School Transfer Options

Discretionary Transfer and Admission Options for the 2023–24 & 2024-25 School Year

The transfer deadline for the 2023-2024 school year has passed, and late applications are not accepted.

The application window for the 2024-2025 school year is open

•  English
•  Spanish

Families may apply for a transfer or choice school (Hillsborough Elementary and Cedar Ridge High IB) during the January 8–February 29, 2024 application window. No early or late applications can be accepted.

The Board of Education approves capacity restrictions on an annual basis. The 2024–25 school capacity restrictions below were approved at the December 13, 2023 Board meeting. Discretionary transfers and discretionary admissions are available only for schools designated “Open” and “Limited Capacity.” 

Due to state class-size mandates, elementary school overcrowding, spot reassignment, and the upcoming comprehensive reassignment plan, all elementary schools have been closed to new transfer requests for the 2023–24 & 2024-25 school years. Students with new transfers approved after January 1, 2023 may still be reassigned to another location pending approval of the school boundaries as defined in the student assignment plan. 

Open Schools

The administration shall grant all timely requests to transfer to open schools until the specified capacity limit has been reached using the order of priorities established in Policy 4150.3.B. The following schools are designated as "Open" for the 2023–24 school year. New applications will be accepted ONLY for these schools:

• • Hillsborough Elementary (Year-Round program)
  • Gravelly Hill Middle
  • Orange Middle
  • Cedar Ridge High (IB and Traditional)
    
    Such requests may be denied at the discretion of the administration if granting the request would require a reallocation of additional staff or additional classroom space to the requested school. 

Limited-Capacity Schools

Limited-capacity schools are schools that are approaching the specified capacity limit and are presumptively closed to transfers unless seats are available at the requested grade level. New applications MAY be approved for the following school as space permits:

• • A.L. Stanback Middle
    
    Such requests may be denied at the discretion of the administration if granting the request would require a reallocation of additional staff or additional classroom space to the requested school.  

Closed Schools

The administration does not have authority to grant any new requests for discretionary transfers or admissions to any closed school. All new transfer requests to the following schools will be denied by the administration.

• • Central Elementary
  • Efland-Cheeks Global Elementary
  • Grady Brown Elementary
  • New Hope Elementary
  • Pathways Elementary
  • River Park Elementary
  • Orange High

Exceptions

• • • Students requesting enrollment at Hillsborough Elementary under the choice program option.
    • Students already assigned to the requested school as transfer students who are asking to remain at that school, except in buildings that are designated as being over capacity.
    • Siblings (including step and foster siblings) of a student who is already enrolled and will remain enrolled at the requested school during the school year requested.
    • Children of full-time employees of Orange County Schools who are requesting reassignment to an appropriate grade-level school that is assigned to the address of the primary work site of the parent/employee. New elementary-aged children of staff working at Orange Middle, Orange High, Central Office, Transportation, and the Welcome Center will be assigned to Pathways Elementary School. This change would not affect the children of employees who have already received transfers or their siblings.
    • The Superintendent or designee may allow additional K–12 transfer requests outside the transfer window in order to ease overcrowding at over-capacity schools or eliminate class size exceptions.

For more information, please contact your child's school or:

Joy Toellen, Data Coordinator

919-732-8126 x12630
Email: joy.toellen@orange.k12.nc.us