Moving to new FCPS middle school district

[Anonymous]

DS is zoned for one FCPS MS but we are moving this summer to a different FCPS district. He will be in 8th grade in the fall and wants to spend that final year at his current middle school. Will FCPS allow us to keep him there for his last year?

[Anonymous]

There are no districts within FCPS. It is one district. There are different high school pyramids. You cannot just keep your kid at his old school because you want to. You must attend the school you are zoned to unless you apply for a transfer based on very limited justifications. https://www.fcps.edu/about-fcps/registration/student-transfer-information

[Anonymous]

No. If it was mid-year maybe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are no districts within FCPS. It is one district. There are different high school pyramids. You cannot just keep your kid at his old school because you want to. You must attend the school you are zoned to unless you apply for a transfer based on very limited justifications. https://www.fcps.edu/about-fcps/registration/student-transfer-information

You are getting misinformation, because you should be able to keep him at his current MS.

Look at the information under "Senior Status" at the above link. It covers students who relocate within FCPS but want to stay at their existing middle school for 8th grade. He will, however, be expected to attend the high school for your new neighborhood unless you submit a separate pupil placement request.

You should get the application in by June 1st.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are no districts within FCPS. It is one district. There are different high school pyramids. You cannot just keep your kid at his old school because you want to. You must attend the school you are zoned to unless you apply for a transfer based on very limited justifications. https://www.fcps.edu/about-fcps/registration/student-transfer-information

Well, one of those justifications is wanting to finish your last year of middle school at the school you've been attending, so there's that...

[Anonymous]

Fcps does not check addresses once you are in a school pyramid.

It is very likely he can easily do this without any issues. In some cases, students are able to do this from elementary school through high school graduation, without fcps noticing. I personally know several families that have done this with no issues, even though the high school is over capacity and slated for rezoning.

When a community member asked Dr. Reid last month about FCPS doing residency checks, before rezoning, Dr. Reid's response was that there is only one person in the entire district to check residency, so checking residency is too much work. (I am paraphrasing) The community member pressed Dr. Reid further, suggesting that the individual school registrars could help with residency checks. Dr. Reid again responded that residency checks would be too much work to enforce, so fcps will not do residency checks before rezoning.

FCPS residency enforcement is akin to a frustrated parent telling a 5 year old that if they don't pick up the playroom, they will throw away all the toys. It is an empty threat that will almost never be enforced.

Enforcing residency is not something that FCPS wants to be bothered with. This is a top down decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fcps does not check addresses once you are in a school pyramid.

It is very likely he can easily do this without any issues. In some cases, students are able to do this from elementary school through high school graduation, without fcps noticing. I personally know several families that have done this with no issues, even though the high school is over capacity and slated for rezoning.

When a community member asked Dr. Reid last month about FCPS doing residency checks, before rezoning, Dr. Reid's response was that there is only one person in the entire district to check residency, so checking residency is too much work. (I am paraphrasing) The community member pressed Dr. Reid further, suggesting that the individual school registrars could help with residency checks. Dr. Reid again responded that residency checks would be too much work to enforce, so fcps will not do residency checks before rezoning.

FCPS residency enforcement is akin to a frustrated parent telling a 5 year old that if they don't pick up the playroom, they will throw away all the toys. It is an empty threat that will almost never be enforced.

Enforcing residency is not something that FCPS wants to be bothered with. This is a top down decision.

Either way, there is clear path consistent with the existing student transfer regulations for OP's kid to continue at their middle school for 8th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fcps does not check addresses once you are in a school pyramid.

It is very likely he can easily do this without any issues. In some cases, students are able to do this from elementary school through high school graduation, without fcps noticing. I personally know several families that have done this with no issues, even though the high school is over capacity and slated for rezoning.

When a community member asked Dr. Reid last month about FCPS doing residency checks, before rezoning, Dr. Reid's response was that there is only one person in the entire district to check residency, so checking residency is too much work. (I am paraphrasing) The community member pressed Dr. Reid further, suggesting that the individual school registrars could help with residency checks. Dr. Reid again responded that residency checks would be too much work to enforce, so fcps will not do residency checks before rezoning.

FCPS residency enforcement is akin to a frustrated parent telling a 5 year old that if they don't pick up the playroom, they will throw away all the toys. It is an empty threat that will almost never be enforced.

Enforcing residency is not something that FCPS wants to be bothered with. This is a top down decision.

+1.
OP, assuming you're an honest person and tell FCPS about the move, your son should still be able ot finish 8th grade at his current school. Like someone else said, there's a form to fill out and you'll probably have to provide transportation.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks for the responses! We'll try the Senior Status transfer

[Anonymous]

Which pyramid?