 cents.
Adults who join their child for a meal purchase each menu selection at the a la carte price.
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Are lunch menus available online?
Yes. Click one of the links below:
Elementary school lunch menu
Middle school lunch menu
High school lunch menu
How are students graded?
Click here to open a PDF version of the elementary report card, which explains the performance codes used to evaluate kindergarten through grade-five students.
Middle and high school students are graded according to the following scale:
A (Exceeds Standards): 93-100%
B (Meets Standards): 86-92%
C (Marginally Meets Standards): 79-85%
D (Below Standards): 70-78%
U (Unsatisfactory): Below 70%
When are report cards sent out?
Most schools send report cards or progress reports at six-week intervals. A few schools have received Board of Education approval for an alternate report card or grading system. Contact your child's school to make sure you have all the details on its system.
What are the high school graduation requirements?
To earn a high school diploma, students must earn 22 specific credits and complete the JCPS Diploma standards. For details, download the PDF version of the high school Student Progression, Promotion, and Grading handbook.
Are volunteer opportunities available?
Yes. We can match your talents and skills with the needs of schools, programs, and projects throughout the community. Volunteer opportunities are available mornings, afternoons, and evenings. For information on the Volunteer Talent Center, click here.
Of course, you also can volunteer to help at your child's school. And you might be interested in joining the PTA and running for election to a School-Based Decision Making Council.
Do you have a student code of conduct?
Yes. The Code of Acceptable Behavior and Discipline and the Student Bill of Rights is a document that provides clear rules. Each student receives a copy at the beginning of the school year. You can download a PDF version.
JCPS has a Zero Tolerance Policy regarding violence and student use of alcohol, drugs, or tobacco products on school grounds or at school activities. In addition, harassment of any kind will not be tolerated.
How do I request teacher qualifications?
Under the provision of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, parents of a student attending a Title 1 school may request information about the professional qualifications of the student's classroom teachers. Contact your child's school for more information.
How do I know if school is canceled, delayed, or dismissed early because of bad weather?
Official announcements are posted on the home page of this Web site and broadcast by local television and radio stations.
When will buses run if school is delayed?
If schools open on a delayed schedule, bus pickup will be delayed accordingly. For example, if elementary schools open on a one-hour delay, bus pickup times will also be delayed by an hour.
Are childcare services offered when school is canceled?
The Childcare Enrichment Program (CEP) snow sites will operate. For more information, call 485-3834 or 637-1575.
Are Early Childhood classes cancelled when school is canceled?
Yes. Early Childhood classes will be cancelled too.
Are after-school activities cancelled when school is canceled?
After-school activities, including athletic practices, will be cancelled, but athletic and academic tournaments may still be held. Contact your child's coach or sponsor.
When are childcare sites open if school is delayed or dismissed early?
If classes are delayed at any grade level—elementary, middle, or high—Childcare Enrichment Program (CEP) sites will open at their normal time (7 a.m.)
If schools are dismissed early, CEP students will be transported to their regular CEP site and parents will be encouraged to pick up their child as soon as possible. The sites will remain open until all students have been picked up.
Will Early Childhood students receive transportation if school is delayed or dismissed early?
If schools are delayed, Early Childhood classes will be held as scheduled, but bus transportation will not be provided for Early Childhood students. Parents will be responsible for transporting the students to and from classes.
If schools are dismissed early, students who receive bus transportation for full-day Early Childhood classes will be transported home after elementary students are delivered. If bus transportation was provided to an Early Childhood student for a half-day class, transportation home will also be provided when school dismisses early.
Will after-school activities be held if school is dismissed early?
No. If schools are dismissed early, after-school activities, classes, and programs-including Extended School Services (ESS), Community School programs, tutoring programs, Jefferson County High classes, and Adult Education classes—will be cancelled. Check with your child's school to see if the early dismissal will affect evening competitions.
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Last modified
January 6, 2012
