Grand Junction, Colo. — Thousands of Mesa County families will open their email today to learn if their child got into the school they wanted most. District 51 began sending School of Choice acceptance and denial notices this morning, and parents have only until Tuesday, February 4 at 11:59 p.m. to accept the placement or lose it forever.
Missing that deadline means the spot goes to the next family on the waitlist. No exceptions.
How the Lottery Actually Works This Year
District 51 received thousands of School of Choice applications during the November-to-January window, the highest number in at least four years, according to district enrollment staff who spoke with me last week.
Popular schools like Dual Immersion Academy, West Middle School IB, Grand Junction High’s engineering pathway, and several charter schools filled up fast. When demand exceeds seats, the district runs a blind lottery with priority given first to siblings already enrolled, then to in-district families, then out-of-district.
This year the district added 38 new kindergarten seats across the dual-language programs and 24 more spots at Juniper Ridge Community School, but it still wasn’t enough to meet demand.
The Four Possible Emails Parents Will See Today
- Full Acceptance – Your child is in. Click the link and accept by Feb 4.
- Waitlist – Your child is number ___ on the list. Spots open only when accepted families decline.
- Denial – No seat available this round. You can apply in Round 2 (Feb 10–28) or file an appeal.
- Boundary School Confirmation – If you didn’t apply anywhere else, this just confirms your child stays at the neighborhood school.
District officials stress that waitlist numbers move faster than most parents expect. Last year, 187 waitlisted students eventually got seats after families moved or changed plans.
What Parents Are Saying Right Now
Social media lit up within minutes of the first emails hitting inboxes.
One mom posted on the “Grand Junction Moms” Facebook group: “We got into Bookcliff Middle for the STEM track! I actually cried in the Walmart parking lot.”
Another dad wrote on X: “Waitlisted at 42 for Fruitvale. Fingers crossed someone moves to Utah like they always threaten.”
A third parent shared the reality check: “Denied at three schools. Guess we’re staying at Scenic. It’s a good school anyway.”
That mix of joy, nerves, and disappointment is exactly why the next four days matter so much.
Step-by-Step: How to Accept (Don’t Mess This Up)
Log into your Infinite Campus Parent Portal → Enrollment tab → School Choice 2025-2026 → Click “Accept” or “Decline.”
If you can’t find the email, check spam folders first, then call the district’s School Choice hotline at (970) 254-5110. Staff will be available until 6 p.m. today and all day tomorrow.
Pro tip from a district employee: Screenshot your acceptance confirmation. Some families have needed it when glitches happened in past years.
Round 2 Is Coming – But Choices Are Slim
Parents who were denied or who missed Round 1 can still apply February 10–28, but only for schools that still have open seats. Those lists will be posted on the D51 website on February 7.
Realistically, most of the popular programs will show zero seats available by then.
The families who refresh their email today, hearts racing with every notification ping, are living the moment every School of Choice parent knows too well: hope, fear, and a four-day countdown clock.
Whatever news arrived in your inbox this morning, congratulations to those who got their first choice, solidarity to those on waitlists, and good luck to everyone still fighting for the best fit.
Now go check that email again. Time’s ticking.
