Greenville County Schools accepting school choice requests

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Greenville County Schools, the State leader in school choice with more than 10,000 of its 70,000 students (15%) attending school by choice, is accepting requests for Change in School Assignment Choice from Monday, December 3, 2012 through Friday, January 4, 2013. Requests are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis while space is available at the requested school.

Parents wishing to enroll their child in a school other than their home-based assigned school should complete a Change in School Assignment Choice Request form at the requested school. Please visit Greenville County Schools’ website at http://www.greenville.k12.sc.us to learn about schools and their various academic offerings and programs.

Parents wishing to line up to receive request forms may do so beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 30, 2012. Standing in line offers no assurance of acceptance at that school. Request forms will only be available at the schools. In the event of inclement weather or other unusual circumstances, revised registration instructions will be posted at schools and on the school system website.

Guidelines used when reviewing requests for Change in School Assignment Choice include school facility and individual grade level capacity, student enrollment projections, and residential growth potential in the school’s attendance area. A second request for Change in School Assignment Choice will begin Wednesday, January 9, 2013.

Parents with children attending school through a Change in School Assignment Choice Request must provide transportation. School choice assignment may affect athletic eligibility.

Renewal requests for students currently attending a school on choice must be submitted each year. Parents who wish to request to renew their child’s assignment choice will receive a renewal form sent home with eligible students by Thursday, November 29, 2012. The renewal choice request should be returned to the principal of the child’s current school by Wednesday, December 5, 2012.

School assignment letters for 2013-14 for all district students will be distributed in late March. If the Change in School Assignment Choice Request is approved, the assignment letter will reflect the student’s requested choice school. If the request is not approved, the letter will indicate the child’s home-based school. Home-based school assignments can be found in the Find Your School application on the Parent section of the Greenville County Schools website (http://public.greenville.k12.sc.us/GeoAddress.aspx).

Magnet Academies

Parents wishing to enroll their child in a Magnet Academy must download and complete the application at www.gcsmagnetacademies.org. Magnet Academy programs are available for students who qualify and are accepted for the available seats. All first round applications must be received by 12:00 noon, Monday, December 3, 2012 at the desired Magnet Academy.

Sterling School

Sterling School is a total choice school. For the elementary component of the school, students in close proximity to the school (defined by school assignment areas or geocodes) have first choice to attend the school. Other requests are honored on a first-come, first-serve basis while space is available. The Charles Townes Center at Sterling School is a choice program for gifted students in grades three through eight who qualify for the program.

For further information regarding the school district’s school choice program, call INFOLine at 355-3100. Questions about the choice request process should be directed to Ed Coles, Coordinator of Student Assignment, at (864) 355-7266 or e-mail at planning@greenville.k12.sc.us.