In Spartanburg District Five, school attendance zones are traditionally based on each student’s home address. However, in certain situations, the district offers families the opportunity to apply for a different school outside their home zone.

The Limited School Choice Program provides parents/legal guardians, who are legal residents of Spartanburg District Five, the option to enroll their children in a specific school based on an identified need. Approval of requests depends on mitigating circumstances and the enrollment capacity of the requested school.

The following schools will be CLOSED to school choice for the 2025-26 school year:  Abner Creek Academy, Lyman Elementary School, Reidville Elementary School, River Ridge Elementary School, Abner Creek Middle School, and Florence Chapel Middle School.

Students who currently attend a “closed” school on school choice will be allowed to attend in the 2025-26 school year, but they MUST re-apply.

Also, rising 6th graders who are already in the “feeder pattern” of a “closed” school, will be allowed to attend that school, but they MUST re-apply.

Parents may also submit an Out-of-District Request through the school choice program. This option allows students who do not live in District Five to attend District Five schools, provided that parents agree to pay tuition. Approval of these requests is also based on mitigating circumstances and the enrollment capacity of the requested school.

Parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to review all instructions and guidelines before applying.

1. For All Students:

   • All students, whether currently participating in school choice or applying for the first time, must submit an application for the 2025-26 school year.

2. For Out-of-District Students:

   • A new Out-of-District application is required for all students who live outside District Five boundaries, even if they are continuing at the same school.

   • Out-of-district students must obtain a release from their home school district. Email releases to Saterria Broomfield at the District Five administration office.

The Limited School Choice Program is an online-only process. Families must submit their applications within the designated window:

Limited School Choice Application Window:

• Opens: Monday, January 13, 2025

• Closes: Friday, February 21,2025

Out-of-District Requests:

• Opens: Monday, January 20, 2025

• Closes: Friday, February 21, 2025

The following schools will be CLOSED to school choice for the 2025-26 school year:  Abner Creek Academy, Lyman Elementary School, Reidville Elementary School, River Ridge Elementary School, Abner Creek Middle School, and Florence Chapel Middle School.

All 2025-26 Limited School Choice and Out-of-District request forms will be accessible through your PowerSchool parent portal account when the window opens.  

FOR THOSE WITH A POWERSCHOOL PARENT PORTAL ACCOUNT:

You can log on to Parent Portal here:

Once logged in, follow these steps;

1. Select “Forms” on the left hand side of the page.

2. Under forms, select “Limited School Choice 2025-26”

3. Complete the school choice form and click “submit”.

4. You MUST fill out a separate form for each child, if you have more than one child on school choice.

FOR THOSE WITHOUT A POWERSCHOOL PARENT PORTAL ACCOUNT:

To establish a PowerSchool Parent Portal account, simply follow these steps:

1. Call your child’s school.

2. Request a “Parent Portal letter” from the school’s PowerSchool clerk.

3. Follow the letter’s instructions on how to set up a Parent Portal account.

4. Once your account is set up and you have logged in, follow the instructions above for “those with a Parent Portal account”.

To ensure proper planning for the upcoming school year, all applications for Limited School Choice and Out-of-District placement must be received by:

Friday, February 21, 2025 (end of day)

No exceptions will be made. Written response letters will be mailed to applicants before Spring Break.

For assistance, please contact:

• Your child's school

• Chief Administrative Officer, Todd Hardy, at the District Five Administration Office