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Transferring to Another School

APS allows limited transfers between neighborhood schools, based on capacity and financial constraints.

?The information on this page is about transferring from one neighborhood school to another within APS. This is different from our countywide option schools.

Targeted Transfers

When available, targeted transfers are open to students residing in specific attendance zones or planning units*.? Schools must also share boundaries.

Example: “Superstar” Elementary School has the capacity for 20 additional students for the upcoming school year.? It shares a boundary with two other ESs (“Deep Creek ES” and “Turner ES”).

  • All rising K-5 students currently residing in the the Deep Creek ES neighhorhood (with which Superstar shares a boundary) are eligible to apply to transfer to Superstar ES.

OR

  • Any rising K-5 students who live in specific Planning Units (PUs) within the Deep Creek ES or Turner ES neighborhoods are eligible to apply for a transfer to Superstar ES.

*Planning units are defined neighborhood areas (see map). Every ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ residential address is part of a planning unit. Find your planning unit using the Boundary (Attendance Area) Locator.

This is just an example.? Participating schools and numbers vary year to year.?

An announcement regarding which schools, if any, will accept transfers for the following school year is made in early February after the January enrollment update to the Superintendent and the School Board.

Neighborhood Transfers

When available, neighborhood transfers are open to all APS students.

Example: Awesome High School has the capacity for 40 additional students for the upcoming school year.

  • ALL rising grades 9-12 students who attend an APS school are eligible to apply, but students from Happy High School have a priority in the lottery.

This is just an example.? Participating schools and numbers vary year to year.?

An announcement regarding which schools, if any, will accept transfers for the following school year is made in early February after the January enrollment update to the Superintendent and the School Board.

Neighborhood and Targeted Transfers CLOSED on May 1.

After May 1, waitlists freeze and NO additional seats are offered.?

Applications for neighborhood and targeted transfers closed on March 8, and the y was held on March 13th. Waitlisted families were notified of offers for available seats.

Application Timelines for School Year 2024-2025

Elementary Schools (Targeted Transfers)

Applications Open Mon, February 19, at 4 p.m.
Applications Close Fri, March 8, at 4 p.m.
Online Live Lottery? Wed, March 13, at 1 p.m.

(note: the video expires after 90 days)

Families receive lottery results? on Fri, March 15, by 8 p.m.
Families must accept or decline the offer? by Fri, March 22, by 8 p.m.

 

Middle and High Schools (Neighborhood Transfers)

Applications Open Mon, Feb 19, at 4 p.m.
Applications Close Fri, March 8, at 4 p.m.
Online Live Lottery? Wed, March 13, at 1 p.m.

(note: the video expires after 90 days)

Families receive lottery results? on Fri, March 15, by 8 p.m.
Families must accept or decline the offer? by Fri, March 22, by 8 p.m.

 

All students who are eligible and interested in applying for a targeted or neighborhood transfer must submit an online application. ?

For additional information, questions, or support, you can contact the Welcome Center.

Phone: 703-228-8000 (option 1) Email: ?schooloptions@apsva.us

 

Transfer Options for School Year 2024-2025

Elementary Schools (K-5th)

Targeted Transfers: Rising K-5th grade students currently residing in specific planning units are eligible to apply.

Elementary Schools Targeted Transfers
ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ Science Focus to Innovation ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ Science Focus Planning Units 23211, 24080, 24100, 24111 & 24120 No Transportation Provided
Hoffman-Boston to Fleet Hoffman-Boston Planning Units 46111, 48160 & 48180 No Transportation Provided
Glebe to Cardinal Glebe Planning Unit 16090 No Transportation Provided
Tuckahoe to Cardinal Tuckahoe Planning Units 16050 & 16060 No Transportation Provided
Abingdon to Drew All Abingdon Planning Units. Transportation is available from a hub stop to Drew for all students accepting a targeted transfer.

*Planning units are defined neighborhood areas (see map). Every ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ residential address is part of a planning unit.

Find your planning unit using the Boundary (Attendance Area) Locator.

?SY 2024-2025 Elementary Schools Targeted Transfers: Number of seats available by school and grade level.

