Pocket Guide to Public School Transfers

The majority of children attend the public school assigned to them based on their address, but your zoned school is not always your only public school option. Families can choose other traditional public schools, public charter schools and public magnet schools.

Open enrollment lets families choose to enroll their child in a public school other than their assigned school, either in their own district or in a neighboring one. Every state allows public school transfers in at least some cases, but the rules, deadlines, and application processes vary from state to state and even district to district.

Not sure where to start? Visit your district’s website or call the district office to ask about transfer options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Open enrollment is the process of families choosing to send their child to a traditional public school other than the one they are assigned to. There are two main types:

Within-district transfers let your child attend a different public school in your assigned school district.

Cross-district transfers let your child attend a public school in another school district.

Some states require districts to accept transfer students if they have space available, while others leave the decision to accept transfer students up to the district. In a few states transfer requests are only available in specific situations. Your State Roadmap breaks down the rules where you live.

Timing of public school transfer applications depends on your state and district. Some states set one window for everyone, while many leave the dates to each individual district. Here are a few examples:

Delaware: Families use one statewide online application, which typically opens in November and closes in mid-January
Iowa: Applications for grades 1 through 12 are due by March 1 for the following school year
Kansas: Families apply between June 1 and June 30
Oklahoma: Families can apply year-round, as long as the school has space

In many districts, the public school transfer application window occurs between November and March for the upcoming school year. Dates can change each year, so check with your district early and mark every deadline on your calendar.

When a school receives more applications than it has seats available, it may hold a lottery. A lottery is a random drawing that is used to determine who gets to attend the school. Families often see lotteries for public charter schools, public magnet schools, and public school transfer requests.

Lotteries usually only include applications received during the application window, and some schools give priority to certain student populations such as siblings of current students. Seats are then filled by random draw, and families are notified of the results.

Not every school uses a lottery, so it’s important to ask each school on your list how admission works.

If your child applies to a school and is not offered a seat, they may be placed on the school’s waitlist. Seats can open as other families decline offers, move, or choose another school, sometimes even after the school year begins.

Waitlists are usually ordered by priority group and lottery number, not necessarily by who applies first. Your child’s position may move up or down as seats become available and new applications are received.. If a seat opens, the school will usually contact you by email or phone and give you a set amount of time to respond.

A few tips to help if you find yourself on a waitlist:

Apply to several schools to improve your chances of an offer
Keep your phone number and email address up to date with each school
Respond quickly to any offer, since missing a deadline can mean losing a seat
Ask whether accepting one offer affects your place on other waitlists
Have a backup plan, since a waitlist does not guarantee a seat

It depends! Some states require districts to provide transportation for at least some public school transfer students, but in many places transportation is the responsibility of the family.

If your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) includes transportation services, that service must be provided. Ask the new school or district how this works for transfer students.

If busing is not available, consider alternative transportation options such as carpools, public transit, and walking or biking. Some states help with transportation costs through grants or education savings accounts. Before you apply, ask the school you are interested in what options are available. Our guide to school transportation breaks down what’s available in your state.

Each state and district will have their own process, but these steps will help you explore transferring to a different public school:

Find your assigned school. Your district’s website will list your assigned school.
Check your state’s rules. Your State Roadmap explains what transfer options are available to you.
Explore your options. Use our free Schools Near Me tool to find public schools in your area.
Visit several schools. Public schools differ in their learning approaches, and each one may feel different to you and your child.
Contact the district or school. Ask out application steps, deadlines, lotteries, and transportation.