Timeline for the 2025-2026 school year: The non-resident application window is July 7 through August 1. 

School Closures: Some schools, grades, or programs, may be closed to non-resident enrollment. Non-residents may only be assigned to schools, grades, or programs that have seats available and are not closed to non-residents. The following factors are considered in the process of closing schools: Any school/grade/program that has denied resident student transfers based on capacity will not be open to non-resident enrollment; Any school/grade/program that has waitlisted resident students will be closed to non-resident students; Any school/grade/program that has balanced students (refer to Procedures 3132 for more information) in the previous school year and is projected not to have instructional or projected capacity in any particular grade, school or program. Non-resident requests will not be placed on a waiting list.

Non-resident enrollment school closures for 2025-26 school year are:

• Parkside Elementary (Grade 5)
• Seahurst Elementary (Grade 4)
• Midway Elementary (Grade 2)
• Mount Rainier High School (All Grades)

Timeline for the 2024-2025 school year: The non-resident application window was July 8 through August 2. 

School Closures: Non-resident enrollment school closures for 2024-25 school year are:

• Hazel Valley Elementary (Grade K)
• Marvista Elementary (Grade 2)
• Mount View Elementary (Grade K)
• North Hill Elementary (Grade 4)
• White Center Heights Elementary (Grade K/Vietnamese)
• Sylvester Middle School (All Grades)
• Mount Rainier High School (All Grades)

If there are any questions about the transfer process for the 2024-2025 school year, please contact Student Placement Services Manager Ebony Booker (206-631-3065).

 *New non-resident students previously accepted to Raisbeck Aviation High School for the 2025-26 school year, will be exempt from this closure as applicants were guaranteed enrollment into Highline Public Schools via a lottery conducted in March 2024. Additionally, per RCW 28A.225.225, non-resident students of district employees will continue to have the right to request consideration for enrollment into Highline Public Schools for the 2025-26 school year based on the employee’s verified work location and the request must be within a school forming the K-12 continuum.

*New non-resident students will be accepted into Highline Public Schools Open Door programs, PSSC, and CHOICE Academy as capacity allows.

2025-2026 school year: New non-resident application forms and transfer requests will be accepted beginning July 7 - August 1. Forms and requests submitted prior to July 7, will be held for your convenience and will be considered to have been received on July 7. Forms and requests received after August 1, will automatically be denied for the 2025-26 school year.

2024-2025 school year: The non-resident applications were accepted through August 2 and is now closed. You are encouraged to enroll in your resident school district. If you are a district employee and need further support, please contact: Student.Placement@highlineschools.org

Renewal/continuing non-resident transfer requests will be accepted beginning January 6 - August 31. See the "Requirements for Renewal Students" section for detailed information.

Transfers submitted within the window timeframe by August 1 will receive a formal status notification letter, via email, by the end of August 2025 the latest.

Non-resident assignments are for one academic year only. Non-resident students must obtain a Choice Transfer Request form from the district of residence each year to apply for non-resident enrollment. Please read below for specific process requirements.

HPS Requires Additional Documentation for New Non-Resident Enrollment: An application is not considered submitted until it is complete and includes all required documentation pieces as outlined in Policy 3141P. Additional documentation will not be accepted after the timeline. If a non-resident application is approved for the academic school year, the student’s parent/guardian will be required to complete district enrollment procedures as followed by residents.

Below is the application checklist, which outlines all required documentation for an application to be considered complete:

• Choice Transfer Request (CTR) Form: Accessed through this website link. Some school districts participate in the Choice Transfer Request Portal (CTRP). This allows families to initiate a CTR and submit it electronically to their resident district. Submitting the CTR through the portal will immediately notify both districts. In the CTRP, parents/guardians are directed to contact their school district to obtain the correct form to initiate the transfer process if they do not see their resident school district listed in the CTRP pull-down menu option.
• HPS Non-Resident Application Form (Aplicación de No-residentes de HPS: en espanol): Accessed here on Highline's website. 
• Discipline: Verification that your student had not had any disciplinary issues in the past year. Please provide a report from the current school of attendance, a letter from a staff member stating their is no history of discipline will meet this need. Students currently enrolled in HPS are not required to submit this documentation.
• Special Education Records and 504 Plan: If applicable, please provide copies of the student's Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and or 504 accommodation plan. Students currently enrolled in HPS are not required to submit this documentation.
• Category Selection: Other hardship circumstances require additional documentation. For more information on hardship documentation, visit our hardship halfsheet (hoja de dificultad en espanol).

Delivery Email Address: Student.Placement@highlineschools.org

Renewal for the following school year: All renewal applicants requesting attendance to HPS' schools may apply to HPS by submitting a Choice Transfer Request (CTR) through the online Choice Transfer Request Portal (CTRP), starting in January the school year prior. If the student's renewal application requires review by another department, this application will be processed with applications during the open non-resident transfer window; see the "Timelines" section for detailed information. Renewal non-residents are only required to submit a CTR release form from their resident district. Please select the "renewal" option on the release.

Some school districts do not participate in the CTRP. What if my school district does not?

In the CTRP, parents/guardians are directed to contact their school district to obtain the correct form to initiate the transfer process if they do not see their resident school district listed in the CTRP pull-down menu option.

Students who moved outside of HPS' boundaries during the school year: If a student moves out of the district during the academic year and becomes a non-resident, their assignment is not automatically continued. Non-resident students that wish to be considered for continued enrollment must apply for non-resident enrollment at the time of the move. A hard copy submission of the Choice Transfer Request (CTR) Release to the requested school and or the Student Placement Office (SPO) is encouraged to avoid delay of electronic submission and requires a signature from their resident district. Contact the Student Placement Office at 206-631-3065 for more information.

