Indianapolis Public Schools withdraws from Enroll Indy
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
Indianapolis Public Schools has withdrawn from Enroll Indy, a shared enrollment system that it and area charter schools have used for the last decade.
Why it matters: The split will be a major change for families — creating extra work for those who want to apply to both district and charter schools — less than two months before next school year's enrollment window opens.
Catch up quick: The shared system allowed families to see all their options — traditional IPS schools and independent charters — and apply in one place.
- But a decade ago, when IPS joined Enroll Indy, the district and charter schools had a more collaborative relationship.
- It became more contentious in the intervening years, particularly after the state created a governing body to control buildings, transportation and resources for the district and participating charters.
Friction point: State law also gives that new body, the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation (IPEC), the authority to "manage a unified enrollment system applicable to all participating school students."
- Charter school groups say this means IPS doesn't have the authority to withdraw from Enroll Indy.
- The Mind Trust and Indiana Charter Innovation Center have called on the district to reverse the decision.
- The 2027-2028 Enroll Indy lottery window opens Nov. 5.
Between the lines: Mayor-sponsored charter schools, some of which are IPS partners, are required to use Enroll Indy for 2027-2028 enrollment.
What they're saying: Enroll Indy says it's disappointed that IPS has left the system, but will work with IPEC on the unified enrollment system.
- "While this decision creates confusion and instability during a major transition for education in our city, we remain focused on our charge: to give families more efficient, equitable access to enrollment at the city's highest-quality schools," said the Enroll Indy board of directors in a statement.
The other side: "Our priority is making the enrollment process as simple as possible for IPS families," IPS superintendent Aleesia Johnson said in a statement. "By moving the application, lottery, and registration into PowerSchool — an existing platform our parents already know and use — we're creating a one-stop experience that allows our team to directly support families at every step of the enrollment process."
- "This decision also allows IPS to redirect cost-savings back into our classrooms," Johnson said.
- The cost of Enroll Indy was expected to be around $300,000 for the upcoming school year, based on the district's enrollment.
What we're watching: The division among the district, charter schools and IPEC comes as all three groups are trying to pass a crucial property tax referendum — something that generally requires cooperation to campaign for and win voters' approval.