Cardinal Dr. Charles R. Drew Innovation Alice West Fleet
Grade Seats Available Grade Seats Available Grade Seats Available Grade Seats Available
Kindergarten 5 Kindergarten 10 Kindergarten 10 Kindergarten 10
Grade 1 2 Grade 1 2 Grade 1 4 Grade 1 2
Grade 2 1 Grade 2 1 Grade 2 4 Grade 2 2
Grade 3 1 Grade 3 1 Grade 3 4 Grade 3 2
Grade 4 1 Grade 4 0 Grade 4 4 Grade 4 2
Grade 5 0 Grade 5 0 Grade 5 4 Grade 5 2

Updated on 3.18.2024

Middle Schools (6th-8th)

Neighborhood Transfers

Eligibility: Students currently in Grades 5-7 and residing in ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ can apply for a neighborhood transfer to one or more of the schools offering transfers.

Priority: Students who reside in the Swanson and Jefferson attendance zones will receive priority when applying for a neighborhood transfer to any of the middle schools offering transfer seats since their schools¡¯ enrollment is projected to exceed the school design capacity.

Middle School Neighborhood Transfers
  • Dorothy Hamm
  • Kenmore
  • Williamsburg
All middle current 5th, 6th, and 7th grades No Transportation Provided

?SY 2024-2025 Middle Schools Neighborhood Transfers: Number of seats available by school and grade level.

Dorothy Hamm Kenmore Williamsburg
Grade Seats Available Grade Seats Available Grade Seats Available
Grade 6 25 Grade 6 20 Grade 6 10
Grade 7 10 Grade 7 0 Grade 7 0
Grade 8 5 Grade 8 5 Grade 8 10

Updated on 3.18.2024

High Schools (9th-12th)

Neighborhood Transfers

Eligibility: Students currently in Grades 8-11 and residing in ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ are eligible to apply for a neighborhood transfer to one or more of the schools offering transfers.

Priority: Students who reside in the Wakefield attendance (boundary) zone will receive priority when applying for a neighborhood transfer to Yorktown and Washington-Liberty since their schools¡¯ enrollment is projected to exceed the school design capacity.


High School Neighborhood Transfers
Washington-Liberty all rising 9th-(current 8th grade) -12th-grade students Students accepting a transfer to Washington-Liberty will be eligible to use Transportation from an existing Washington-Liberty hub stop.
Yorktown all rising 9th-(current 8th grade) -12th grade students No Transportation Provided

 

?SY 2024-2025 High?Schools Neighborhood Transfers: Number of seats available by school and grade level.

Yorktown Washington-Liberty?
Grade Seats Available Grade Seats Available
Grade 9 10 Grade 9 20
Grade 10 10 Grade 10 0
Grade 11 0 Grade 11 10
Grade 12 0 Grade 12 10

Updated on 3.18.2024

General Information

Lottery and Waitlists

If more applications are received than there are seats available, APS will conduct a random, double-blind lottery to determine admission. Families DO?NOT?receive lottery results on the day of the automated lottery.

  • Families will be notified of their acceptance or placement on the waitlist by email and/or text on the date specified in the Application Timeline.
  • Families must confirm or decline attendance at the school or program within one week of notice.
  • If families do not accept or decline their seat by the deadline, their seat will be given to the next student on the waitlist.
  • If families apply to more than one school/program, their application will go into all lotteries simultaneously.?

Waitlists:?Students who applied, but were not selected through the lottery process, will be placed in numerical order on a waitlist.

  • Applications received after the deadline are placed at the bottom of the existing waitlist for the upcoming school year.
  • When students on the waitlist are offered a seat, they have a one-week window to accept the slot. If the slot is not accepted within the one-week window, the offer will be rescinded and offered to the next student on the waitlist.
  • Option seats are continuously filled throughout the school year as seats become available.

Transportation

Parents and guardians are responsible for transportation when the student accepts a transfer to another neighborhood school that is accepting transfers unless otherwise directed by the School Board as part of another decision.

Siblings

Families must submit a transfer application for each student. If a spot is received at the transfer school and the student enrolls at that school for the 2023-24 school year, the student is able to remain at that school until they are promoted to another school or graduate.

Neighborhood transfers are reevaluated annually.

There is no guarantee a space will be available for siblings at a school accepting transfers in future years.

Administrative Placements

In special situations, ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ may admit a student or place a student in an alternate school or program. Placements are based on aligning student needs with ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ Public School¡¯s services. The following special circumstances are considered for Administrative Placements:

Requests of Local Courts

The Superintendent or designee may, upon written request from a judge of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court of ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ County, permit a student to transfer to an ÐÓ°ÉÊÓƵ school other than the one serving his/her attendance area. Such a request shall be related to the student¡¯s appearance before that judge or before a judge of a similar court in another jurisdiction and shall be based on the student¡¯s court involvement.

