Time to check out Seattle schools

The holidays are over, but another season is almost here: the open-enrollment period, when parents choose Seattle public schools for their children.

Enrollment season won't formally open until Jan. 22, when parents can begin submitting their school choices, but moms and dads already are crunching Washington Assessment of Student Learning numbers, scrutinizing annual reports and talking with principals.

Schools also are opening their doors a little wider this month and next, with tours and open houses.

On Saturday, parents can check out all the public schools in one place at the citywide kindergarten and middle school fair.

The fair is a good place to start, but school tours are often an essential part of the process, according to Denise Gonzalez-Walker, who writes "Chalkboard: A Parent Perspective on Education," a reader blog for the Seattle P-I.

"Alternative schools run the gamut in their 'alternativeness,' and many traditional schools offer innovative programming or areas of emphasis that rival alternative and private schools," Gonzalez-Walker wrote Thursday. "Unfortunately, it's nearly impossible to find out this information without talking to someone at the school or doing a tour."

Every school has its own schedule for tours, so parents should check Seattle Public Schools' enrollment Web sites for dates and times, or call the school.

Parents have time to make up their minds. Their forms are not due until Feb. 29, but a postmark isn't good enough. The district has to receive your forms by Feb. 29. It will have someone watching the fax machine until midnight.

The district will start mailing out school assignments in early April.

PREPARING TO ENROLL IN SCHOOL

Parents can get more information about tours, rules and deadlines at Seattle Public Schools' enrollment page at seattleschools.org/area/eso/story.

The citywide kindergarten and middle school fair is 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the John Stanford Center, 2445 Third Ave. S., Seattle.