Online Student Transfer Application
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Student Transfer Information
FCPS considers transfer requests for very specific reasons for Fairfax County Residents Only
A student registered in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is expected to attend the school assigned to the student’s home address. The local or base school can be identified by the FCPS Boundary Locator.
However, an enrolling parent may request a student transfer for their child in grades kindergarten through 12 to attend a non-base school. Student transfers will be considered if the school capacity, grade-level capacity, and the school curricular program at the requested school will permit, as determined by FCPS.
Based on the transfer type selected in the online student transfer application, the system will identify the closest open school the enrolling parent may request.
Students New to FCPS
Prior to submitting a student transfer application, parents must register their child at the school assigned to their home or temporary Fairfax County address as identified by the FCPS Boundary Locator. For information on the registration process, view General Registration Requirements (Grades 1 -12), Kindergarten Registration or Online Registration.
Student Information System (SIS) ParentVUE Account
The enrolling parent must have an active SIS ParentVUE Account to submit an online student transfer application.
- Enrolling parents with an active SIS ParentVUE account can log into the Online Student Transfer Application. Forgot your password? Go to SIS Parent Account Access.
- New FCPS families can create a SIS ParentVUE account through the Online Registration process or contact the school to obtain an activation key.
- Parents with a currently active student in FCPS but who do not have a SIS ParentVUE Account should contact their student’s school to obtain an activation key and directions.
Once the SIS Parent Account registration process is completed, full access to SIS Parent Account login is restricted to only the parents with students in the current school year. It may appear that the account is disabled, however access to the Online Student Transfer Application is allowed.
After registration is complete and a SIS ParentVUE Account is created, the enrolling parent may submit an online student transfer application the following business day.
Application Timeline
FCPS accepts online student transfer applications for the upcoming school year from February 1 through June 1. The exact submission dates, which vary according to the type of request, are listed below:
- New High School Curricular : February 1 – May 1
Program availability is indicated in the application.
Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB), World Language, Academy, Global STEM (Edison HS Only) - Renewals: February 15 – April 1
Enrolling parents will be notified by email in February if their child is eligible for student transfer renewal. - Initial (New): March 1 – June 1
New requests may be submitted for Child Care Hardship (K-6), Child of FCPS Employee, Medical, Emotional, or Social Adjustment, Resident on Military Installation, Senior Status, Sibling at Requested School
Based on the transfer type selected in the online student transfer application, the system will identify the closest open school the enrolling parent may request. Program availability is indicated in the application.
A student transfer is valid for one year only. FCPS notifies the enrolling parent by email in February if the student is eligible for student transfer renewal.
After notification is received, if the student continues to meet the same student transfer criteria as indicated on the original student transfer application, the enrolling parent may submit an online student transfer renewal application, required documentation, and non-refundable application processing fee.
For students no longer meeting the same student transfer criteria, a new transfer request may be submitted beginning March 1.
FCPS will consider applications submitted after the application deadline for the following reasons:
- Students new to Fairfax County,
- Employees with a new work location assignment, or
- Students experiencing an event or emergency that could not have been foreseen before the application deadline. Documentation supporting the situation must be submitted for transfer consideration.
School Capacity and School Open/Closed Status
Student transfers will be considered if the school capacity, grade-level capacity, and the school curricular program at the requested school will permit, as determined by FCPS.
The Department of Facilities and Transportation Services identifies school capacity and school open/closed status in February and May for the upcoming school year.
Based on the type of student transfer request, the application automatically will identify the school(s) closest to your home address that may be requested.
A school will not appear as an option to select in the online student transfer application if one of the follow conditions exist:
- The school is closed to student transfers.
- The school is open to student transfers, but is at grade level or program capacity.
- The school is not available for selected transfer type.
Types of Transfer Requests
FCPS considers student transfer requests for reasons outlined in School Board Regulation 2230. Select any of the transfer types below to view a description of the request, the documentation or information needed from the enrolling parent, and instructions for completing the application.
Note: An asterisk (*) beside a transfer type indicates the transfer type requires multiple steps.
