no assigned school

Schools Near You

Find out what school district you are in and what school you are zoned for by exploring our school boundary maps. Note: School map boundaries may have changed for the current school year so please contact your school district to verify school assignment for your child.

• Accounting & Auditing
• Chapter 70 Program

Charter Schools

• Circuit Breaker
• Educational Collaboratives
• DESE Budget
• Grants/Funding Opportunities
• Nutrition Programs
• Regional Districts
• School Buildings
• Inter-District School Choice
• School Finance Regulations
• Spending Comparisons
• Transportation
• Chapter 74 Nonresident Tuition
• School Finance Contacts
• Related Links

Choosing a School: A Family Guide to Educational Options in Massachusetts

All school-age children who live in Massachusetts are entitled to attend a public school free of charge and all children between the ages of 6 and 16 must attend school. Most children attend school in their home district, the school district in which they live. In certain situations, families may choose to enroll children in public schools outside of their home district. These choices include the inter-district school choice program, charter schools, vocational technical schools, METCO, Commonwealth Virtual Schools, and the Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). Families may also choose to educate their children in non-public settings through private schools or home schooling. This advisory provides information and links to additional resources on these options.

Your Home School District

In general, children have a right to attend public school in the city or town where they actually reside, whether they live with their family or in a foster or group home. If your child lives in a city or town that operates its own school district, this district is your child's home district. For example, students living in Boston are entitled to attend the Boston Public Schools. These districts are sometimes referred to as local or municipal school districts. Each local district is governed by a local school committee, whose members are either elected by the voters or appointed by the city's mayor.

Some cities and towns, particularly smaller towns, have joined together to establish a regional school district. For example, the Wachusett Regional School District has five member towns-Holden, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland, and Sterling. If your child lives in any one of those five towns, they have a right to attend school in the Wachusett Regional School District. The Wachusett Regional School District is your child's home district. Regional districts are governed by a regional school committee, whose members are either elected or appointed as provided in state law.

In some cases, a town may have a local school district for the lower grades and be a member of a regional district for the upper grades. For example, the town of Sturbridge has a local school district for grades K–6, and the town is a member of the Tantasqua Regional School District, which serves grades 7–12. If a child lives in Sturbridge and is in grades K–6, they have a right to attend the Sturbridge Public Schools. If a child lives in Sturbridge and is in grades 7–12, they have a right to attend school in the Tantasqua Regional School District.

A few towns do not operate their own school district and are not members of a regional school district. In these cases, the town is required to have an agreement with a nearby school district, under which the town pays tuition to that district to educate the town's students. For example, the town of Tyringham has a tuition agreement with the town of Lee under which all Tyringham students can attend the Lee Public Schools. If your child lives in Tyringham, they have a right to attend the Lee Public Schools, which is considered your child's home district.

Choosing a school within your home district. Some school districts have only one school serving each grade; others may have several schools for all or some grades. If your home district has more than one school for your child's grade level, the district's policy will determine which school students attend. In some cases, your child might be assigned to a school based on where you live. In other cases, you might be able to express a choice as to which school your child will attend. Policies on how students are assigned to schools within a school district are set by the school committee. To find out more about the school assignment policies in your home district, you should contact your district's family information center or superintendent's office .

Attending Public School Outside Your Home District

There are several different programs that allow your child to attend public school outside of their home district. Each program has its own rules regarding eligibility for admission.

The Inter-District School Choice Program

The inter-district school choice program allows families to enroll their children in a school district that is not the child's home district. Because of space limitations, not all school districts accept out-of-district students under this program. Every year the school committee in each school district decides whether it will accept new enrollments under this program and, if so, in what grades. The school district profiles page on the Department's website shows, for each district, whether they are accepting school choice students.

If you are interested in having your child attend school in another district under this program and that district is accepting students, you should contact the superintendent's office in the district in which you want to enroll your child. It is advisable to contact districts in advance, generally during the winter or spring prior to the year in which you want to enroll your child. Districts generally require the submission of an application. If more students apply than there are spaces available, the district will hold a lottery to select which students will be admitted. If a district has fewer applicants than it has seats for school choice students, it may choose to accept students at any time during the school year. A sibling of a child currently attending school in another district under school choice will receive preference in the admissions lottery.

Your home district does not have to approve your child's application for admission to another district. Your child is eligible to apply for the school choice program in another district even if your home district is not accepting enrollment through school choice.

Once your child is accepted into another district under school choice, they are entitled to attend that district's schools until high school graduation or until they complete the highest grade offered by that district. You do not have to reapply each year.

Except for certain students with disabilities, who may be entitled to transportation, transportation is not provided for students attending another school district under this program.

For additional general information about the inter-district school choice program, contact the Department's school finance office .

Charter schools are public schools that operate independently of local school districts. Each school is governed by a board of trustees. The board of trustees receives a charter directly from the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to operate a public school, after going through a rigorous application process. Charter schools are located throughout the state. A listing of all charter schools is available on the Department's website. Each charter school determines what grade levels it will serve and what particular programs it will offer, and that decision is contained in its charter.

Most charter schools are "Commonwealth" charter schools, and any student in the state can apply for admission. If more students apply to a charter school than there is space available, the charter school will hold a lottery to determine which students will be admitted. Enrollment preference is given to siblings of students who currently attend the school and to students living in the city or town where the charter school is located. Once a student is admitted to a charter school, they are entitled to attend in subsequent years without reapplying.

Some Commonwealth charter schools are designated as regional schools and serve several cities or towns. For regional charter schools, students living in any one of the cities or towns in the region receive enrollment preference.

A few charter schools are designated as Horace Mann charter schools. These schools, although still independent, have closer ties to the local school district.

Generally, transportation is provided to charter school students only if they live in the school district in which the charter school is located or if they are students with disabilities who are entitled to transportation under special education laws. If your child lives in a school district outside of the one in which the charter school is located and is not entitled to transportation under special education laws, you are responsible for getting your child to and from the charter school.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education must decide every five years whether to renew the school's charter. In addition, the Board may revoke a charter before the end of the five years if the school fails to meet certain requirements of its charter. If your child is attending a charter school and the school's charter is revoked or not renewed, your child will need to transfer back to their home district or select another option for enrolling outside of the home district.

For information about a particular charter school, or to apply for admission, contact the school directly. Most schools conduct their enrollment lotteries during January or February, so early applications are advised. For general information about the charter school program, contact the Department's charter school office .

Vocational Technical Education Programs

In grades 9–12, students may choose to participate in vocational technical education programs, such as automotive technology, culinary arts, or design and visual communications, in preparation for a future career. Students in these programs take academic courses in addition to their technical courses and must meet the same requirements for high school graduation that all high school students must meet, including passing the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System or "MCAS" tests. These vocational technical education programs are approved by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and are sometimes referred to as "Chapter 74-approved" programs.

Several school districts offer vocational technical education programs within the district itself, either in the district's regular high school or in a separate vocational technical high school. Most cities and towns, however, choose to offer vocational technical education programs by joining a regional vocational school district. For example, the Greater Lowell Regional Vocational School District serves the city of Lowell and the towns of Dracut, Dunstable, and Tyngsborough. Each regional vocational technical school district operates a regional vocational technical high school that serves a number of cities and towns in its geographic area and offers a range of vocational technical education programs and academic courses.

