Choice Transfers

• Contact the non-resident school district for the school you would like your student to attend to learn when Choice Transfer applications are accepted, and if the school is open to Choice Transfers.
• Fill out the appropriate form below. Note: This needs to be done each year that your student wants to transfer out of a LWSD school. 
  • To apply to attend school full-time outside of LWSD, fill out the Choice Transfer Request on the state website.
  • To apply to attend school part-time outside of LWSD, fill out, print and sign the Inter-district Agreement Request or pick one up at the District Office.
• Lake Washington School District will determine if your release will be approved. Email notification will be sent to both you and the requested district by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). The requested district will then determine transfer approval or denial and OSPI will notify you by e-mail.

For questions regarding Choice Transfers, contact Lori Sperry at choicetransfers@lwsd.org.

• Contact your resident district about their process for completing a Choice Transfer Request as the process must begin there.  
• Complete the request and turn it in to your resident school district.
• Your resident district will process the request and will inform you that the release has been approved or denied. Notification will be sent to you and to Lake Washington School District by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).
• Lake Washington School District will then determine approval or denial of the transfer request and OSPI will notify you and your resident district whether your transfer request has been accepted or denied.
• Students outside the district will not be placed until after in-district students are accommodated with the exception of the guaranteed placement process below.
• Requests may not be considered for approval until late August.

• You can apply any time during or after the Open Enrollment Period for the next school year.

• Complete the Choice Transfer process as mentioned above, through your resident school district.
• A transfer request must be completed and submitted each year that your student wants to attend a LWSD school.

Annually, the District will provide a list of schools and grade levels, based on space availability, that would be available for choice transfer placement guaranteed through the feeder pattern (elementary, middle and high school).

• Applications for guaranteed feeder placement must be received by the end of the Open Enrollment Period in order to be considered for early action decision by June 1.
• If more requests are received than space available, students will be put on a waitlist.
• Applications received after the Open Enrollment Period will be considered on a rolling basis.
• Applications for siblings will be considered on a case-by-case basis within the same feeder pattern.

This list of schools and grade levels available for guaranteed choice transfer placement is subject to change on an annual basis. The ability to provide guaranteed placement through the feeder pattern is subject to change on an annual basis.  The district’s ability to provide guaranteed placement for one year, does not mean that the district will be able to provide guaranteed placement in future years.

The parent/guardian will receive notification from the school when the Choice Transfer Request is approved.  By signing the transfer application form the parent/guardian agrees to the following:

• Responsibility for providing punctual transportation to and from school;
• Compliance with all district and school policies relating to attendance/academics/behavior;
• Expectation that the student will be at school only during normal school hours unless participating in a schedule activity;
• Campus-parking pass is not guaranteed (high school only); and
• One-year commitment to attend the approved school (unless guaranteed placement is approved)

The school will send the parent/guardian a denial notification when the Choice Transfer Request is denied. Reasons for denial include but are not limited to the following:

• Whether space is available in the school, grade level, program and/or classes at the building in which the student desires to be enrolled;
• Whether acceptance would result in the district experiencing a financial hardship;
• Whether the student’s disciplinary records indicate a history of convictions for offenses or crimes, violent or disruptive behavior, or gang membership;
• Whether the student has been expelled or suspended from public school for more than ten consecutive days;
• Whether the student has maintained a satisfactory attendance record.

The district shall provide all applicants written notification of the approval or denial of the application no later than August 31 of each year. If the application is rejected the notification shall include the reason or reasons for denial, the right to request an informational conference with the Superintendent or designee to reconsider the denial, and the right to appeal to the Superintendent of Public Instruction under RCW 28A.225.230(3).

An approved transfer entitles the student to attend the requested school but does not allow entrance into specialized programs such as choice schools. Access to services are subject to current district procedures.

The district will follow WIAA rules regarding athletic eligibility for high school level sports.

In all cases where a Choice Transfer is approved, transportation to and from school becomes the responsibility of the parent or guardian. Student(s) must continue to meet their new school's attendance and behavior expectations. For this information, please refer to your new transfer school's Student Handbook.