Description
A parent shows hardship in obtaining appropriate full-time, before- and/or after-school child care within the base school boundaries. The online application will identify the closest open school to the address of your child care provider.
For help in locating child care, please visit the Fairfax County Office for Children, Child Care Search.
Required Information
When prompted during the online student transfer application process, enter two documented attempts to secure child care within the base school boundary. (Must be submitted annually.)
Instructions for submitting application for Child Care Hardship.
Description
A parent resides in Fairfax County and is a FCPS employee, defined as a person working in a budgeted Full Time Equivalent (FTE) position (FTE transportation and food services positions included) and eligible for leave, retirement, and health benefits coverage. Student transfer requests will be for the school in which the parent is employed or for the school closest to the employee’s work location. If the request for student transfer is to the school in which the parent or guardian is employed, capacity issues will not prevent the transfer.
Required Information
An FCPS employee must enter his/her FCPS username and password when prompted inside the application. The application verifies employee status, eligibility, and work location, and also identifies the school to select.
Instructions for submitting application for Child of FCPS Employee.
A student transfer application is not required to enroll your child in the school assigned to your physical address. The FCPS boundary locator will identify the assigned school. Contact the school directly to schedule a registration appointment.
Description
Prior to a relocation within Fairfax County, transfer requests may be made within 180 calendars days of your relocation into the requested school boundary.
Required Documentation
The enrolling parent must upload documentation (PDF document preferred) of the upcoming move into the requested school boundary to include a lease or signed contract with move-in/closing date. (We suggest that you take a picture with your mobile device or scan the documents and then upload the documents to the application.)
If building a home, a letter from the builder with estimated completion date, signed contract, and Fairfax County building permits is required.
Additional documentation may be requested to establish that the new residence is valid and that no other property is a primary residence.
Instructions for submitting application for Family Relocation (A) - Prior to Relocation.
Description
Families who relocate from one school boundary to another in Fairfax County within the last 90 calendar days of the school year and want children to remain enrolled at the current (non-base) schools.
Required Documentation
Updated residency documentation (e.g. lease, deed, rental agreement) must be provided to the enrolled school prior to submitting the online student transfer application.
The updated residency documentation must also be submitted with the online application. (We suggest that you take a picture with your mobile device or scan the documents and then upload the documents to the application.)
Instructions for submitting application for Family Relocation (B) - After Relocation (for remainder of school year).
Description
A student wants to enroll in course offerings in an Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), World Language course sequence, Academy Program, or Global STEM (Edison HS Only) not available at the student’s base school.
Required Documentation
Below are the curricular transfer commitment letter of understanding:
- Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB)
- World Languages
- Academy Sequence
- Global STEM Challenges Program (Edison HS Only)*
Instructions for submitting application for High School Curricular Program - AP, IB, World Language, Academy, or Global STEM (Edison HS Only).
Begin the online student transfer application.
Based on the transfer type selected in the online student transfer application, the system will identify the closest open school the enrolling parent may request. Program availability is indicated in the application.
*Contact Edison HS directly with questions regarding the Global STEM Challenges Program.
Description
A student has exceptional hardship for reasons of medical, emotional, or social adjustment, and a transfer will support a student’s treatment plan as described by a current independent (non FCPS) licensed healthcare provider, which could be a physician, psychologist, social worker, or counselor.
Required Documentation
- Submit a Student Transfer Request Form – Medical, Emotional, or Social Adjustment with an original signature by a healthcare provider to the enrolled school. (Must be submitted annually.)
- The school acknowledges receipt of the documentation in the Student Information System (SIS).
- After documentation is in SIS, the following business day the enrolling parent may submit an online student transfer application.
Instructions for submitting application for Medical, Emotional, or Social Adjustment.
Begin online student transfer application.
Based on the transfer type selected in the online student transfer application, the system will identify the closest open school the enrolling parent may request.
Description
In accordance with Section § 22.1-7.2 of the Code of Virginia, upon request by a parent or guardian, FCPS provides for open enrollment for students residing on a military installation in military housing located within Fairfax County.
Required Documentation
- Parents must provide the enrolled school with a current resident occupancy agreement from The Villages at Belvoir. If the lease date is not current, a letter from the community management office is also required.