If your city or town belongs to a regional vocational school district, your child is eligible to apply for admission for grades 9–12. Vocational technical high schools have admissions criteria and may have enrollment limits. Transportation is provided for students from the member towns. If you are interested, contact the vocational technical high school to which your town belongs. To see if your town belongs to a regional vocational high school, look up your town on the school profile page on the Department's website.

Out-of-District Vocational Technical Education Programs: If your child would like to attend a vocational technical education program other than the one in your home district or in the regional vocational district to which your town belongs, you have two choices. First, your child may apply to another vocational technical high school under the inter-district school choice program, described earlier, if that high school accepts school choice students. Students attending another vocational technical high school under the school choice program can elect any vocational technical program offered by that school.

Second, if your city or town does not offer the particular vocational technical education program in which your child is interested, either in its own high school or in the regional vocational technical high school to which your city or town belongs, your child may apply for admission, under the Chapter 74 non-resident option, to any vocational technical high school or other high school in the state that offers the program. To enroll through this option, your child must meet the school's admissions criteria. Some vocational technical high schools will admit out-of-district students only through the Chapter 74 non-resident option and will not admit out-of-district students through the inter-district school choice program. If your child is admitted through the Chapter 74 non-resident option, transportation will be provided. The Chapter 74 non-resident option is described in greater detail in the program guidelines.

Out-of-district students enrolled through Chapter 74 may continue at the school only as long as they continue to be enrolled in the particular vocational technical program to which they were admitted. If a student wants to switch to a different program and that vocational technical education program is offered by your city or town, the student will have to return to the home district or seek admission to the regional vocational technical high school to which the city or town belongs.

Agricultural schools: The state has four vocational technical high schools that offer specialized agricultural programs in addition to other vocational technical education programs. The Norfolk County Agricultural School, located in Walpole, and the Bristol County Agricultural School, located in Dighton, give enrollment preference to residents of Norfolk and Bristol counties, respectively. The Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical High School is located in Danvers and has seventeen member cities and towns and accepts non-resident students from other communities. The Smith Vocational and Agricultural School in Northampton is operated by the City of Northampton independent of the Northampton Public Schools. It gives enrollment preference to Northampton residents and also enrolls many students from nearby towns under the non-resident option in Chapter 74 described earlier. If your child is interested in any of these four schools, contact the school directly for additional information and enrollment applications. In addition to these four schools, other high schools offer programs in agriculture. Please check with your local high school and regional vocational technical high school to learn about their offerings.

For more information on vocational technical education, contact the Department's career/vocational technical education unit .

The METCO program was started in the 1960s to provide enhanced educational opportunities for participating students, to reduce the racial isolation of suburban school districts, and to reduce segregation in city schools. Today, the METCO program serves about 3,300 Boston and Springfield students in grades K–12 who attend school in more than thirty suburban districts. Enrollment in the program is limited and there is a long waiting list. Students who are accepted into the program are assigned to a suburban district by the program; students do not choose the district that they will attend. Once enrolled, students are provided with transportation to and from the suburban district and a range of services to help them adjust academically and socially to their new district. For more information and to apply for the Boston area program, families should contact METCO . For more information and to apply for the Springfield area program, contact the Springfield Public Schools .

Commonwealth Virtual Schools (CMVS)

A Commonwealth of Massachusetts Virtual School (CMVS) is a public school operated by a board of trustees where teachers primarily teach from a remote location using the Internet or other computer-based methods and students are not required to be located at the physical premises of the school. Each CMVS determines what grade levels it will serve and what particular programs it will offer. List of Massachusetts virtual schools:

Any student in the state can apply for admission to a virtual school. If more students apply to a CMVS than there is space available, the school will hold a lottery to determine which students will be admitted. Once a student is admitted to a CMVS, they are entitled to attend in subsequent years without reapplying.

For information about a particular CMVS, or to apply for admission, contact the school directly. The information provided in the Frequently Asked Questions for Families will help you determine whether your child is prepared to thrive in an online program.

Massachusetts Academy of Math & Science at WPI

The Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science at WPI, located in Worcester, is an independent public high school operated in partnership with Worcester Polytechnic Institute. It provides an advanced course of study, focusing on science and mathematics, for eleventh and twelfth graders. Admission is selective.

For further information, see the Academy's website .

Private Education and Home Schooling

In addition to the public education options described above, families may also choose to send their children to a private or parochial school (at their own expense) or choose to educate their children at home. Private and parochial schools must be approved by the local school committee in order to enroll children of compulsory school age (6–16). Private and parochial schools charge tuition, although some may offer scholarships and other financial assistance. A list of the private and parochial schools in each town is included on the school profile page on this website.

Families may choose to educate their children at home. For a child of compulsory school age, the home schooling program must be approved in advance by the superintendent or school committee of the home district. For further information on this option, see the Department's website and contact your school district's superintendent's office .

Last Updated: August 5, 2022

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148-4906

Voice: (781) 338-3000 TTY: (800) 439-2370

Disclaimer: A reference in this website to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Topics › Education

Frequently asked questions on public school open enrollment

Public school open enrollment policies allow students to transfer to the public school of their choice..

Open enrollment policies allow students to attend the public schools of their choice rather than the school they are residentially assigned to. Strong open enrollment policies empower families to transfer their students to a new school that may be outside of, or within, their assigned school districts.  

Open enrollment is considered a form of school choice because the policy allows families to find an educational environment that works best for their students, regardless of where they live or their income. 

State policymakers could drastically expand the K-12 public education options that are available to families through open enrollment policies, which diminish the role of residentially assigned school districts and attendance zone boundaries by allowing students to transfer to any public school that has available seating.

School district requirements for participating in open enrollment vary from state to state. Strong open enrollment policies require that public school districts: 

• Allow within-district and cross-district open enrollment, only rejecting incoming students for limited reasons, such as insufficient capacity.
• Clearly post their open enrollment policies and procedures on their public websites, including all application deadlines.
• Publicly report the number of open seats that every school has so families know which schools have availability.
• Do not charge transfer students tuition or fees.

These policies make it easier for families to use open enrollment and ensure that public schools are open to all students. 

In addition to the above requirements, policymakers should also ensure that state education agencies (SEAs) annually report key open enrollment data, including the number of transfer students, the number of transfer students accepted and rejected, and the reasons why any transfer applications were rejected in each school district. This transparency helps hold schools and districts accountable, ensuring that they don’t reject transfer applications for superficial reasons . It also allows state lawmakers to continually measure the success of the open enrollment program.

To access information on school capacity, families should look at school district websites.

States, such as Florida , Arizona, and Oklahoma, require each school district to post the number of seats that are open and available to transfer students in each school by grade level. Some states, like Delaware, provide an open enrollment portal that shows which school districts have available seats, are nearing capacity, or are operating at full capacity.

Unfortunately, most states do not currently require school districts to post their available capacity online, making it hard for families to know which school districts have open seats. Transparent open enrollment reporting is crucial to helping families find and understand their education options. 

Public schools should only be able to reject open enrollment transfer applicants for limited reasons, such as insufficient capacity.

