BCSD School Choice - Guidelines

“District School Choice” gives students the opportunity to attend a public school, other than their zoned school but within their school district, in accordance with district policy and availability. This new option allows students who reside in Barnwell County to attend any school within the county, regardless of the area in which the student lives, tuition-free. This is not a new concept for our schools, because our districts have been allowing out-of-district transfers for years and intra-district transfers where applicable.

A countywide committee met together in the Fall of 2023 to discuss Barnwell County School District School Choice (BCSD School Choice) and create recommendations to the Board of Trustees. These were presented in November 2023 at our board meeting and updates were presented again in January and February of 2024, as well as discussion during our work sessions. The following guidelines have been approved by the Board of Trustees.

Enrollment Numbers will be determined during the application process, so we can ensure there is room for students/families requesting intra-district transfers. The application window will open March 12th and applicants may apply by 11:59 p.m. on April 7, 2024. The online application is available on the homepage until the application closes on April 7th. To register a child for a school choice opening, the parent/guardian must be a legal resident of Barnwell County and must be able to furnish proof of residency upon request.