FAQ

October 1, 2025 through October 31, 2025.

• Families can use the week dedicated to fall break if they need non-instructional time to prepare portfolios for some of the schools.
• Baseline MAP scores are used annually. Annually, the DCSD MAP testing fall window closes each year at the end of September. Private and home-schooled students can test immediately after the window closes.
  These dates are like previous years.
• We have developed a new more user-friendly website to support more families with the process and provide ease of understating of the new process and school choice programs.

• To better align with the district’s approval and financial processes.
• To allow student placement before the school year starts. Prior to the 24-25 school year, the school choice lottery ran from January through August, often resulting in student placements continuing three weeks after the school year had begun. Having the lottery at this time has posed challenges for our students, educators, and school leaders.
• To ensure a smoother transition for everyone involved. This change will help us reduce disruptions and allow our staff to focus on providing the best educational experience from day one. It will also help us avoid the need for staff reassignments due to late enrollments and lottery placements.

Yes, all parents must create an account.

Yes. The parent or legal guardian of the child must be a current resident of the DeKalb County School District at the time of open enrollment and thereafter.

No. All applications and required documents must be submitted online. All documentation will become the property of DeKalb County School District. Additional application packets for Arabia Mountain Magnet Program, International Baccalaureate Programs (grades 9-12), DeKalb Arts Academy (grades 4-8), DeKalb School of the Arts (grades 9-12) must be completed and uploaded as indicated on the application packet for each school.

All programs are offered including:

• Arabia Mountain High School Career Technology Pathway & Magnet Program
• Coralwood/Hawthorne Partnership
• DeKalb Early College Academy (DECA)
• Ronald McNair Discovery Learning Academy (DLA)
• Dual Language Immersion (DLI)
• International Baccalaureate (IB)
• High Achievers Magnet
• Special Interest Magnet
• Montessori
• Theme
• General Transfer (HB251)
• Exceptional Transfer (SB10/IEP)
• Support Transfer (SB 47/504)
• Employee Student Transfer

 

You may apply to a maximum of five options total, including transfers, program options, and program schools.  

Eligibility for each school choice program is available in the details of each program.

More information is available on the School Choice website.

Using a desktop, laptop or mobile device, log on to the School Choice website and locate the “Apply Now/Sign In” button.

Yes. An email address and password are required to create an online account. You must have access to your email account.

Log in to the School Choice online application portal. Application status will be updated once verification is complete. This usually takes place a few weeks before the lottery is run.

The online application will not accept a grade level retention. If your child is not a current DeKalb County School District student, please submit an email to saoffice@dekalbschoolsga.org providing notice from the school that the retention is approved.

If your child is currently a DeKalb County School District student, please email documentation to saoffice@dekalbschoolsga.org from the school indicating retention is approved OR request the principal to send the approval document to the saoffice@dekalbschoolsga.org.

Late applications will be accepted from January 12, 2026 through January 23, 2026. Late applications will be reviewed and processed only if additional seats are available after the initial lottery and all selected and waitlisted students are placed. Applications will not be received after January 23, 2026.

Students are selected by a random automated lottery, essay/interview (for IB applications), or audition (DAA and DSA) based selection processes depending on the grade level and program.

• Results will be emailed on December 19, 2025.

Yes, parents must accept or decline their lottery selections. If selections are not accepted within 5 business days, the seat will be given to the next student in line. If a seat is accepted all other choice options will be removed.

After being selected from the lottery or waiting list, parent must complete the online registration within 10 days of seat acceptance. If parents do not register by the deadline, the seat will be declined and offered to the next student on the waiting list.

Seats will be filled by May 29, 2026.

The most current DeKalb County transportation policy will be followed for the School Choice Programs. Students selected for a Theme School, High Achiever Magnet Program, and Arabia Mountain High will be provided satellite/shuttle transport service.

Access the Transportation Schedule.

Theme elementary school students are provided neighborhood transportation. All other programs do not provide transportation. Transportation: 678-676-1333

Yes, seats will be offered by August 21st with students from the waitlist or late application pool, based on seat availability.

 

Some programs offer sibling priority. See the lottery pool under each program to determine which programs have sibling preferences.
Note: In the programs that allow sibling preferences, multi-birth siblings must apply and qualify to the same program, same grade level, and during the same lottery window to qualify.

Yes, the registration window for the November 8 testing session will remain open until the maximum number of participants is reached. Once that limit is met, no additional applicants will be accepted. Parents will have until October 10, 2025, to submit any additional required documents for the November 8 testing session.

No, your child is not eligible to take the MAP Test during the School Choice MAP test sessions.