Non-resident students interested in attending an Application School will have to follow the application process specific to each school as outlined below. Non-resident students must obtain a Choice Transfer Request form from the district of residence each year through the Choice Transfer Request Portal (CTRP) to apply for non-resident enrollment. Additional documentation is not required except in applications with students that have IEPs or 504 accommodation plans. 

Some school districts do not participate in the CTRP. What if my school district does not?

In the CTRP, parents/guardians are directed to contact their school district to obtain the correct form to initiate the transfer process if they do not see their resident school district listed in the CTRP pull-down menu option.

CHOICE Academy:

CHOICE Academy will open to non-residents after a lottery is conducted for residents and capacity allows. A non-resident must complete the school-based application through SchoolMint to be considered for enrollment; if the application is accepted, the applicant must submit a Choice Transfer Request no later than August 31. Please visit the CHOICE Academy website here for more information.

Big Picture: 

Big Picture will open to non-residents after a lottery is conducted for residents and capacity allows. A non-resident must complete the school-based application through SchoolMint to be considered for enrollment; if the application is accepted, the applicant must submit a Choice Transfer Request no later than August 31. Please visit the Big Picture website here for more information.

Raisbeck Aviation High School:

Non-resident students must first complete a school based application through SchoolMint, during the open application window in January to be considered for enrollment. If an application is accepted, the applicant must submit a Choice Transfer Request no later than August 31. RAHS accepts non-resident applicants from the Seattle School district service area and other school districts within the Puget Sound Region. Please visit the RAHS website here for more information.

Maritime High School:

Non-resident students must first complete a school-based application through SchoolMint to be considered for enrollment. If an application is accepted to Maritime, the applicant must submit a Choice Transfer Request no later than August 31. Please visit Maritime's website here for more information.

International Baccalaureate Programme (IB) at Mount Rainier High School (MRHS):

MRHS will open to non-residents after a lottery is conducted for residents and if capacity allows. Applicants are required to complete a Choice Transfer Request and following the non-resident application requirements, as outlined for new students above. Choice Transfer Requests must be received no later than August 31. Please visit the MRHS website here for more information.

VIRTUAL PROGRAM AT SEAHURST:

The Virtual Program at Seahurst will gradually phase out due to declining enrollment. Next school year, we will only serve students in grades 2-5 and will not accept new kindergarten or first-grade students.
Virtual Program at Seahurst will open to non-residents after a lottery is conducted for residents and capacity allows. A non-resident must complete the school-based application through SchoolMint to be considered for enrollment; if the application is accepted, the applicant must submit a Choice Transfer Request no later than August 31. Please visit the Virtual Program at Seahurst website here for more information.

Highline virtual academy:

Highline Virtual Academy will open to non-residents after a lottery is conducted for residents and capacity allows. A non-resident must complete the school-based application through SchoolMint to be considered for enrollment; if the application is accepted, the applicant must submit a Choice Transfer Request no later than August 31. Please visit the Highline Virtual Academy Website here for more information.

Open door programs: 

Open Door Programs have open enrollment. They will accept non-resident applications on an ongoing basis. Non-resident applications only require a Choice Transfer Request release from the resident district. Please visit the Open Door Programs website here for more information.

Puget Sound Skills Center (PSSC):

Puget Sound Skills Center (PSSC): Puget Sound Skills Center programs have open enrollment. Non-resident students residing in the PSSC Consortium (Federal Way School District, Tahoma School District, and Tukwila School District) do not require an Inter-district Agreement request. Their enrollment requirements are covered by the Consortium Agreement. All other non-resident students wishing to attend PSSC are required to complete an Inter-District Agreement form.

Why does Highline Public Schools require an Inter-District Agreement form instead of accepting a Choice transfer request?

Choice transfer releases are intended to release a student from their resident school district for full time enrollment into a district that they do not reside. Inter-District Agreements are set up to allow students to request consideration for part time enrollment or dual enrollment in two different districts at the same time.

Non-resident students requesting attendance to Highline Public Schools (HPS) for the sole purpose of enrolling in a Skills Center program are required to complete an Inter-District Agreement form for part time release. If a student wished to attend HPS full time AND access programming at the Skills Center, the district would accept a Choice transfer request, but the student would be required to follow the non-resident enrollment process as set out in Policy and Procedure 3141.

What is the difference between an Inter-District Agreement and a Choice Transfer?

Inter-District Agreements are set up to allow students to request consideration for part time enrollment or dual enrollment in two different districts at the same time. Choice transfer releases are intended to release a student from their resident school district for full time enrollment into a district that they do not reside. 

If a student wishes to attend a school district where they do not reside full time, the family should complete a Choice transfer request.

Please visit the Puget Sound Skills Center website here for more information.

If your non-resident student transfer request is denied, you have the right to appeal that decision. An appeal means you are requesting a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge with the Washington State Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). 

If you choose to submit an appeal to OAH to request a hearing, complete the Notice of Appeal Form (PDF). Send only the appeal application form and a copy of the denial letter/email to (a brief cover letter is optional):

Student Transfer Appeal
Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH)
600 University Street, Suite 1500
Seattle, WA 98101-3126

Appeals may also be filed via email: OAH.OSPI@oah.wa.gov. The notice of appeal form must be sent by secure email. If you do not have a secure email password, send an email to this address, without the form attached, to request instructions for filing the form by secure email.

Fax: 206-587-5135

Parents should be sure to have their child enrolled in a school while they are waiting to hear the outcome of their appeal.