For instance, Florida school districts, adhering to all federal desegregation requirements, can only refuse to enroll transfer applicants for limited reasons, such as an insufficient number of open seats at a school. This policy ensures that the number of students does not exceed available facilities and staff. 

However, other states allow school districts to discriminate against transfer applicants for a variety of reasons, regardless of the number of seats that are available at public schools. For example, New Hampshire lets school districts reject transfer applicants due to their previous academic performance.

At the same time, Arkansas does not allow the number of transfer applicants leaving a school district to exceed more than 3% of the assigned school district’s total enrollment of the previous year. These policies unnecessarily limit the number of transfer students. These discriminatory policies are overly deferential to school districts, letting them cherry-pick students or artificially protect their residentially assigned monopolies.

Successful open enrollment policies ensure that education funding follows the child to their new school district. If school districts do not receive sufficient funding for transfer students, they’re less willing to participate in open enrollment programs. 

Wisconsin has one of the most successful open enrollment policies in the nation, in part because of the state’s transfer funding policy. A statewide per-pupil funding amount, which is updated each year by the legislature, follows each transfer student to his or her new school. At the same time, transfer students are still counted in their residentially assigned school districts, allowing them to still collect some education funds for each transfer student. This scenario creates a win-win situation for both the home and receiving school districts. Research from California’s public schools also shows it’s critical to get the financial incentives right in order for school districts to accept transfer students. Reason Foundation’s Aaron Smith reported : 

“Because California’s Basic Aid school districts have virtually no financial incentive to enroll new students from outside of their district boundaries, the state previously provided those that participated in the District of Choice program with 70% of each transfer student’s base amount. However, this inducement was slashed to 25% in the 2017-18 school year with predictable results. By the 2019-20 school year Basic Aid districts reduced transfer enrollments by 24% and several stopped participating in the program altogether.”

Many states do not require school districts to transport students across district boundaries and roughly a quarter of states explicitly prohibit districts from doing so, which can be a significant barrier to accessing open enrollment for many, especially low-income students.

At the very least, states should not prohibit transporting transfer students across school district boundaries. If it so chooses, the receiving school district should be able to create new bus routes to transport transfer students. For instance, Florida school districts can provide transportation options to transfer students.

However, more states should consider innovative proposals, such as those in Colorado and Ohio , which encourage school sectors to work together to provide transportation. Policymakers should also consider Wisconsin’s policy, which reimburses low-income families using the state’s cross-district open enrollment option up to $1,218 annually for mileage expenses for school transportation.

A number of states allow public schools to charge transfer students tuition. While school districts may argue these funds are necessary to cover the costs of incoming students, charging tuition often creates a mammoth barrier for transfer students, especially those from low-income families.

For instance, Texas’ Lovejoy Independent School District can charge families of transfer students up to $14,000 in tuition. Instead of letting school districts charge tuition, states should allow education funds to follow students when they transfer, as Wisconsin does. Aligning financial incentives for both the assigned and receiving school districts is a key to developing a robust open enrollment program.

Questions about student eligibility to participate in sports are dealt with on a state-by-state basis but some states with open enrollment laws, like Arizona and Oklahoma, allow the state’s third-party athletic association to make decisions on student eligibility.

As such, policymakers do not need to change eligibility requirements when adopting open enrollment reforms. 

However, if state policymakers desire, they can look to Florida’s policy on athletic eligibility for transfer students. In 2016, Florida passed a controlled open enrollment law that allows students to transfer to any school in the state with few exceptions and also mandates immediate eligibility for student-athletes. This means, unlike in Arizona or Oklahoma, families in Florida don’t have to make difficult tradeoffs between academics and athletics and can instead make student transfer decisions based solely on what’s best for their circumstances, which is impossible for distant bureaucrats to assess.

On Florida’s approach, my colleague Aaron Smith wrote :

“​​A common pushback against Florida’s approach is the claim that participating in athletics is a privilege for students and shouldn’t be prioritized over academics. It’s easy for some to sympathize with this critique, but then why aren’t similar restrictions applied to other privileges such as debate club, school bands, or performing arts?  Extracurricular activities—sports or otherwise—help develop positive skills and traits that aren’t readily taught in classrooms, and forcing families to make arbitrary choices seems to be more about adult agendas than what’s best for kids. Granting student-athletes immediate eligibility can even help with socialization and adjusting to their new environment.”

Most states have some form of open enrollment or student transfer policy, but only a handful make transfer opportunities accessible to all families

Florida: An Open Enrollment Policy Standard Bearer

Florida’s open enrollment law could serve as an ideal open enrollment model for other states. All school districts in the Sunshine State are required to participate in both cross-district and within-district open enrollment. The state’s public schools must regularly report the number of available seats by grade level and cannot charge transfer students’ families tuition or fees. While not required to do so, school districts can provide transfer students with transportation options.

During the 2018-19 school year, nearly 273,500 Florida students used open enrollment. More than two-thirds of the students using cross-district open enrollment transferred to schools “with graduation rates above the state mean and more than 90% of inter-district transfer students attend A- or B-rated school districts,” Reason Foundation’s Vittorio Nastasi reported.

Wisconsin’s Model Funding Solution to Open Enrollment

Wisconsin’s open enrollment law requires all school districts to participate in mandatory cross-district open enrollment so long as they have open seats. Beginning with a mere 2,464 students in the 1998-99 school year, Wisconsin’s cross-district open enrollment program grew to 70,428 students in the 2020-21 academic year.

Like Florida, Wisconsin school districts must post about their cross-district open enrollment option on their websites. In the case of oversubscription, students are selected through a randomized lottery with a waiting list for students who aren’t selected. The Badger State also has a voluntary within-district open enrollment option. 

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction provides detailed reports about available capacity in each school district including the number of transfer students and the reason transfer applications were rejected. School districts cannot charge tuition to transfer students. 

The crown jewel of Wisconsin’s open enrollment program is its cutting-edge student funding mechanism allowing education dollars to follow each transfer student regardless of where they go to school. 

Research shows open enrollment is often used by families to access better school districts and can improve outcomes at sending school districts.

For example, students using Texas’ cross-district open enrollment during the 2018-19 school year were more likely to transfer to school districts ranked as “A” under the state’s district report card accountability system and less likely to transfer to school districts with lower rankings, such as “C,” “D” or “F.” 

California’s Legislative Analyst’s Office’s 2016 and 2021 reports showed that most students participating in the state’s District of Choice program transferred to school districts with higher test scores. According to Reason’s Vittorio Nastasi , more than 90% of students using Florida’s robust cross-district open enrollment option transferred to schools rated as “A” or “B” and “over two-thirds of transfer students crossing school district boundaries enrolled in districts with graduation rates above the state mean.”

These findings show that students typically use open enrollment to access better schools outside their residentially assigned option. 

A 2017 report on Ohio’s open enrollment program found achievement benefits and increased on-time graduation rates for transfer students who consistently used open enrollment, especially for black students and those in high-poverty urban areas. 

Better academic opportunities are not the only advantage of open enrollment policies. The 2016 report from California’s LAO indicated that school districts participating in the District of Choice program attracted students who were bullied at or did not fit in at their assigned school or who wanted a shorter school commute. 

