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Student Transfer Application Season Has Begun

February 3, 2021

Montgomery County parents/guardians who wish to request a Change of School Assignment (COSA) for their children from their home school may begin the process during the transfer season that began on February 1. All COSA requests must be submitted no later than April 1, 2021.

Except for students in the Northeast Consortium (NEC), Downcounty Consortium (DCC), and Middle School Magnet Consortium (MSMC) areas, students in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) are assigned to a school based on their home address or their Individualized Education Program (IEP) and are expected to attend their home school. Assignment changes for students from one school to another are permitted under the following limited circumstances:

  • An older sibling attends the requested school in the regular program or a special education program, absent a boundary change

  • A continuation in a feeder pattern from middle to high school, except when affected by boundary change, application program acceptance, or Consortium Choice guidelines

  • When a family moves within Montgomery County, preference to remain in the original school will be considered to complete the current school year only

  • A documented, unique hardship situation

  • A multi-year program of study or a multi-year single course sequence not offered at a student’s home school, if there are seats available in the school and program of interest at another school (NEW)

Please note that starting with students who enter Grade 6 during school year 2021–2022, a student attending a middle school on a COSA seeking to attend the high school in that middle school’s feeder pattern will have to reapply for a COSA and demonstrate a unique hardship.

The transfer process begins in the home school where parents/guardians may request the Change of School Assignment (COSA) Information Booklet that contains the COSA form, describes the process and provides useful information. The COSA booklet is available in schools and online. It is available in English and Spanish. Countywide programs that are exempt from the transfer process are listed in the information booklet. 

There is a different process to access the elementary language immersion programs.  Information and copies of the Elementary Immersion Interest Form are available at all elementary schools and online.

For information about assignments for students residing in the NEC, DCC or MSMC areas, contact the Division of Consortia Choice and Application Program Services at 240-740-2540 or visit the website.

For more information about the transfer process, parents/guardians are encouraged to contact the principal at their home school. 

 

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