Out of Zone Procedures
Houston County Schools are zone-based and Board policy requires that students attend school in the zone in which they reside, except in the circumstances listed below.
PLEASE NOTE THAT TRANSPORTATION IS NOT PROVIDED FOR STUDENTS WHO ATTEND SCHOOL OUT OF ZONE
- CHANGES IN RESIDENCE – First 90 Days of School Year - Students who are moving to a new home in Houston County at the beginning of the school year and will be residing in that home 90 days from the first day of school may begin the year in the out-of-zone school. The family must present evidence of a formal transaction of new housing arrangements to be completed within 90 days, and their temporary housing must also be in Houston County.
- HB224- Georgia House Bill 224 - The 2017 Georgia General Assembly approved House Bill 224 (HB 224) for active duty military members who live in base housing. HB 224 allows military families the option to request a school transfer for their child, based on space availability, if the family resides on base or in off base housing. The schools with classroom space availability will be finalized based on the tenth day of school enrollment. Military members, who live on base or off base housing, must complete an “Application to Request HB224 Public School Transfer” from the website or pick-up a form from any school. Applications will be accepted July 1 until the fourteenth day of school. After the fourteenth day of school, applications must be received within ten school days of a military service member, who moves on base or off base in military housing, enrolling or providing change of address documentation to Central Registration. Requests will be approved based on the order in which they were received. Parents will be notified of the approval or denial of their request the following week after the deadline or after submitting the form during the school year. Once a request is approved, the parent assumes all costs and responsibilities related to the transportation of their child to and from the school. Students may progress through all grade levels at the school once the initial approval is granted. To visit the HB224 webpage, click here.
- HB251- Georgia House Bill 251 - The 2009 Georgia General Assembly approved House Bill 251 (HB 251), which allows
parents the option to request a school transfer based on space availability. The
preliminary list of schools is posted by July 1st of each year. The list of schools with
classroom space availability will be finalized based on the tenth day of school
enrollment. Parents must complete an “Application to Request HB251 Public School
Transfer” from the website or pick-up a form from any school. Applications will be
available July 1 until the fourteenth day of school. Requests will be approved based on
the order in which they were received. Parents will be notified of the approval or denial
of their request the following week after the deadline. All students are to begin the
school year at their home zoned school. Once a request is approved, the parent
assumes all costs and responsibilities related to the transportation of their child to and
from the school. Students may progress through all grade levels at the school once the
initial approval is granted. To visit the HB251 webpage, click here.
- REST OF YEAR – After 45 Calendar Days - Students who move within the county from one school zone to another after 45 calendar days may delay entry into the school of the new residence zone until the beginning of the next school year, with parents providing transportation.
- SENIOR PRIVILEGE (12th, 8th, and 5th grades) - A student who has lived in-zone or been on an approved Out of Zone and who has successfully completed their junior year (has met all requirements for promotion to grade 12 at the end of the regular school term) may request to complete the senior year at the same school if the parents move out of that school zone but maintain residence in Houston County. Additionally, students who have completed the 4th or 7th grades, or started their 5th or 8th grade, will be allowed to complete the 5th or 8th grades at the same school if the parents move out of the zone but maintain residence in Houston County.
- SIBILING OF SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENT - If a student is placed at a specific school for educational services, the siblings of that student may attend the school as well. However, siblings may not ride buses designated for special education students.
Note: Students who transfer from one high school to another (without a bona fide move) will be considered ineligible for participation in any varsity competitive events governed by the Georgia High School Association for one calendar year from the date of entry into the receiving school.
For more information, contact School Operations at (478) 988-6395.