Transferring schools — whether mid-year or between school years — involves notifying both the current and new school, transferring academic records, and completing enrollment at the new institution. The process applies whether moving between public schools, from public to private (or vice versa), or across state lines.
10 steps across 1 sections
1. Steps Process
- Notify your current school. Inform the principal or registrar in writing that your child will be transferring. If the student is under 18, a parent or guardian must submit the transfer request.
- Request records from the current school. Ask the registrar or guidance counselor for:
- Official transcripts
- Immunization and health records
- Course schedules and syllabi
- Standardized test scores
- IEP or 504 plan documents (if applicable)
- Disciplinary records (some districts transfer these automatically)
- Research the new school. Contact the new school or district to learn about:
- Enrollment requirements and deadlines
Common Mistakes
- Not requesting records in advance
- Assuming credits transfer automatically
- Forgetting immunization differences
- Not informing the new school about IEP/504 plans
- Transferring mid-grading period
Pro Tips
- Get multiple copies of transcripts
- Document the chain of custody for records
- Ask about transitional support
- Check athletic eligibility rules
- If moving across states, research graduation requirements