The Lee County Public School system began its Batch 1 Student Assignment registration period on Jan. 18. This assignment time runs through Friday, March 4 and is for families registering for the 2011/12 school year.

Those who are participating in Batch 1 include:

Families new to Lee County Public Schools; families of students entering kindergarten for 2011/12; families of students transitioning from elementary to middle school in 2011/12; families of students transitioning from middle to high school in 2011/12; and families of current students who want to change schools for 2011/12.

A review of the first day’s numbers on Jan. 18 shows that more and more families are choosing the online option rather than standing in line at one of the District’s three Student Assignment Offices, officials said.

“It’s very encouraging to see more and more families who have the option of using the website doing so,” said Leila Muvdi, director of student assignment.

“As we continue through Batch 1, I am sure word will spread on the convenience of using our online option.”

The Batch 1 process is a lottery, not a first-come, first-served system. That means there’s no reason to wait in long lines – you have the same chance if you submit your application on the first day as you do if you submit it on the last day of Batch 1, school officials say.

The first day’s data show: Total in the East Attendance Zone: 661 (387 online; 274 in person), total in the West Attendance Zone: 821 (594 online; 227 in person) total in the South Attendance Zone: 541 (336 online; 205 in person) total number of applications: 2,023 (1,317 online; 706 in person), according to Muvdi.