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Intradistrict / School Choice

 

INTRADISTRICT/SCHOOL CHOICE GUIDELINES:

The Irvine Unified School Intradistrict/School Choice process provides the opportunity for parents/legal guardians to request attendance at a school other than their assigned residence school. 

The initial lottery window to apply for an Intradistrict School Choice transfer runs from: 

  • January 6, 2025 through January 31, 2025 for secondary requests

  • January 6, 2025 through February 28, 2025 for elementary requests (scroll down and click on the elementary drop down for instructions) 

Click here for the School of Choice Timeline for middle school and high school.

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

*Note: The following schools are closed to general Intradistrict/School Choice requests and are only open to requests for concurrently enrolled siblings during the 2025-26 school year: Portola High School, Jeffrey Trail Middle School, Sierra Vista Middle School, Cadence Park School, and Beacon Park School (this list may be updated to include more schools prior to January 6th). Any requests made to these closed schools without a concurrently enrolled sibling will not be processed

*Note: If you would like to request San Joaquin Middle School or San Joaquin High School (IVA) for the 2025-26 school year, please submit this request through the school choice process.  This process is to request full time enrollment at IVA.  

For currently enrolled IUSD students who will be attending middle school or high school during the 2025-26 school year, you may submit a request through your parent portal by following the instructions below.  

  • Click on the banner titled: The 2025-2026 Intradistrict/School Choice lottery window is open
  • Under the Student Info tab, click on School of Choice Requests
  • Review the Parent Acknowledgment and Instructions
  • Click on Create New School Choice Request
  • Complete the request and SAVE

** Elementary school requests submitted through the Parent Portal will not be processed.  Click on the Elementary Grades tab below for further instructions.

You may log into your Parent Portal account to view the status of your request.  Due to the high volume of requests received, we are unable to provide status updates regarding a request.

For students currently enrolled in a private/non-IUSD school who reside within the attendance boundary of IUSD and wish to submit an intradistrict/school choice lottery request to a school other than the assigned residential school, please click here to submit a request. If you are a current IUSD student, requests using this link will not be processed. 

PLEASE NOTE:

  • Transferring your child to a different school other than their assigned school may result in your child not matriculating with their peers.
  • Parents/legal guardians must provide transportation to the requested school. 
  • Due to the high volume of requests, we are unable to provide status updates regarding your request.
  • Middle school students who live in the Columbus Grove area that are assigned to Lakeside MS and would like to exercise choice to have their child attend Venado, should use the Intradistrict/School choice process to submit a request.

(Incoming K-6th Grades)

Process for Elementary School Choice - Incoming Grades K-6

*Note: Elementary school choice requests are submitted directly to their school and the link is posted on the school's website.  To assure that the approval is random and unbiased, the approval process is implemented as follows:

  • The school choice window begins the first day school resumes after winter break and ends the last Friday in February.
  • Parents/Legal Guardian complete an online School Choice Form and submit it on the website of the desired school site.  
  • Based on request forms submitted by the deadline, a lottery is held and waiting lists (by grade level and site) are established.
  • Requests received after the deadline are added to the end of the established waiting list.
  • Periodically, schools are closed to School Choice due to high enrollment.
  • Parent/Legal Guardian must provide transportation to the requested school.

(Grades 7-12)

Process for Secondary School Choice - Incoming Grades 7-12

To assure that the approval is random and unbiased, the approval process is implemented as follows:

  • Transition to middle school or high school is based on the assigned school attendance area, not on previous school enrollment.
  • Parents/legal guardians wishing to pursue Intradistrict/School Choice must make a request during the School Choice window.
  • Opportunities for transfer may be granted in the following manner:
    • One-to-one exchange
    • Space availability
  • Based on request forms submitted by the deadline, a random and unbiased lottery is held and waiting lists (by grade level and site) are established.  The lottery process does not account for extenuating circumstances or specific reason for the request and it is not based on a first come first served basis.
  • Requests received after the lottery deadline and during the waitlist window, will be added to the end of the established waiting list.
  • Periodically, schools are closed to School Choice due to high enrollment.
  • You may not receive a response in time for cheerleading try-outs, sports try-outs, music try-outs, early course selections, or any other programs/activities.
  • Parents/legal guardians must provide transportation to the requested school.
  • Parents/legal guardians may only request one school other than the school to which the student is assigned.
  • Due to the high volume of requests received, we are unable to provide status updates regarding a request.

Click here for School of Choice Timeline for middle school and high school.

Enrollment and Return Guidelines:

If a student is enrolled in a school outside their assigned attendance area and continued enrollment is desired, an Intradistrict/School Choice Form does not need to be completed each year.  Once enrolled in a school outside their assigned attendance area, students and their siblings receive priority at that school for continued enrollment over all other Intradistrict/School Choice applicants.  If for any reason, the school is unable to permit continued enrollment, the principal will notify the student’s parents/legal guardians.

Students who elect to begin a given academic year at a school other than their assigned school may not be able to transfer back to their assigned school for the balance of the same academic year due to restricted space availability. Transfers within the school year may disrupt student academic goals and progress.  Students who elect to return to their assigned attendance area school, may request to do so during the school year, however:

  1. Middle school students may only transfer at the beginning of a trimester.
  2. High school students may only transfer at the beginning of a semester.
  3. Year-Round students may not transfer to a traditional school.

Sibling Rule

Siblings of students on an approved Intradistrict/School Choice transfer will not automatically be enrolled at the school their sibling attends. An Intradistrict/School Choice request must be submitted during the lottery window or waitlist window to the desired school. Students with a concurrently enrolled sibling are given priority to the requested school. 

All policies and attendance areas are subject to change by the Board of Education of the Irvine Unified School District.