School Choice - Interdistrict Students

Initial Interdistrict Choice Window - From November 4, 2026 – March 4, 2027, parents/guardians will visit their first choice/top school to complete a change in assignment choice form. While completing this form a second and third choice can be added (if needed). Parents/guardians will receive a copy of the form with the number (located in the top right corner) to later check the lottery results.  Applicants will be placed in order of receipt of forms during the initial window. 

Students with siblings who will return to the requested school on Change in Assignment Choice for the upcoming school year have first priority of assignment of their #1 choice school if space is available. 

Space by grade level and capacity will determine placement. Capacity can be reviewed on the annual Long Range Facilities Plan and school profile. 

Step 2: Rank Order Posted – Rank order of applicants for Non GCS resident students will be posted no later than Wednesday, March 11, 2027. Results provide the rank order of applicants by grade for each school only and do not reflect assignment or approval. This list is static and does not reflect waitlist number(s) after initial choice allocations are complete. Parents/guardians can access lottery numerical order results by using their choice form number (located in the top right corner of the form).

Order of Assignments (Based on space availability)

• Students with siblings who will return to the requested school on Change in Assignment Choice for the upcoming school year have first priority of assignment to their #1 choice school if space is available.
• All other applicants will be placed in the order of receipt of forms during the initial window. 

Step 3: Change in Assignment Choice Notification - By Wednesday, March 31, 2027 notification letters will be mailed to all parents/guardians advising if the student received an approved spot at a requested school or if placed on the waitlist. If waitlisted, a waitlist number will be provided.

Each of the school system’s 11 magnet academies offers an academic theme or focus that allows students to explore a special interest, gift, talent and/or skill at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Applications for the following school year are accepted each year beginning in November. Magnet slots are limited at each magnet academy. Applications are available via Parent Backpack. See the Magnet Academies webpage for more information.

Students may apply to more than one magnet academy. Applications are scored based on three criteria: attendance, discipline, and grade average (student assessment for rising Grades K5, 1, and 2). Students who apply and qualify during the first application period have a greater chance of being offered a slot than those students who apply and qualify in later rounds.

Siblings of returning magnet students have priority of acceptance in Round 1. If magnet slots are available after all siblings who have qualified are placed, non-siblings will be accepted beginning with the highest to the lowest qualifying scores until the school’s assigned magnet slots have been filled. A lottery system is used when there are more qualifying students than available slots. Qualifying students not selected for a magnet academy are placed on a waitlist.

Magnet Academies

• Admission is open to all eligible students and students may apply to more than one magnet academy.
• Magnet slots at each school are limited.
• Students who apply and qualify during the first application period have a greater chance of being offered a slot than students who apply and qualify in later rounds.
• Qualifying siblings of magnet students who will return the following school year to the school have priority of acceptance in Round 1.

Intradistrict magnet windows

Tuition

Intradistrict applicants who are approved to attend a school via change in assignment or magnet will be required to pay tuition. 

Families are offered the flexibility to make payments on either a quarterly or semi-annual basis, as per their preference and financial planning needs. 

Tuition rates will be determined in July prior to the academic year and published below. 

2026-27 Out-of-District Tuition Rates

Release Letter

Intradistrict applicants who are approved to attend a school will be required to provide a release letter from their zoned school district prior to the start of attendance. 

GCS Resident students will be given priority of assignment before Non GCS Resident students

Families intending to move into the boundaries of GCS before the start of the school year, please contact Planning & Demographics at (864)355-7266 or (864)355-7263