At the same time, transfer students are not the only ones who benefit from open enrollment policies. A robust education marketplace can make school districts responsive to students and families. For example, both the 2016 and 2021 California LAO reports found that many students transferred schools because their assigned school lacked educational opportunities , such as advanced placement or international baccalaureate courses, school instructional models, or courses that emphasized career preparation for students interested in particular fields.

In response, some school districts “took steps to mitigate enrollment losses including gathering feedback from families and communities, evaluating programmatic offerings, and implementing reforms that led to fewer students transferring out,” Reason’s Aaron Smith pointed out. Similarly, a 2014 report found that Colorado’s transfer students tended to come from school districts with fewer AP offerings and higher dropout rates.

Explore National School Choice Week

• State Guides
• Types of Schools
• What is School Choice?
• Find Schools Near Me
• 7 Step Guide
• Start with a Quiz
• Media Resources
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Privacy Policy

School Choice in Your State

• Register Your School
• Celebrate School Choice Week
• Your Ultimate Guide to NSCW 2024

The Ultimate Guide to a Public School Transfer (Open Enrollment)

• Share this page:

Posted on March 3, 2021 Modified on October 26, 2023  Posted by National School Choice Week Team

Tens of millions of kids across America attend traditional public schools across all 50 states. Maybe you went to one, or maybe your child attends a traditional public school. Perhaps you even decided to rent or buy a home or apartment because you wanted your child to attend the traditional public school nearby. But what if you want to make a public school transfer?

Most students who attend traditional public schools are assigned to attend these schools by school district officials – based on school boundary maps and zoning. These schools are tuition-free and must accept all students, regardless of their previous academic performance or special learning needs.

What do you need to know about public school choice?

Get a quick rundown.

But did you know that traditional public schools can also be schools of choice? You might just be able to choose a traditional public school outside of your neighborhood or zone , and still pay no tuition! As you’ll see below, most states today have rules allowing for school transfers, boundary exceptions, or some type of public school choice , which is often referred to as open enrollment . These rules make it possible for parents to choose a great public school for them, whether it’s in their neighborhood or across town!

Sign up to learn even more about School Choice in your state!

" * " indicates required fields

What is Public School Open Enrollment?

Open enrollment is an important form of public school choice. It allows parents to choose public schools outside of their assigned neighborhood. That way, families can choose the best free public school for their child, even if it’s not in their zip code.

Each state has different open enrollment laws for public schools. Allowing students to attend other traditional public schools within their assigned district is called intradistrict enrollment. Allowing students to attend public schools outside their district is called interdistrict enrollment.

All 50 states permit public school transfers in at least some cases, but access to open enrollment varies widely by state. Several states, like West Virginia and Kansas, have passed laws expanding open enrollment policies over the past few years, so a public school transfer may be more available to you than it was in the past!

If open enrollment is available to you, you can take advantage of it by visiting multiple schools and discovering which is the best school of choice for your family. You can use our free Schools Near Me tool to find various public schools to consider. After all, public schools aren’t all the same. They may differ in learning methods and one may just “feel different” than another to you.

Common Questions about Traditional Public Schools

How do parents feel about public school open enrollment.

According to recent polling by Morning Consult , more than 70% of school parents say they support students being able to select and transfer to a public school of their choice in another district. 

How many public school districts are in the U.S.? And, how many public school teachers are there?

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are more than 13,300 public school districts in the U.S . And, there are more than 3.8 million full and part-time teachers in public schools.

What public school am I zoned for?

Often, your zip code determines what school district you are in. If you are unsure, you can search for your school district . Once you know your district, you can visit the district website to find your assigned school. Don’t forget that there may be open enrollment options that allow you to attend any school in the district, or even schools outside of the district!

How are public schools managed?

Traditional public schools are run by local school districts . These school districts are usually overseen by elected school boards . All public schools must follow education laws in the state. Each state has its own teacher certification policies. Usually, all or most teachers in public schools must be certified by the state to teach.

How much does public school cost?

Traditional public schools don’t charge tuition or entrance fees. The costs for public schools are paid by taxpayers in the form of local, state, and federal taxes. You can search for what your public school spends at Project Nickel . You can also explore the average per-pupil spending in your state’s public schools below .

How much is a public school teacher salary?

As of the 2021-2022 school year, the average public school teacher salary was about $66,397 .

Public Schools of Choice in Your State

Every state has traditional public schools, but does your state offer open enrollment, which allows you to choose schools outside your neighborhood, zone, or district? Check out your state’s parent guide or scroll below to learn whether you can use open enrollment to make a public school transfer. You can also contact your local district to learn more.

In 12  states parents may be able to select any traditional public school for their child, in any school district.

In 21  states, there are at least some situations where schools are required to participate in open enrollment. For example, some states guarantee open enrollment to families who wish to transfer out of a low-performing school, or families who live too far from their assigned school. In these states, parents meeting certain requirements are guaranteed choice. Open enrollment may be optional in other cases.

An additional 16 states have allowed districts and schools to decide whether to participate in open enrollment. In these cases, families must request and receive school district approval to use open enrollment. Access to public school transfers in these states vary widely – in some, transfers are readily available while in others, transfers are rarely permitted.

In 1 state, North Carolina, open enrollment is generally not permitted, but there are still select cases where families have access to “choice zones” or transfers.

⬤ Parents of students meeting certain criteria may choose ⬤ Parents are free to choose any public school they wish ⬤ In general, the state does not permit open enrollment, but families can choose in rare exceptions ⬤ Parents must receive school district approval to choose ⬤ Parents can apply to any school via a lottery

Source: Education Commission of the States, 2023; Independent research by NSCW

In most states, families have some “open enrollment” options that allow parents to choose traditional public schools outside of the schools assigned to their children by their districts. In Alabama, you can transfer your child to a different public school if you are zoned for a “ failing school .” In other cases, if you choose a traditional public school, it will likely need to be the school assigned by your district.

The average per-pupil spending in Alabama public schools is $10,683 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Alabama State Department of Education.

Alaska has limited open enrollment laws for public schools. What this means is that parents of students who are assigned to a particular neighborhood school may in some cases be able to transfer their children to another school in their district. For example, the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District has an online application portal where families can apply for a school outside their zoned “attendance area.” In other cases, children may be required to attend the school assigned to them by their district. Contact your school district to learn more.

The average per-pupil spending in Alaska public schools is $19,540 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the   Alaska Department of Education & Early Development.

Arizona has unrestricted open enrollment for public school. What this means is that you can send your child to any public school in Arizona, regardless of where you live or where the school is located, as long as the school has capacity. You can take advantage of this option by visiting multiple public schools near you and discovering which is the best fit for your family. Importantly, Arizona has a law prohibiting public schools from charging tuition for a transfer student , so this option is always free.

Each district’s open enrollment policies must be available in English and Spanish, and must include transportation provisions. These include transportation up to about 20 miles each wa y for students with a disability or Individualized Education Program (IEP) , and can include other students, too. For example, you can read about the open enrollment process in the Scottsdale Unified School District .

The average per-pupil spending in Arizona public schools is $9,611 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Arizona Department of Education and Office of the Governor – School Choice.