- The school acknowledges receipt of the documentation in the Student Information System (SIS).
- After documentation is in SIS, the following business day the enrolling parent may submit an online student transfer application.
Instructions for submitting application for Resident on Military Installation.
Description
Students who relocate to different school boundaries within Fairfax County, but wish to remain enrolled at requested schools for the final year of elementary, middle or high school. In these cases, school capacity factors will not prevent approval.
Required Documentation
Updated Fairfax County residency documentation must be provided to the enrolled school prior to student transfer application submission.
Instructions for submitting application for Senior Status.
Description
A student wants to attend the same school as a sibling who lives in the same household.
Required Information
Sibling relationship will be verified in the Student Information System.
Instructions for submitting application for Sibling at Requested School.
Begin online student transfer application.
The requested school must be open to student transfers to request a sibling transfer.
Student Transfer Application Process
Online Application
The enrolling parent may request a student transfer by completing and submitting the following:
- an online student transfer application,
- a non-refundable, $100 application processing fee, and
- any required documentation.
To begin the online application process, the enrolling parent will need to use the following two items:
The enrolling parent must have a SIS Parent Account to submit an online student transfer application. To create an account, please contact your child’s school to get an activation key and directions. Forgot your password? Go to SIS Parent Account Access.
FCPS collects the application fee within the online student transfer application using the MySchoolBucks website. You can create a MySchool Bucks account or continue as a guest to make the payment. More information about MySchoolBucks is available on their Frequently Asked Questions page.
Based on the transfer type selected in the online student transfer application, the system will identify the closest open school the enrolling parent may request. For example, perhaps a student's base high school offers International Baccalaureate (IB), but the student wants Advanced Placement (AP). The online application for that student would identify the high school closest to his/her home address that is open student transfers and offers AP.
Notification of Decision
All student transfer requests go through a process of review that involves the base school principal, requested school principal and the FCPS student transfer specialist. Schools may review the student’s transcript, discipline record, and attendance records.
When the review process is completed, the FCPS student transfer specialist will notify the enrolling parent of the approval or denial decision by email to the primary email address.
Throughout the application process, the enrolling parent may log in to the online student transfer application to check the status, which will be listed as one of following possibilities:
- Incomplete (your application is missing some items),
- Submitted (your application is in the system),
- In process (your application is being reviewed), or
- Approved/denied.
Decisions regarding Global STEM transfer requests will be made after course selection is complete for base school students. Decisions will be sent to families beginning in mid-March.
Fee for Application Processing
The Fairfax County School Board approved a non-refundable student transfer application processing fee of $100 in May 2017.
The payment, which is submitted within the online student transfer application, should be in the form of debit or credit card, prepaid credit card, or electronic check.
Fee waivers are available for the following situations:
- Students who qualify for the free and reduced-price meals program and have submitted the Consent to Share Information for Benefits for Other Programs form.
- Students residing on a military installation in military housing located within Fairfax County.
- Students of parents who are current FCPS employees and live in Fairfax County.
- Family Relocation A & B.
Fee waiver is based on the status at the time the application is submitted.
Transportation
Transportation is not provided by FCPS for students attending schools on approved student transfers.
Conditions of a Student Transfer
If a student transfer application is approved, the following conditions apply:
- The student may not be eligible to participate for one year in secondary school interscholastic athletics. To learn more about eligibility, visit Virginia High School League.
- The transfer may be revoked if the reason for the transfer no longer exists, if the student does not attend school regularly, if the student does not make academic progress, or if the student violates the code of conduct, including Student Rights and Responsibilities.
- The parent will provide transportation for the student to the non-base school.
- A non-refundable $100 application processing fee is required, unless a waiver is granted.
- The transfer is approved for one year only, and an application must be resubmitted annually.
- All student transfer requests are discretionary and are subject to approval by FCPS.
Questions?
- Additional information about the application process and types of transfer requests are available on our Student Transfer: Frequently Asked Questions page.
- Contact your school's registrar/student information assistant or email the FCPS student transfer specialist at [email protected].
