Out-of-District

Based on current enrollment numbers, the following schools are preliminarily projected to be at or near capacity for the 2026–2027 school year. Final enrollment projections will be completed in December 2025.

Parents/guardians of students residing in Forsyth County may request an Out-of-District waiver for the following reasons:

1. Change of Address within Forsyth County
2. Current Resident Moving within Forsyth County
3. Sibling School
4. Sibling in Special Education
5. Employee's Child
6. Program Need (during window only)

Parents/guardians of Out-of-District students must provide their own transportation, except for students who are accepted for an Out-of-District to attend Alliance Academy for Innovation. FCS will provide transportation for students approved to attend Alliance Academy for Innovation.

Families with a change of residence must complete a Change of Address Form and must supply current proof of residency. The Out-of-District deadline does not apply to families who move within the county.

Schools projected to be at or over capacity for 2026-2027 are not able to approve Out-of-District requests for new students.  Schools that have been redistricted to relieve overcrowding will not accept Out-of-District students for three years from the start of the school year when new attendance lines were established, except for specific high school program needs. 

• Complete a separate Out-of-District request for each student.
• Permission for a student to attend a school outside the zoned attendance district will be granted when the admitting principal and the superintendent or designee have approved the application. All transfers granted shall be on a space and/or personnel basis.
• The following reasons for Out-of-District requests will be considered: a) high school program need (admitting principal must verify a program need exists), b) FCS employee's child (Policy JBCB), c) sibling in a special education class and sibling school and d) moving within the district.
• Forsyth County Schools reserve the right to verify all information contained in the Out-of-District request. If any false information is given, the transfer will be denied. In the event the transfer is granted, and false information is discovered later, the approval for transfer will be revoked.
• Students must be enrolled in Forsyth County Schools for an Out-of-District request to be submitted.
• Parents are responsible for assuring the student complies with all policies. Failure to do so may result in the revocation of the approval to attend the Out-of-District school. Principals have the authority to deny or revoke out-of-district status if students and/or their parents have not followed school rules. Repeated tardies, unexcused absences, discipline issues, and/or poor academic progress may also be cause for revocation of Out-of-District status.
• Please review Board Policy JBCD, Transfers and Withdrawals.
• After review, parents/guardians will receive a notification by email. Application for Out-of-District status does not guarantee acceptance. 
• Questions regarding the reason for denial need to be directed to the school principal who declined the request for admittance. Appeals for denied requests must be received in writing within 15 days from the date of the denial. Appeals may be mailed or hand-delivered to the Forsyth County Board of Education/Professional Development Center, 1120 Dahlonega Highway, Cumming, GA 30040 to the attention of Dr. Josh Lowe, Chief of Staff.  Your appeal letter will be presented to the Board of Education in Executive Session. A letter informing you of their final decision will be emailed to you.

• Parents/guardians and students are encouraged to reference the High School Course Digest on the school’s website to assist with pathway and program decisions.  Attending a school other than the “home” districted school may result in loss of eligibility according to the Georgia High School Association Constitution and By-Laws.  
• Except for students accepted into the International Baccalaureate program, no Out-of-District requests/transfers will be permitted for rising Juniors or Seniors.
• High school students approved in an Out-of-District high school for a CTAE pathway or specialty CTAE program or are expected to continue in that pathway or program to completion.  Forsyth County Schools reserves the right to revoke out of district status based on continued enrollment in the program or pathway. 
• When considering an Out-of-District transfer, parents of students who participate in high school sports should consult with the County Athletic Director before applying for an Out-of-District transfer.  GHSA rules on transferring can be found on pages (19-23) in the GHSA Constitution.

Out-of-District transfers after students start the 7^th grade can affect eligibility to participate in middle school sports. Please consult the County Athletic Director if you participate in middle school sports before applying for an Out-of-District transfer request.

• Out-of-District Process for CTAE and Fine Arts Pathways
• Out-of-District Request Form
• Out-of-District Status Check
• Form to Rescind Out-of-District Attendance