One Arizona public school leader we interviewed, Candice Stump of Coyote Springs Elementary School, described her school’s mission this way: “We’re about educating every kid. We’re a co-teaching school. We’re an inclusive school. All of our kids get the opportunity, third through sixth grade, to be gifted and talented or what we would refer to as enriched. I think there’s a lot of misconceptions that for a good education you have to skim the top and only have those kids attend the schools.”

In Arkansas, there are some limits on open enrollment, like seat capacity, but families may be able to transfer to a public school of choice beyond their neighborhood school. The LEARNS Act , passed in 2023, eliminated a cap on the number of students allowed to transfer, making open enrollment more accessible to families statewide.

If you would like to participate in open enrollment, contact your local district. Arkansas law prohibits districts from charging tuition for transfer students, so open enrollment is always free. Generally, however, transportation is not covered by the school you use open enrollment to select, unless that school district is under facilities distress or a special agreement is made between the receiving and sending districts.

The average per-pupil spending in Arkansas public schools is $11,266 . Find out more at the Arkansas Department of Education or view a school choice transfer application to get started.

California:

In California, parents of students assigned to low-performing schools may be able to transfer their children to another school based on the state’s limited open enrollment laws. In general, school districts in California can also set their own open enrollment policies, so parents can check with their local district to learn more. As a real-world example, the William S. Hart Union High School District only accepts transfers within its district for a few student groups, including victims of bullying, foster youth, and children of active military.

Parents may be able to request that the school they select through open enrollment provides transportation assistance.

The average per-pupil spending in California public schools is $14,985 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the California Department of Education.

Colorado has unrestricted open enrollment for public schools. What this means is that you may be able to send your child to any public school in Colorado, regardless of where you live or where the school is located. You can take advantage of this important option by visiting multiple public schools near you and discovering which is the best fit for your family. Since Colorado has a law prohibiting public schools from charging tuition for transfer students, open enrollment is always a free option for families.

As a real-world example of the transfer process, you may wish to view the online application for transfers within the Cherry Creek School District. Schools may prioritize the transfer requests of certain student groups , such as students wishing to transfer out of low-performing schools. Also note that, in Colorado, transfer students may need to reapply each year.

The average per-pupil spending in Colorado is $12,255 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Colorado Department of Education.

Connecticut:

Connecticut has restricted open enrollment for public school. What this means is that parents in some Connecticut cities may be able to choose traditional public schools outside of their districts. This “Open Choice Program” applies in Hartford , Bridgeport, New Haven, and New London , and may apply in other cities. Transfers within districts are sometimes an option as well. As a real-world example, you may wish to view the intradistrict transfer application for Norwalk Public Schools . 

Connecticut prohibits districts from charging tuition for transfer students, so open enrollment is always a free option for families. If you live in an area of Connecticut with open enrollment, you can take advantage of this option by visiting multiple public schools near you and discovering which is the best fit for your family. Keep in mind that local boards of education decide whether to provide transportation for students participating in open enrollment.

The average per-pupil spending in Connecticut is $22,769 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Connecticut State Department of Education.

Delaware has unrestricted open enrollment for public school. What this means is that you can send your child to any public school in Delaware, regardless of where you live or where the school is located. As long as the school has room , your child should be accepted. You can take advantage of this valuable option by visiting multiple public schools near you and discovering which is the best fit for your family.

While districts are not allowed to charge tuition for transfer students, parents are responsible for transportation of students participating in open enrollment. Families interested in submitting choice applications for participating public school districts in Delaware can do so online at SchoolChoiceDE . The deadline for applications is usually around mid-January for the upcoming school year. In Delaware, districts are required to post their open enrollment policies on their website, so you may also want to check out your district’s website!

The average per-pupil spending in Delaware is $17,448 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Department of Education.

Florida has unrestricted open enrollment for public school. What this means is that you can send your child to any public school in Florida, regardless of where you live or where the school is located. Each school must post information about capacity and how to apply on its website, and schools are not allowed to charge tuition .

For a real-world example, check out Polk County Public Schools’ process for open enrollment. Generally, parents are responsible for transportation of students participating in open enrollment.

The average per-pupil spending in Florida is $10,401 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Florida Department of Education.

In Georgia, families can send their child to any public school within their school district as long as the school has room and has been open for at least four years. Schools cannot charge tuition for within-district transfers.

Also, in some cases, families can choose public schools outside their district; contact your local school district to see if this is an option for you. For a real-world example of the transfer process and timeline, check out  Atlanta Public Schools’ application process . Note that parents are usually responsible for transportation of students participating in open enrollment.

The average per-pupil spending in Georgia is $12,145 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Georgia Department of Education.

In Hawaii, the state operates as a single school district divided into 15 “complex areas .” Hawaii parents should contact the state education agency about its open enrollment policies , and whether they can consider schools outside their assigned area. A “geographic exception” transfer may be allowed, for example, if a student wishes to attend a public school with a special program of study not offered in their home school . Public schools are not allowed to charge tuition for transfer students.

The average per-pupil spending in Hawaii is $16,550 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Hawaii State Department of Education.

Idaho has unrestricted open enrollment for public school. What this means is that you can likely send your child to any public school in Idaho regardless of where you live or where the school is located. You can take advantage of this valuable option by visiting multiple public schools near you and discovering which is the best fit for your family. For a real-world example of the transfer process, check out Boise School District’s application guidelines . Parents are responsible for transportation of students participating in open enrollment. 

A law passed in 2023 updates Idaho’s enrollment law and makes a few changes. For example, while transfer students previously had to reapply annually, the new law doesn’t require families to reapply after two years at a public school of their choice.

Also, don’t forget that through the state’s Advanced Opportunities program , every public school student in Idaho is allocated $4,125 to use in grades 7-12. These funds can be used for dual credits, Advanced Placement Exam fees, professional certifications, workforce training, or other qualified expenses.

The average per-pupil spending in Idaho is $9,053 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Idaho Department of Education.

Illinois has limited open enrollment laws . In some cases, parents can visit multiple schools and select the one best for their child. Illinois families should check with their local district to see if it is an option to transfer schools within their district. In general, Illinois families cannot transfer to public schools outside their district. In the limited cases where a transfer to another district is possible, families may be charged fees.

For a real-world example of the transfer process, check out the application materials for intradistrict transfers in the Community Consolidated School District 15 .

The average per-pupil spending in Illinois is $18,316 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Illinois State Board of Education.

In Indiana, parents have restricted open enrollment . What this means is that Indianapolis Public Schools requires schools within the district to allow transfers. And in other districts, students can request to transfer to any public school of choice, provided the school has a policy allowing for open enrollment. 75,000 students participated in interdistrict open enrollment in 2021!

In particular, parents can request that their child transfer to another district if there are crowded conditions at their current school or if another school district offers curriculum important to their child’s vocational aspirations. If you would like to participate in open enrollment, contact your local district to learn more.

For a real-world example, check out Noblesville Schools’ transfer process . Keep in mind that some districts may charge tuition for transfer students.

The average per-pupil spending in Indiana is $11,538 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Indiana Department of Education.

Iowa has flexible open enrollment for public school. Based on Iowa’s recently-expanded laws, families can generally apply to any traditional public school district at any time during the year . Of course, schools may deny a request if there is not enough classroom space. Also, districts can set their own policies for transfers within their district.

