Houston County School District - House Bill 251

HB251 School Transfer Option Based on Space Availability

The 2009 Georgia General Assembly approved House Bill 251 (HB251), giving parents/guardians the option to request that their children attend any school within the school district based on space availability.  School districts determine available classroom space after all assigned students have been enrolled.

Information for the 2024-2025 School Year

In accordance with the law, the Houston County School District created a process for parents to exercise this school transfer option and a process to determine space availability. Additional information about HB251 will be posted by July 1, 2024, to include a preliminary list of schools with available classroom space and an application to request a transfer. Openings are grade specific.  All high schools are expected to be at capacity.

Applications were accepted from July 1, 2024, through August 19, 2024. Applications has to be postmarked between these dates.

Applications will be approved based on the order which they are received.  Families that request a transfer will be notified of approval or denial by August 30, 2024. 

The list of schools with classroom space availability will be finalized based on enrollment on the tenth day of school.  This allows time for a more accurate enrollment number at each school based on new students and school withdrawals. 

All students are to begin the school year at their zoned school.  Approved transfers will be effective by September 4, 2024, following notification.  Parents who transfer their children under HB251 are required by law to assume all costs and responsibilities related to the transportation of the student to and from school as long as the child remains at that school. 

Once approved at a school, the student may attend for the rest of the grade band (K-5, 6-8, and 9-12).

For more information, contact School Operations at 478-988-6395.

2024-2025 Information and Documents

  1. Parents of Houston County School District students will be notified of HB251 by July 1st of each year and provided with a preliminary list of schools based on existing data.
  2. Parents may get an “Application to Request HB251 Public School Transfer” from their zoned school or may download a copy from www.hcbe.net beginning on July 1st.
  3. Applications for transfer must be mailed to the Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Cheryl Thomas. The address is Houston County School District, 1100 Main Street, Perry, GA, 31069.
  4. Applications for transfer will be available online July 1, 2024. Applications will be accepted July 1, 2024 until August 19, 2024. After the August 19th deadline, no applications will be accepted for the remainder of the school year.
  5. All applications for transfer must be postmarked by the August 19, 2024, deadline.
  6. Capacity will be determined by a school’s enrollment on the tenth day of the school year after all assigned students have been enrolled.
  7. In the event the number of transfer requests exceeds the available capacity in the particular school, requests will be approved based on the order in which they were received.
  8. Parents will be notified of the approval or denial of their request by August 30, 2024.
  9. All students are to begin the school year at their zoned school. Approved transfers will be effective no later than Tuesday, September 3, 2024.
  10. Once a request is approved, the parent assumes all costs and responsibilities related to the transportation of their child to and from the school so long as the child remains at that assigned school.
  11. Once approved at a school, the student may attend for the rest of the grade band (K-5, 6-8, and 9-12).

Click to view and print a PDF version of the Implementation Procedures.

Primary and Elementary Schools Capacity (By Grade)

  • Kindergarten: Centerville, Morningside, Northside, Shirley Hills, Tucker
  • 1st Grade: Centerville, Matt Arthur, Russell 
  • 2nd Grade: Kings Chapel ES, Langston Road, Matt Arthur, Tucker, Westside
  • 3rd Grade: Miller, Shirley Hills, Tucker
  • 4th Grade: Centerville, Hilltop, Matt Arthur, Morningside, Pearl Stephens, Quail Runs, Russell, Shirley Hills, Tucker, Westside
  • 5th Grade: Bonaire, Hilltop, Kings Chapel, Langston Road, Matt Arthur, Miller, Morningside, Northside, Parkwood, Quail Run, Russell, Shirley Hills, Tucker

Middle Schools Capacity (By Grade)

  • 6th Grade: Feagin Mill, Mossy Creek
  • 7th Grade: Warner Robins
  • 8th Grade: No available space

High Schools Capacity

  • Houston County HS: No space available
  • Northside HS: No space available
  • Perry HS: No space available
  • Veterans HS: No space available
  • Warner Robins HS: No space available

Click here to view a PDF version.