By JIM BUTLER

The high school open enrollment application period continues through February 29.

Students in Rapides are zoned by residence to a specific high school but may apply to attend out of zone.

Application can be made through the school system web site A number of conditions apply for a student to be eligible for out-of-zone attendance.

Parents, guardians or the student are responsible for transportation to and from school if a student is accepted.

Five general requirements:

A student can have no more than one suspension; He or she can have no expulsions; Must be passing all courses;

Can have no more than 10 unexcused absences; No fifth-year high school student is eligible.

Students seek attendance out of zone for a number of reasons – including academics, family tradition, extracurricular activities, and athletics.

Specific rules apply to those playing or hoping to play sports, for obvious competitive reasons.

Essentially, sophomores, juniors and seniors are ineligible to participate for one year after out-of-zone enrollment.

Freshmen are limited to sub-varsity roles.

Out of zone is primarily an urban Alexandria issue.

In November, the School Board’s Education Committee previewed four alternatives for attendance zones for Alexandria Senior High, Bolton and Peabody – an aspect of optimizing use of facilities.

Discussion and consideration was delayed pending enrollment numbers in the upcoming year in the wake of Bolton’s magnet conversion.

In November ASH had 1,460 students, with 1,500 maximum allowable; 413 were out of zone. Bolton had 501, with 1,400 capability and 46 out of zone.

Peabody had 717, with 1,450 capability and 161 out of zone.