Enrollment, Registration, and Transfers

Students in all grade levels who are new to Atlanta Public Schools should enroll as soon as possible. Students enrolling for pre-kindergarten must be four years old on or before September 1. Except as allowed by law and APS Regulation JBC-(R)(1), kindergarten students must be five years old on or before September 1 and first-grade students must be six on or before September 1.

APS requires registration when a student is new to the district, transitions from 5th to 6th grade, transitions from 8th to 9th grade, or whenever a change of residence occurs.

Eligible unemancipated minor students shall be enrolled in school by their parent(s)/legal guardian(s). Persons in control or charge of students who do not have legal guardianship may conditionally enroll students. Adult students and emancipated minors may enroll themselves. Emancipated minors must present a certified copy of the legal documents granting emancipation. See Policy JBC.

APS shall serve all eligible K-12 students residing with their parent(s) / legal guardian(s) in the city of Atlanta. In all cases where the question of interpretation of the law relative to residence is involved, the final decision shall rest with the Superintendent. Students must meet enrollment and age requirements as defined in state law. See Policy JBC. The Atlanta Public School System has established attendance zones for schools. Students must attend the school in their assigned attendance zone where their custodial parents/legal guardians reside unless they request and receive a transfer to enroll elsewhere. A person who owns property in the city of Atlanta, but does not reside in the city of Atlanta, is not considered a resident. For more information about enrollment or if you are contemplating moving or a transfer, please call Student Assignment at 404-802-2233, visit your school, or visit the APS website.

A school system employee or designee may visit the address given by any parent/guardian to verify residency. The property address given must be the actual location where the student and parent/guardian live full time. Schools may request a parent/guardian provide proof of residency if: (1) mail is returned from the student’s address of record; (2) a student’s attendance record indicates a pattern of absences, or tardies; or (3) other circumstances occur that place the school on notice that the address of record is invalid/inaccurate for the student.

Parents/guardians shall inform the school and provide updated residency information including a change of address form and general affidavit of residency accompanied by new proof of residency documentation within 10 business days of a move that occurs during the school year. These documents should be returned to the main office or registrar’s office of the student’s school. If it is discovered that a student and their family failed to inform the school that they have moved out of the school zone, the student may be withdrawn immediately and placed in the school to which the current residence is zoned. See Regulation JBC-R(3).

School Choice/General Administrative Transfers

The APS offers school choice options for students who request to attend a school other than their neighborhood/zoned school. Parents/guardians must request a transfer to attend an out-of-zone school during the annual application period. Transfer applications for the upcoming school year will be accepted each spring semester. Students with transfers are expected to have regular and punctual attendance and to abide by all disciplinary rules at the transfer school where they attend. A transfer may be revoked if any of the following occur:

• The student has been withdrawn from the transfer school (failure to remain continuously enrolled)
• The student does not attend the transfer school by the beginning of the second week of school
• The parent/guardian fails to maintain a cordial and cooperative working relationship with the transfer school
• The student has accumulated any combination of 10 or more unexcused absences from school or class, tardies to school or class, early dismissals from school or class, or late pickups from school; and/or
• The student has a combined total of four in-school suspensions, of one to three days (1-3), or disciplinary referrals to the office;
• Two or more suspensions of 3 days or more for any reason.

The General Administrative Transfer Application Window for the 2026-2027 school year will be posted on the APS website. For more information regarding transfers to attend an out-of-zone school, please contact Student Assignment at 404-802-2233 or reference Regulation JBCCA-R(2).

Students of full-time employees may apply for their student to attend school at their worksite.

Students of full-time APS or Partner schools (including bus drivers, monitors, and operators) may attend a school in the vertical feeder pattern at which their parent/guardian is employed.

Parents/guardians are encouraged to provide the school with a copy of all court order(s) regarding the custody of the child. APS personnel may request proof of legal custody in situations involving multiple adults claiming control of the same student or should a question arise. See Regulation JBC-R(2). Student enrollment forms, as well as other official documents of the school, should be signed by the adult with whom the child resides. The school will give to non-custodial parents, upon request, all information required under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the laws of Georgia, unless there is a valid court order directing the school not to divulge such information. If such an order exists, a copy must be presented to the principal.

Parents/guardians shall present an official transcript of work or credit at the time of enrollment. If a transcript is not presented, the student shall be accepted provisionally in the grade to which they indicate membership. If upon receipt of an official transcript, it is found that the student has been enrolled in the wrong subject or grade, the student shall be withdrawn immediately and re-enrolled in the appropriate grade or subjects. The parent(s) / legal guardian(s) shall be informed in writing of the change.

Records of each student’s previous work should be required before final placement is determined. A reasonable effort should be made to obtain such records. If the records are not forthcoming within 30 calendar days, an academic assessment shall be made by the school to determine final placement. See Regulation JBC-R(2).

At the time of withdrawal, students must return all textbooks, library books, and other school-owned items. Any such items not returned, and any other school-related expenses for which the student is responsible (such as lunch charges), must be paid for at the time of withdrawal. The school may withhold grade reports, diplomas, and/or certificates of progress until restitution is made for lost or damaged textbooks and/or media materials. Students who are under disciplinary investigation or who are in the process of being disciplined or referred to a disciplinary hearing may not be withdrawn.

In accordance with Georgia Code § 20-2-785, students are to be referred to the Division of Family and Children Services for investigation of certain withdrawals.

In the event that a student does not for a period of 30 consecutive days attend the public school in which he or she is enrolled or provisionally enrolled and:

• The parent or guardian of such student does not notify the school of such student’s withdrawal from such school
• The parent or guardian of such student does not notify the school of such student’s enrollment or intent to enroll in a home study program or another school
• Such student is withdrawn from such school without a declaration filed pursuant to subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-690 or
• Such student is 16 years of age or older and stops attending such school without completing the conference required under subsection (e) of Code Section 20-2-6901

This law helps ensure that all students remain in a safe and supportive learning environment.

Pursuant to Administrative Regulation JBCD-R(1): The District may withdraw a student without parental permission. In all scenarios, the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee shall use due diligence to notify the parent/guardian or other person if the Local Education Agency (LEA) plans to withdraw such a student.

The Superintendent or designee shall document a minimum of three attempts to contact the parent/guardian, grandparent, or other person. Such notification shall be by certified mail, return receipt requested.

The school may still pursue the interventions as outlined in the APS attendance policy and regulations.

The District can withdraw a student without parental permission when:

• The student is older than 16 and has accumulated 10 consecutive unexcused absences.
• The student is 6-16 and has accumulated 10 consecutive unexcused absences.
• The student is enrolled in another school or home schooled.
• The student no longer resides in the school attendance zone. See JBC-R(3) School Admissions — Students who Move During the School Year.
• Student is not in attendance on the first day of school but were expected based on prior year enrollment.

For students with disabilities, an IEP meeting must be held and a prior written notice must be provided. The district may withdraw 10 days after providing Prior Written Notice.