For a real-world example of the transfer process, check out Davenport Community Schools’ open enrollment application.

Some students participating in open enrollment, including those meeting certain income guidelines, are provided transportation to their public school of choice by their assigned district. Once a student’s open enrollment request is approved, the family does  not need to re-apply each school year.  

The average per-pupil spending in Iowa is $13,835 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Iowa Department of Education and Iowa Legal Aid .

Currently, some school districts in Kansas may allow open enrollment. Since districts currently set their own open enrollment policies in Kansas, parents should check with their local school district for more information. For a real-world example, check out Shawnee Mission School District’s transfer policies. When a student participates in open enrollment, the two school districts must work out a transportation plan to share costs amongst themselves.

Open enrollment will soon be expanding in Kansas! A bill passed in 2022 will allow students to transfer to any public school district with the room to take them, starting in 2024.

The average per-pupil spending in Kansas is $13,449 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Kansas State Department of Education.

Kentucky has more than 170 public school districts and flexible open enrollment for public school. What this means is that in many cases you can choose to send your child to a public school in your district other than the one you have been assigned. Additionally, as of July 2022 , all Kentucky families are able to apply to public schools in other districts. If you would like to participate in open enrollment, contact your local district to learn more. In some cases, receiving districts in Kentucky charge fees for out-of-district students. 

Open enrollment is a valuable school choice. Just remember to ask the deadline and application process for any public school district you are interested in transferring into. For example, open enrollment in Fayette County Public Schools usually takes place after spring break each year. Additionally, keep in mind that Kentucky high school students who transfer may be required to wait a year before participating in athletics at their new school. 

If you live in Jefferson County, note that the large district’s assignment plan will be dramatically changing starting in the 2023-2024 school year. “Choice zones” will be established to give families more options near their homes and expand magnet offerings.

The average per-pupil spending in Kentucky is $12,126 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Kentucky Department of Education.

In most cases in Louisiana, each district decides whether it will participate in open enrollment . So, Louisiana parents should check with their local school district if they wish to participate in open enrollment. The state only requires districts to offer open enrollment in certain circumstances, such as when students wish to transfer from a school in academic distress to a school that is not in academic distress. New Orleans families wishing to transfer schools can find information and apply online at Nola Public Schools .

Students participating in open enrollment are provided transportation by their public school of choice if that school is closer to the student’s residence than their assigned school.

The average per-pupil spending in Louisiana is $13,397 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Louisiana Department of Education.

In Maine, the state allows districts to set their own open enrollment policies . So, Maine parents should check with their district if they would like to transfer their child to a different public school. For instance, Portland Public Schools District only allows families to choose a school “out of neighborhood” in a few circumstances, such as when there has been documented harassment at the assigned school. When a transfer is allowed, districts are not permitted to charge tuition.

If the reason for a family participating in open enrollment in another district is because their district does not offer a school, their district provides transportation . In other situations, the parents are responsible for transportation.

The average per-pupil spending in Maine is $17,671 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Maine Department of Education.

Most states have some form of open enrollment. Unfortunately, Maryland only offers public open enrollment in a few circumstances. For example, a student may be able to request a school transfer if they move during the school year, if they are a child of an employee at the school they wish to transfer into, or if a health professional recommends a different school environment.

For a real-world example of the transfer process, check out the “Change of School Assignment Booklet” for Montgomery Public Schools, Maryland’s largest district.

The average per-pupil spending in Maryland is $16,417 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Maryland State Department of Education.

Massachusetts:

In Massachusetts, each district decides whether it will participate in open enrollment . For the 2021-2022 school year, 170 Massachusetts districts (53% of districts statewide ) chose to participate. Some of these districts, however, only allowed transfers for certain grades. If you are interested in transferring your child to a different public school than you are assigned, you should talk to your local school district to learn whether it is available for you. In Massachusetts, districts cannot charge tuition for transfer students.

For an example of the transfer process and timeline in your state, check out Boston Public Schools’ transfer guidelines. Parents are generally responsible for transportation when their student is participating in open enrollment, unless the transfer addresses racial imbalances or the student qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch.

The average per-pupil spending in Massachusetts is $ 20,376 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

In Michigan, districts can generally choose whether to participate in open enrollment . Intradistrict open enrollment is only mandatory when a school is unaccredited for three years in a row. So, depending on the district and their school’s performance, parents may have the option to transfer their child to a different public school. If so, they are responsible for transporting their child to that school.

Since Michigan districts set their own guidelines, dates and application procedures for school transfers can vary greatly. For example,  Farmington Public Schools’ application deadline  was January 27, 2023 for the 2023-2024 school year. 

The average per-pupil spending in Michigan is $14,085 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Michigan Department of Education.

Minnesota offers some open enrollment.  Parents can choose a traditional public school outside of their district based on the state’s open enrollment laws, and also may be able to choose another school within their district , depending on their local school board. In the 2020-2021 school year, about 10% of Minnesota students used open enrollment! 

Since no two public schools are exactly the same, open enrollment can valuably extend a family’s educational options and help them find the best match for their child. If you are interested in this choice, note that transfer applications are usually due by mid-January for the following fall . In most transfers to schools in a different district, the receiving school district provides transportation once the student is within the district border, and can reimburse income-eligible students for their travel there. Minnesota districts are not permitted to charge tuition for transfer students.

The average per-pupil spending in Minnesota is $14,378 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Minnesota Department of Education.

Mississippi:

In Mississippi, the state allows each district to set its own open enrollment policies ; the state only requires districts to offer open enrollment if parents live 30 miles away from their child’s assigned school. For a real-world example of the transfer process, check out Jackson Public Schools’ guidelines for applying for an in-district or district-to-district transfer.

When an agreement between school districts is made allowing a student to participate in open enrollment, it must include transportation provisions. Keep in mind that, in some cases in Mississippi, receiving districts  charge tuition .

The average per-pupil spending in Mississippi is $10,170 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Mississippi Department of Education.

In Missouri, parents have restricted open enrollment . Some Missouri parents, such as those who live in school districts that have lost state accreditation, may be able to choose a traditional public school in another district for their child. In some cases, including when transferring from a school that is unaccredited, the district provides transportation .

In general, Missouri districts can set their own guidelines for transfers within districts. So, dates and application procedures for transfers can vary. For an example of the transfer process and timeline, check out Springfield Public Schools’ guidelines.

The average per-pupil spending in Missouri is $11,865 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Currently in Montana, the state allows each district to set its own open enrollment policies; Montana only requires districts to offer open enrollment if parents or guardians live too far from their child’s assigned school. So, if you wish to make a public school transfer, contact your local school district to see if this is an option for you.

For an example of what the transfer process may look like, check out Missoula County Public Schools’ guidelines for attending a high school other than the one you are zoned for. When an agreement between school districts is made allowing a student to participate in open enrollment, it includes transportation provisions.

A bill passed in 2023 will make important changes to public school transfer options for the 2024-2025 school year onward. The new law standardizes open enrollment in public schools across the state , making it easier (and guaranteeing it is free) for families to choose the best public school fit for their child. 