Program Continuity

The Superintendent or their designee may place a student at a school to bridge short-term (typically one or two quarter) gaps in their instructional program.

Result of Disciplinary Actions

The Superintendent or their designee may place a student at a school as a result of a disciplinary incident.

Inability to Access Education

The Superintendent or their designee may place a student at a school if the student is unable to access the education at their assigned school due to repeated bullying or other similar documented situations.

Medical or Psychological Needs

The Superintendent or their designee may place a student at a school as a result of medical or psychological needs as certified by a medical professional.

? ? ? ? ?Additional documentation is required for a medical or psychological administrative placement request. Please read about the requirements below*.

Hardship

The Superintendent or their designee may place a student at a school as a result of hardships which make it difficult for the student or family to access APS services at their home school. The following are considered hardships:

    1. Death in the family
    2. Medical illness of the parent/legal guardian
    3. Financial difficulties

Requesting an Administrative Placement

If a student meets the aforementioned criteria, a family is able to request an administrative placement for a student(s) to be placed at a school other than their neighborhood school. Administrative placements are approved on a case-by-case basis and are based on the particular circumstances of a student¡¯s situation pursuant to School Board Policy . All administrative placement requests must be submitted for review by using the link to the Administrative Placement Request Form below.

You will have the opportunity to include details regarding the reason for your request and upload supporting documents.? The Administrative Placement committee only reviews supporting documentation submitted with the form to determine if the request meets criteria.?Please note the following:

  1. All requests require a written document explaining the reason for request.
  2. Additional?documentation is required for medical or psychological requests.
  3. Additional documentation for all other requests is suggested.

2024-25 School Year Administrative Placement Request Form: |? ?|??|?

  • This form is ONLY for the 2024-25 School Year

For additional information or questions about administrative placements, please contact the Welcome Center at 703-228-8000 (option 1) or email adminplacements@apsva.us.

 

*Requirements for Medical or Psychological Cases:

Medical

In cases where medical reasons are involved, the following shall be submitted as an application:

(1) The parent or guardian must submit, in writing, the reason for the request. This is fulfilled by completing the request form and providing a narrative in the ¡°additional information¡± section that details your reasons for a medical request.

(2) The parent shall submit permission for the Superintendent or designee to consult with the health care professional(s) that is treating the student by completing a Release of Information Form.

(3) A written recommendation for such transfer from a healthcare professional(s) (i.e., physician, nurse practitioner, or physician¡¯s assistant), who is treating the student, including the reasons for the request and the probable length of such assignment.

(4) For students in grades 5 or above, a student narrative shall be included, unless circumstances are identified that justify omitting such a narrative.

When an application is complete (items 1-4 above), the Superintendent or designee, may consult with the principal, or their designee, of the sending and receiving schools, student services staff, a school health physician or nurse, a school psychologist, and additional APS staff may be consulted as needed to review the request and provide a response to the request within 60 school days.

Psychological

In cases where psychological reasons are involved, the following shall be submitted as an application:

(1) The parent or guardian must submit, in writing, the reason for the request. This is fulfilled by completing the request form and providing a narrative that details your reasons for a psychological request.

2) The parent shall submit permission for the Superintendent or designee to consult with any private mental health professional(s) that is working with the student by completing a Release of Information Form.

(3) A written recommendation for the transfer, from at least one mental health professional(s) (i.e. licensed clinical counselor, licensed clinical social worker, psychologist, or psychiatrist), who is working with the student, stating the reasons for the request and the probable length of such assignment.

(4) For students in grades 5 or above, a student narrative shall be included, unless circumstances are identified that justify omitting such a narrative.

When an application is complete (items 1-4 above), the Superintendent or designee, may consult with the principals, or their designees, of the sending and receiving schools, student services staff, and a school psychologist, will review the request and provide a response. Additional APS staff may be consulted as needed.

APS will endeavor to process the completed request as soon as possible and within 60 school days. In the event the need for the transfer is urgent, APS will endeavor to provide a response more quickly.

When the packet is complete, send all documents to: adminplacements@apsva.us

Transfer policies

The Options and Transfers Policy () and Policy Implementation Procedure () outline the process determined by the School Board that APS follows to ensure equitable access for all students to the available option school/programs and neighborhood transfers.

School Transfers Policies, Procedures and Application Data

The Options and Transfers Policy () and Policy Implementation Procedure () outline the process determined by the School Board that APS follows to ensure equitable access for all students to the available option school/programs and neighborhood transfers.

View application data for option schools and programs.