Parents/Legal Guardians of a student zoned to attend a school within the Bartow County School System may apply for an HB251 transfer in accordance with Georgia’s Quality Basic Education Act.  In order to pursue a transfer to another school within the Bartow County School System, the following criteria must be observed:

• If the student receives Special Education services, the school selected must have the Special Education services required by the current Individual Education Plan (IEP).

• Out of Zone students may complete the highest grade of the school before having to re-apply, as long as the student maintains acceptable attendance, grades, and behavior. Parents/Guardians are also expected to maintain a cordial and cooperative working relationship with school personnel.

• Current fifth and eighth-grade transfer students must apply to continue in the school feeder pattern unless the feeder pattern is the same as the student’s zoned school’s feeder pattern.

• Parents/Legal Guardians are responsible for timely transportation to and from transfer school.  There will be no bus transportation provided.

• If the student transfers at the high school level, he/she must meet Georgia High School Association requirements to participate in the competitive interscholastic activities. Click HERE for more information. 

• Once the Out of Zone school choice transfer has been approved, the parent/guardian will need to visit the choice school, no later than June 1st, to confirm acceptance of the transfer as well as sign the Student Transfer Acceptance Agreement.  Failure to sign the Student Transfer Acceptance Agreement will result in the school choice transfer being nullified and the student’s seat will be forfeited.

• Available space at a school is determined by student enrollment and teacher allotment.  Not every school will have space available at every grade level.

• Available spaces are not assigned on a first-come-first-served basis.

• If there are more applications received than spaces available, at a particular school, a lottery will be held.

Out of District Transfers (residing in Cartersville City Limits or an adjacent county)

• The application MUST include copies of the student’s last report card, attendance report, and disciplinary report in order to be reviewed. Failure to attach required documents will result in the application being withdrawn.

• There must be approval by the principal of the school requested.

• If the student transfers at the high school level, he/she must meet Georgia High School Association requirements to participate in the competitive interscholastic activities. Click HERE for more information.

• Upon transfer approval, the initial $300 tuition applying to non-resident students (students residing outside of the Bartow County School District) must be paid in full, before June 30, 2024. Once the initial $300 tuition is paid, returning OOD students will pay $150 per year for subsequent years. In order to receive the lower tuition, previous year's tuition must have been paid, in full, by the June 30th deadline.  Partial payments will not be accepted.

• Acceptable grades, behavior, and attendance must be maintained.  Parents/legal guardians are also expected to maintain a cordial and cooperative working relationship with school personnel.

• A new application must be completed each year for Out of District students.

• Complete application packets must be returned to the school to which you are applying, no later than 2:00 pm February 29, 2024.

Parents will be notified of School Choice outcome via the USPS, no later than April 8, 2024.