The average per-pupil spending in Montana is $13,299 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

Nebraska has flexible open enrollment for public schools. What this means is that you are likely able to send your child to any public district in Nebraska, regardless of where you live or where the school is located. For a real-world example, see how Grand Island Public Schools accepts students outside of the city’s limits. You can also read the Nebraska Department of Education’s answers to frequently asked questions about switching school districts in your state. Transfers between schools within Nebraska districts are common as well.

In 2023, Nebraska improved transparency about open enrollment, signing a bill requiring school districts to post their open enrollment policies on their websites.

Transportation is typically the responsibility of the parents or provided by the receiving district for a fee unless the student is eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, part of a diversity focus program, or a student with learning disabilities, in which case transportation is typically free .

The average per-pupil spending in Nebraska is $13,826 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Nebraska Department of Education.

In general in Nevada, each district can set its own open enrollment policies . So, Nevada parents should check with their local district if they would like to transfer their child. If they choose to participate in open enrollment, the school to which they were assigned will cover transportation costs .

For an example of the transfer process and timeline in Nevada, check out Clark County School District’s change of school assignment application .

The average per-pupil spending in Nevada is $10,450 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Nevada Department of Education.

New Hampshire:

In New Hampshire, the state allows each district to set its own open enrollment policies. New Hampshire parents wanting to transfer their child to a different public school than the one they are assigned should contact their local school district to see if this is an option. In 2021, the state made this process more defined for parents if their student is experiencing “manifest educational hardship.”

For a real-world example of the transfer process and timeline in New Hampshire, check out Kearsarge Regional School District’s guidelines for transfer requests.

If the public school of choice is within the same district, transportation is provided . If it is in a different school district, parents are responsible for transportation.

The average per-pupil spending in New Hampshire is $19,433 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the New Hampshire Department of Education.

New Jersey:

In New Jersey, the state allows each district to set its own open enrollment policies. New Jersey parents wanting to transfer their child to a different public school than the one they are assigned should contact their local school district or search choice districts at the New Jersey Department of Education. For the 2023-2024 school year, there were more than 120 participating choice districts! Each district has a unique choice application that families should submit directly to that district.

For students living farther than 2 or 2.5 miles from their public school of choice but closer than 20 miles, the sending district is responsible for transporting the child to their new school .

The average per-pupil spending in New Jersey is $22,160 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the New Jersey Department of Education. Families in Newark may also wish to explore public schools using My Schools Newark .

New Mexico:

New Mexico has restricted open enrollment . In New Mexico, parents who live near low-performing schools may transfer their children to another school inside or outside their district. Parents in other circumstances should check with their local school district. Timing and procedures for open enrollment may vary by district. For a real-world example, check out Albuquerque Public Schools’ transfer guidelines .

If a student participating in open enrollment is choosing a different school within the same district, the district will provide transportation or reimburse parents’ costs . If the family selects a school in a different school district, parents are responsible for transportation.

The average per-pupil spending in New Mexico is $12,127 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the New Mexico Public Education Department.

In New York, each district decides whether it will participate in open enrollment . Open enrollment is a valuable choice that refers to whether parents can send their children to any public school, regardless of where it is located or what their zip code is. If you would like to participate in open enrollment, check with your local school district to see if this is available.

The New York City Department of Education lists several reasons families may request school transfers. These include an accessibility need, a sibling being at a different school, a travel hardship or move, or a safety concern.

The average per-pupil spending in New York is $26,571 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the New York State Education Department.

North Carolina:

Most states have some form of open enrollment, which refers to whether parents can send their child to a public school other than their assigned school. Unfortunately, North Carolina families generally do not have open enrollment options.

There are, however, a few circumstances where a transfer might be possible. For example, a student may be able to request a school transfer if they move during the school year, if they are a child of an employee at the school they wish to transfer into, or if they are experiencing a unique hardship that would be mitigated by a transfer. For a real-world example, you may wish to check out Lenoir County Public Schools’ transfer request form .

There are also some districts, like Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools , that have “choice zones” giving families a few options of schools to choose from.

The average per-pupil spending in North Carolina is $10,655 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

North Dakota:

As of 2023, North Dakota offers some newly expanded open enrollment options for families. Now, North Dakota parents can transfer their child to any public school district; districts may only deny applications for a few reasons, such as lack of capacity. For information about whether transfers within their district are available, families should contact their local school district.

For an example of what the transfer process may look like, check out West Fargo Public Schools’ in-district transfer request guidelines . Note that in some cases in North Dakota, fees may be attached to transfers .

In some cases, such as when a transferring student was a victim of violence, transportation assistance may be available . 

The average per-pupil spending in North Dakota is $15,140 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.

Ohio offers some open enrollment for public school. Based on Ohio’s laws, each school district in Ohio must have a clear policy regarding in-district transfer applications. For example, check out Willoughby-Eastlake’s application form for transfers within the district. Annually, each district can choose whether to allow for transfers between districts. So, contact your local school district if you wish to participate in open enrollment. Note that, in some cases in Ohio, there may be fees attached to student transfers .

In most cases, parents are responsible for transportation to the new public school of choice, or at least for getting their student to a regular bus stop along the school’s route. Low-income families or those participating in a court-approved desegregation plan may be reimbursed for transportation to that bus stop or provided transportation directly, respectively.

The average per-pupil spending in Ohio is $14,613. Find out more about public schools in your state at the Ohio Department of Education.

In Oklahoma, students can request a transfer to a school in any district, regardless of where they live. What’s more, public school districts cannot charge students tuition . The state does allow districts to set capacity limits for transfer students, and sometimes spots are only available in certain grades . For an example of what the transfer process may look like, check out Norman Public Schools’ transfer guidelines . If their transfer request is denied, parents can appeal to the local school board to review the case.

If parents request it, their children can be transported by the public school of choice from a stop within that school’s school district, provided parents transport them to the district route. Alternatively, the assigned school district can create an agreement with the new school district to cooperate on transportation. For parents in Oklahoma who want to know more about open enrollment in their local district, Every Kid Counts Oklahoma offers a comprehensive list of guidelines and key information that may be helpful in your search.

The average per-pupil spending in Oklahoma is $10,498 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

Unfortunately, Oregon currently has very limited open enrollment policies for public schools. The state of Oregon did establish temporary open enrollment between school districts in 2012 to support school choice, but the policy ended in 2019.

While open enrollment is not widely available to Oregon families, parents may still request an interdistrict transfer (which requires the consent of both the sending and receiving district). Some districts, such as Reynolds School District, also allow families to request an “area exception” for which school they attend within their district.

The average per-pupil spending in Oregon is $13,875 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Oregon Department of Education.

Pennsylvania:

In Pennsylvania, the state allows each district to set its own open enrollment policies. So, Pennsylvania parents wanting to transfer their child to a different public school than the one they are assigned should contact their local school district.

For a real-world example, check out Lancaster School District’s guidelines for both intradistrict and interdistrict transfers.

The average per-pupil spending in Pennsylvania is $17,884 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Rhode Island:

In Rhode Island, the state allows each district to set its own open enrollment policies. Rhode Island parents wanting to transfer their child to a different public school than the one they are assigned should contact their local school district to see if this is an option. In some cases, the state provides transportation for students who attend a school outside their city or town. 

The transfer process and timeline will vary by district. For a real-world example, check out North Providence School Department’s guidelines for transfers within the district.

