Saint Paul Public Schools Selects Avela to Simplify School Choice and Power Real-Time Enrollment Capacity
SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Avela, the K-12 enrollment management platform built on two decades of school choice research, today announced that Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) — the second-largest school district in Minnesota — has selected Avela Explore, Apply, Match, and Sync, along with a custom Capacities Module and integration, to manage school choice and enrollment for its more than 33,000 students across roughly 70 schools.
SPPS runs one of the more complex school choice systems in the state: a mix of zoned Community Schools, Magnet and specialty programs, and alternative schools, all serving families with very different needs and circumstances. Helping those families navigate that many options — while keeping the district's own enrollment operations running smoothly — was central to what SPPS asked for when it went looking for a new enrollment management system.
Avela's Explore and Apply tools let SPPS families search and compare schools based on transportation availability, proximity to home, and program type, turning a wide range of choices into a manageable, personalized search. On the district side, SPPS is also among the first to use Avela's new capacities API, which integrates directly with the district's Infinite Campus student information system — automatically updating seat capacities in Avela as students enroll, withdraw, or move within Infinite Campus, so staff always have accurate, real-time availability without manual data entry.
The platform is rolling out ahead of SPPS's 2027-28 school choice season, which opens this December, giving families a single place to explore, compare, and apply to schools across the district.
SPPS joins Avela's growing roster of large, urban district partners — further proof that districts managing the most complex school choice systems are turning to Avela to make enrollment easier for families and simpler to run for staff.
About Avela
Avela provides districts, charter networks, and early childhood programs with best-in-class enrollment software, helping families discover, apply to, and manage school enrollment while helping institutions streamline admissions. Founded by CEO Greg Bybee alongside economists Parag Pathak and Nobel laureate Josh Angrist, Avela translates two decades of school choice and market design research into technology that makes enrollment easier, fairer, and more accessible for families and schools alike. Learn more at avela.org.
