Enrollment in Cascade Virtual Option K-12
Update: Enrollment for Cascade Virtual Option is now closed for 2024-25.
Request forms can now be submitted for 2025-26. See the Next School Year section below.
- Cross Enrollments are closed.
Grades 6-12 Mid-Year Transfer Process
Mid-year transfers are now closed for 2024-25.
Read about what Cascade Virtual Option has to offer.
Cascade Virtual Option only accepts new students through the first half of the semester.
- First Semester – transfers are considered until November 6th for 2024-25
- Second Semester – transfers are considered until April 9th for 2024-25
Grades 6-12 Onboarding Process
You do NOT need to fill out a district transfer appeal.
- Fill out A Cascade Virtual Option Request Form linked above on this page.
- Submissions can take up to a week to process, so your patience is appreciated.
- The student remains enrolled in their current school while completing all onboarding steps.
- Parent/Student will be emailed a link to the Cascade Virtual Option orientation.
- Orientations are offered weekly during the school year. Orientations are not offered during school breaks or after the mid semester cut off.
- Grades 6-12 students must attend orientation (parents are encouraged to attend also).
- After orientation:
- After orientation, students will schedule a 1 to 1 meeting with a Virtual Option staff member to choose classes and make sure they can log in to their virtual classes.
- Once the 1 to 1 meeting is complete and successful for 6-12th grades, the student will be transferred from their current school to Cascade Virtual Option.
Important Notes: Prior to the transfer in step #6 of the onboarding process, students remain enrolled at their school and can be withdrawn for non-attendance. Please continue to attend the current school until all 6 steps are completed.
If the student does not complete all 6 steps, they will remain enrolled at their current school and will not be transferred.
Students requesting the Virtual Option must live within Seattle Public Schools boundaries.
Online classes cannot be accessed from out of state. Students planning to live or travel out of state or country for a long period cannot be enrolled in the Virtual Option.
Grades K-5 Mid-Year Transfer Process
K-5 Virtual Option mid-year transfers are now closed.
Grades K-5 Onboarding Process
- Grades K-5 families will receive an orientation video presentation.
- Carefully review the orientation information to make sure that a virtual education is right for your child.
- Once you have fully reviewed the information contact the main office for your next steps.
Important Notes: Prior to the transfer in step #3, students remain enrolled at their school and can be withdrawn for non-attendance. Please continue to attend the current school until all steps are completed.
If the student/family does not complete all steps, they will remain enrolled at their current school and will not be transferred.
Students requesting the Virtual Option must live within Seattle Public Schools boundaries.
Online classes cannot be accessed from out of state. Students planning to live or travel out of state or country for a long period cannot be enrolled in the Virtual Option.
Request Cascade Virtual Option for Next School Year
To request enrollment for the next school year:
Read about what Cascade Virtual Option has to offer.
Enroll in Seattle Public Schools – Before requesting Cascade Virtual Option, students must already be enrolled for 2025-26 in Seattle Public Schools. SPS enrollment page. Students new or returning to SPS will be assigned to their neighborhood school before they can request Cascade VO.
Virtual Option Request Form – Once your student is enrolled in SPS and assigned to a school you are now ready to fill out the request form.
Forms submitted May 1st through August 15th will be held and processed when staff return to work mid-August. The first orientation will be scheduled for late August. 6-12 Families will receive a link to the first online orientation meeting by August 22nd. K-5 Families will receive their orientation materials by August 25th.
After the start of school, orientations are held weekly.
Attend Orientation
- K-5 orientation – Families receive an orientation video.
- 6-12 orientation – Students are required to attend a live online orientation. We encourage parents/guardians to come as well.
- 2025-26 Orientations will begin in late August and continue weekly through the first 9 weeks of the semester.
Grades 6-12 – After the orientation, the student will meet with a Virtual Option staff member one to one. The first orientations and one to one meetings will be scheduled in August before the start of school.
Students will remain enrolled in their assigned school until approved for transfer to Cascade Virtual Option following their one to one meeting.
If the student does not attend orientation and a one to one meeting, they will not be transferred to Cascade but will remain enrolled in their assigned school.
Statement of Understanding
Please read the differences between Cascade Virtual Option as an ALE and Home-Based Instruction on our Resources Page.
Cross Enrollment
Cross enrollment requests for 2025-26 will begin again in September.
Cross-enrollment is when a student attends one SPS school and takes 1-3 courses at another SPS school at the same time. It is an inter-school agreement approved by the principals of BOTH schools, is not guaranteed, and determined if there space/availability as well as individual circumstances.