The average per-pupil spending in Rhode Island is $18,366 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Rhode Island Department of Education.

South Carolina:

In South Carolina, the state allows each district to set its own open enrollment policies. South Carolina parents wanting to transfer their child to a different public school than the one they are assigned should contact their local school district to see if this is an option. As an example, Richland County School District One generally requires students to attend their zoned public school, but does allow for transfers in some cases, such as unique program offerings, childcare needs, and instances of hardship. 

In most cases, parents are in charge of transportation if they choose open enrollment in South Carolina. Also note that, in some cases in South Carolina, districts may charge transfer students fees.

The average per-pupil spending in South Carolina is $12,496 . In 2023, South Carolina passed  a law to make public school enrollment easier  for military families. Find out more about public schools in your state at the South Carolina Department of Education.

South Dakota:

South Dakota has unrestricted open enrollment for public school. What this means is that you can send your child to any public school of choice in South Dakota, regardless of where you live or where the school is located. You can take advantage of this option by visiting multiple public schools near you and discovering which is the best fit for your family. 

For an example of the transfer process and timeline, check out Rapid City Area Schools’ guidelines . Generally, parents are responsible for their children’s transportation to a school they’ve selected through open enrollment, but districts can choose to cooperate to provide transportation.

The average per-pupil spending in South Dakota is $10,952 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the South Dakota Department of Education.

Tennessee has more than 1,700 public schools. In Tennessee, a 2021 bill required all school districts to offer an open enrollment period by fall 2022. This expansion of open enrollment means that parents may be able to transfer their child to any public school, regardless of where they live. If more students apply to a school than there is room for, a lottery may determine acceptance.

If you are interested in transferring public schools, contact your local school district for further guidelines.

The average per-pupil spending in Tennessee is $10,507 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Tennessee Department of Education . 

In Texas, the state allows each district to set its own open enrollment policies. Parents wanting to transfer their child to a different public school than the one they are assigned should contact their local school district to see if this is an option. As an example, Socorro Independent School District allows families to switch schools within the district for qualifying reasons, including afterschool care needs or having a sibling at another school.

Note that if your child attends a school on the Texas Public Education Grant list of poorly-performing schools, you are automatically allowed to request a transfer. 

The average per-pupil spending in Texas is $11,005 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Texas Education Agency.

One Texas public school leader we interviewed, David Knittle of Burbank Middle School, had this to say about public school choice: “There’s one thing I always tell my kids and it’s something that I’m very passionate about. It doesn’t matter what you have, what you don’t have, the color of your skin, what language you speak, where you came from… You can be excellent. That’s what school choice for me means. That students have the opportunity, despite their circumstances on the outside, to be excellent once they walk through these doors.”

Utah has unrestricted open enrollment for public school. What this means is that you can send your child to any public school in Utah, regardless of where you live or where the school is located. For a real-world example of the application process and deadlines, check out Salt Lake City School Districts’ open enrollment guidelines.

In Utah, you cannot be charged tuition for being a transfer student. Generally, parents are responsible for transportation to the public school of their choice or to a stop on the district’s bus route . In some cases, the previously assigned school will provide transportation if they are trying to relieve overcrowding.

The average per-pupil spending in Utah is $9,095 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Utah State Board of Education.

Parents, educators, and community members can find education-related data about public schools (such as student proficiency and student growth rates) at Utah State Board of Education’s Data Gateway .

Vermont has unrestricted open enrollment for public high school and transfers for younger grades are widely available as well. What this means is that you may be able to send your child to any public school in Vermont, regardless of where you live or where the school is located. Note that local boards of education may set limits on transfers based on financial impact and capacity.

The average per-pupil spending in Vermont is $23,586 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Vermont Agency of Education.

In Virginia, the state allows each district to set its own open enrollment policies. Parents wanting to transfer their child to a different public school should contact their local school district to see if this is possible. For example, Albemarle County Public Schools generally requires students to attend their zoned school, but does allow transfers in some cases, such as for medical or emotional health, or because of a family move. In Virginia, while a transfer within your district may be possible, transfers between districts are generally not available.

The average per-pupil spending in Virginia is $13,835 . You can find out more about public schools in your state at the Virginia Department of Education.

Washington:

Washington offers some open enrollment for public school. Based on Washington’s laws, families are able to apply for transfers within their school district. Whether families can choose to transfer between districts will depend on local policies, so check with your school district if you are interested in this option. For a real-world example, check out Lake Washington School District’s transfer forms and guidelines.

Besides traditional schools, Washington also has 14 “ Skill Centers ” that serve high schoolers across multiple school districts who want to gain specialized career training.

The average per-pupil spending in Washington is $15,570 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

West Virginia:

West Virginia expanded its public school open enrollment policies in 2023. Now, West Virginia county boards must establish open enrollment policies and schools cannot charge tuition for transfer students. There are just a few situations in which a transfer request may be denied, such as when there is lack of capacity in the student’s grade level, or when the student has previously been expelled.

If you would like to participate in open enrollment, contact your school district for more details. For a real-world example of an open enrollment application, check out Wayne County Schools’ transfer application form.

The average per-pupil spending in West Virginia is $13,059 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the West Virginia Department of Education.

In Wisconsin, about 8.5% of public school students use public school open enrollment. Based on Wisconsin’s laws, a parent may be able to choose a traditional public school in another district. In some cases, families can participate in open enrollment within a district as well. For example, the School District of La Crosse has an intradistrict application form families can use to request a transfer within the district.

The application window for public school transfers is usually February to April, with another window in late summer for children who have experienced bullying and children who have recently moved to Wisconsin.

Check with your local school district if you wish to participate in open enrollment. Generally, parents are responsible for transporting their child to their public school of choice. But, the school must provide it if a student has a disability. Low-income parents may apply for state reimbursement for transportation costs. Districts are allowed to collaborate to provide transportation, as well.

The average per-pupil spending in Wisconsin is $13,597 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

In Wyoming, the state allows each district to set its own open enrollment policies. Parents wanting to transfer their child to a different public school than the one they are assigned should contact their local school district to see if this is an option.

As a real-world example, Natrona County Schools offers families a guide with information about curriculum and programming at different schools, and allows families to request their top choice school(s) rather than attend a zoned school. 

The average per-pupil spending in Wyoming is $18,144 . Find out more about public schools in your state at the Wyoming Department of Education.

Washington, D.C.

The District of Columbia operates as a single school district . In D.C., families can apply to traditional public schools outside of the school assigned to them. D.C. uses a lottery system called My School DC. Families can apply to up to 12 schools out of nearly all of D.C.’s traditional public schools and public charter schools through the common lottery application. The lottery system then matches open seats with applicants. Nearly three-quarters of students in the district attend a school other than their neighborhood school.

The average per-pupil spending in D.C. is $24,535 . Find out more about public schools in D.C. at the D.C. State Board of Education.

Shareable Facts about Public Schools of Choice

The information in this guide to public school transfer is designed to help families who are considering public schooling in their decision-making process. Our mission is to provide families with the information they need about all the school options available – traditional public, public charter, public magnet, private, online, and at home – so they can choose the right fit for their child. Read more guides about choosing other types of schools.

Privacy Overview