File: JC – Assignment of Students to Elementary Schools
The M.S.A.D. No. 75 Board of Directors believes that the assignment of students to schools within the school district should be consistent with effective education of students and the best use of the resources of this school district.
The Board designates attendance areas following existing town lines, with Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, and Harpswell student residents assigned to their town’s community school. For Topsham student residents, Route 201 is typically used to determine the boundary between Woodside Elementary School and Williams-Cone School assignment areas. Students residing east of Route 201 are typically assigned to Williams-Cone School. Students residing west of Route 201 are typically assigned to Woodside Elementary School.
In general, students from kindergarten through grade 5 will be assigned to the school which serves the attendance area in which their parents or legal guardians reside. The Superintendent is authorized to assign a student to a school other than that designated by the attendance area when the student requires a specific program available only at that school.
The Superintendent may recommend to the Board for its consideration proposed changes in attendance area boundaries based on projected enrollment and the most efficient use of District resources.
The administration may, at their discretion, approve a parent/guardian’s request that their child be allowed to attend a different elementary school in the District provided that 1) it is in the best interest of the child to do so; 2) there is space available; 3) the transfer will not require additional staff, programming or facilities; and 4) it will not disrupt established instructional programming. All such requests should be made to both relevant building principals. Any appeals of these decisions shall be decided by the Superintendent.
School bus transportation will not be provided for students attending a school outside their designated attendance area unless they can be accommodated on existing bus routes and schedules, except that transportation for students with disabilities will be provided in accordance with their Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
As M.S.A.D. No. 75 does not offer universal pre-kindergarten and attendance area cannot be used as the primary determining factor, pre-k students will be assigned to schools based on availability.
If student enrollment in a school begins to exceed school capacity, the Board of Directors reserves the right to revise school attendance boundaries.
The Board delegates to the Superintendent the responsibility of developing specific procedures by which bus routes are established and students are normally assigned to schools.
FIRST READING: February 8, 1996
SECOND READING: February 15, 1996
ADOPTION: February 15, 1996
REVISION, FIRST READING: January 22, 2026
REVISION, SECOND READING: February 12, 2026
REVISION, ADOPTION: February 12, 2026