FCPS - Help me navigate my choices

[Anonymous]

Hello,

We are trying to figure out our options for Kindergarten (still 1.5 years away). We are districted to an ES that's farther from our house than at least two others! How do the magnet schools work? I believe Bailey's is the only one near us, but maybe I am wrong? How do you tour the schools, and will the closer schools even talk to / work with me on applying for a transfer? Anyone been successful in this? Are there even "choices?" We come from Arlington, so were expecting the same level of options. Please offer any experience / advice.

Thank you in advance!

[Anonymous]

Hunters Woods in Reston and Bailey's in Bailey's Crossroads have magnet programs that start at K. There is a lottery to apply. There are also language immersion programs, most of which start at 1st grade, but a couple schools have spanish programs that start at K (although the K programs are extremely hard to get into because many of the slots are taken by siblings). Any of these programs would require you to provide your own transportation.

Schools in Fairfax county don't just accept transfers because you'd prefer to go to that school or because it's closer, and there are many schools that are closed to transfers altogether.

[Anonymous]

So what IS a valid reason for a transfer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So what IS a valid reason for a transfer?

http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/8CZFD43E8E2B/$file/R2230.pdf

1. Child Care Hardship (Elementary School Only)
2. Medical, Emotional, or Social Adjustment
3. Child of Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Employee
4. High School Curricular Program
5. Kindergarten
6. Siblings


B. Family Relocation
1. A request for a student transfer by exception may be approved by the coordinator
of Student Registration if the family has moved from one school attendance area
to another during the school year or can demonstrate definite plans to do so
within 180 calendar days. Proof of purchase or rental must be provided with the
request for student transfer. The new residence must be the primary permanent
residence for the student and the student's family and be located within the
requested school boundaries. Additional documentation may be requested to
establish that the new residence is bona fide and that the family has abandoned
or will abandon any other property as its primary residence.
2. A request for a student transfer by exception may be approved if the family has
moved from one school attendance area to another within 60 calendar days of
the end of the school year but requests that the child be permitted to continue
attending his or her previously assigned school until completion of the school
year. A formal student transfer application is not required; however, the family
must provide proof of the new address to the principal of the school in which the
child is currently enrolled.

C. Senior Status
A request for student transfer by exception may be approved by the coordinator of
Student Registration for a student who is currently attending the requested school
and who will move to a different attendance area after the completion of the school
year but who wants to return to the same location to complete the final year of
elementary, middle, or high school. Capacity issues will not be a barrier to approval.

[Anonymous]

There is a listing on the FCPS site. I think pupil placement. There are four reasons it could be allowed. The most commonly approved would be for childcare reasons (i.e. grandmother watches the kids after school and she lives in X district). But, the school has to be "open" to take outside boundary students. Not all schools are open b/c they are already at capacity. You can find that info on the "dashboard" on the FCPS site.

The other reasons are "family circumstances" -- which might mean that you are divorced and the kids sometimes live with the other parent, or there could be psychological reasons (ie. child has been the victim of bullying at a certain school or something). You can't get a transfer just b/c you like the principal better at another school, you like the demographics of another school, or it is closer to your house. Those will not be approved. Also, any approval to transfer is only good for one year and has to be renewed and approved each year thereafter.