Beaufort County students can transfer to different schools with this program. Here’s how

Applications for next years’ school choice, a program that lets Beaufort County students transfer to various schools in the district, will open March 1.

The program, which expanded to include every school in the district in 2015, allows students to transfer out of schools within their attendance zones to schools providing coursework their schools don’t offer, like language immersion and early college programs.

Students, parents or legal guardians can apply to any school in the district as long as they live in Beaufort County, but they must provide transportation. The program is free.

Six schools are at or above capacity and don’t have availability for students outside their attendance zone to apply for school choice. Those schools still accept applications and, if space becomes available, a lottery would be held later this spring. They are:

• Bluffton High School

• Hilton Head High School

• May River High School

• HE McCracken Middle School

• Okatie Elementary School

• Pritchardville Elementary School

How to apply

Applications will be available starting March 1 through the district website and must be submitted by 5 p.m. March 31.

All applications should be submitted electronically, according to the school choice handbook. Those who don’t have internet access should ask their school to apply.

The handbook also provides descriptions of programs and a list of schools where they’re offered. The program isn’t offered to pre-K students.

Students who already participate in the school choice program don’t have to reapply every year. They can remain at their school as long as they stay in their school choice program.

The district will email decisions to families by April 15. Records of excessive absences, tardiness, discipline matters or academic concerns could cause requests to not be approved or renewed. If a student’s application is denied, they have until May 1 to appeal.

Students also could be denied if the number of applicants for a particular program is greater than the number of available seats. Then, a lottery would be used to determine which students are enrolled.

For questions, contact Yanina SarliRotti at Yanina.SarliRotti@beaufort.k12.sc.us.