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Join the Cardinal Comet family with open enrollment!

Two Cardinal Community School District students laughing by lockers, a group of cheerleaders performing at a game, and a young student smiling while working on a laptop.

Application & Documents

Open Enrollment Application    Open Enrollment Guidance

Frequently Asked Questions

Open Enrollment

What is open enrollment?
This cost-free option allows parents/guardians residing in an Iowa district to enroll their children into another Iowa school district under the terms and conditions of Iowa Code section 282.18 and the administrative rules of the Iowa Department of Education, 281 Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 17

How does a parent/guardian file for open enrollment?
The parent/guardian must complete an application form (linked above). The completed form must be filed with both the resident and receiving district.

What determines if it is approved?
After you submit your application form for open enrollment, the resident district will approve your request to attend another district. Then the superintendent in both districts will either approve or deny the open enrollment request. The request is then sent to the school board for final approval. The district that you are requesting to attend will then approve or deny based on the availability of spaces or programs that are available.

Who is responsible for school transportation for an open enrolled student?
The parent or guardian is responsible for transporting the student to and from the receiving district unless the family qualifies for transportation assistance. View the Enrollment Handbook linked above for more information.

Cardinal CSD

What is a four-day school week?

In 2022, Cardinal CSD transitioned to a four-day school week to improve school culture, reduce absences for students and staff, boost student and teacher morale, and provide teachers more time for planning and collaboration to prepare and support our students and their learning.

4-Day School Week Details


Contact & Next Steps

For more information on open enrollment, please contact:

Anne Morgan
Open Enrollment Coordinator
641-652-7531 ext 3201
anne.morgan@cardinalcomet.com

Open Enrollment 2023-2024

Cardinal Highlights

Cardinal was a Top Work Place for 5 years in a row
$16 Million+ dollars invested for building improvements since 2011
$285,381 dollars saved in college tuition in 2021-2002 - a school record
128 children served in 3 and 4 year old preschool each year
Cardinal High School was included in America's Best High Schools list in 2017 and 2018
Cardinal ranked #8 out of 400 elementary schools for reading growth by the Iowa Department of Education 2017-2018
All of our schools met their goals for the Every Student Succeeds Act in 2019
Cardinal Area Welding Academy - creating high paying jobs with zero college debt
My real endorsement of Cardinal Schools and its faculty and staff can be seen each morning when I hand them the one irreplaceable and most valuable thing in my life: my kids. No letter I write could be a greater endorsement than that simple act. I give them my kids, and I do it with a huge smile on my face because I trust them to do what they are most outstanding at: building our future.
Kevin S. Maggio · Cardinal Parent
Cardinal School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age (for employment), socioeconomic status (for programs), religion, disability, creed, national origin, marital status (for programs), sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity in its educational programs and employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or grievance related to this policy, please contact the district’s equity coordinator, Cindy Green.

The Cardinal Community School District offers career and technical  programs in the following service areas:
Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Health Science
Human Services
Business, Finance, Marketing, and Management

Cindy Green - cindy.green@cardinalcomet.com
Middle School Principal/Director of Curriculum & Instruction, Equity Coordinator
4045 Ashland Rd.
Eldon, IA 52554
(641) 652-7531

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