School of Choice FAQs

Students are assigned to a school based on the primary residence of their parent/guardian. This is defined as the student’s zoned school. 

Washoe County School District (WCSD) has made a promise to our families. We will know every student by name, strength, and need so they graduate prepared for the future they choose, and we will deliver on this promise in partnership with our families and community.  With this promise in mind, we offer families the choice of their zoned school or the school of their choice, outside of their zoned school, through an application process. We believe students will be the most successful in the school where they feel connected and seen and with an academic program that best suits their needs. 

The majority of WCSD schools are open for applications during the School of Choice window. This includes WCSD elementary, middle, and high schools.  

Pre-K and Early Childhood programs are not part of the School of Choice program. 

If a school is missing from the list of options when completing an application, this indicates that the school is at capacity and cannot take additional students.

Special Note: the following schools have special programming and are not available through the School of Choice process: AACT,  Debbie Smith CTE Academy, TMCC High School, Jesse Beck, and Mount Rose K-8 Academy.  

Available school seats are determined in collaboration with the Demographics, Zoning, and Geographic Information System (GIS), the Facilities and Capital Projects department and the Office of Teaching, Learning and Leadership. Many factors are considered, including a school’s available capacity and enrollment, projected future enrollment, current staffing vacancies, and current building utilization. 

The School of Choice application will allow for a family to select up to three (3) schools in order of preference/ranked order.

Once the School of Choice application is approved and accepted by the parent/guardian, the student will be assigned to the approved school through the grade levels available at that school. Students who are in grades five (5) and eight (8) will be assigned to their next grade level zoned school unless a new School of Choice application is completed for a student’s sixth (6^th) or ninth (9^th) grade year.

WCSD schools are open to School of Choice applications. However, once a school is determined by the Demographics, Zoning, and Geographic Information System (GIS), the Facilities and Capital Projects department and the Office of Teaching, Learning and Leadership to be at capacity, the school must deny applications. Some WCSD schools with special programming are not available for a School of Choice placement.

Approvals will be granted when:

• Building capacity and class/program sizes allow for additional students.
• All teaching positions are fully staffed.
• A School of Choice application has been completed and approved during an open window.
• Online registration has been completed.

• The school is at or above the building capacity of 90%.
• The school is not fully staffed.
• The class or program is full and no additional seats are available.
• The school has been designated by capital projects as “overcrowded.”
• The student has 10 or more days of suspension during the current school year. 
• The student has been expelled. 

Parents/guardians will be notified through the Avela application system regarding application status. Log in to your Avela account to see any updates to your School of Choice application. All communication will occur through the Avela site regarding your application. If you need assistance, please email schoolofchoice@washoeschools.net or call 775-333-6099. 

No. There is no additional weight for an application turned in on day one (1) of the window vs. the last day of the window.

There is no waitlist option.

However, through the application process we will do our best to match any siblings to the same school site (same building) upon receipt of a completed SOC application for each student in the household.  

A lottery will occur when there are more applications to a school compared to the available open seats. Students will be enrolled based on the lottery outcome. The Lottery Process is outlined in Administrative Regulation 5015.

Yes. Each student in a household who wants to attend a school different from their zoned school will need to have their parent/guardian complete the School of Choice application on their behalf.

Every student must have their own application.

Because not all schools have specialized programs (i.e., GATE, Dual Immersion, Strategies, CLS, CTE etc.), families seeking a School of Choice application for a specialized program must get approval from the Area Superintendent to determine school location options based on program availability/capacity.

Applications for students new to WCSD can apply for the current school year within one (1) month or 30 days of moving into the district. Families should contact the School of Choice Office for information at 775-333-6099 or email at schoolofchoice@washoeschools.net.

Transportation will not be provided for students approved through a School of Choice application. This includes students who are on an IEP or 504 Plan with transportation as a related service at their zoned or assigned school.

• Yes, the receiving school can revoke a School of Choice application and placement for the following school year if the student does not maintain district and school attendance and behavior expectations. 
• If a parent decides to move their student out of the School of Choice school, the student will return to their zoned school. Only one School of Choice application is allowed during a single school year.

No, a student already approved on a School of Choice placement does not need to apply again.   No additional application is needed unless the family wants to change to a school other than their zoned school or the student will be promoting to sixth (6^th) grade or ninth (9^th) grade the following school year. 

In this event, a family will need to work with the School of Choice Office. Please call 775-333-6099 or email at schoolofchoice@washoeschools.net. 

If the school has room, the principal can approve the student to remain at the school for the rest of the school year. The family must provide transportation to school. During the next available School of Choice window, the family should complete an application for the following school year if they want to remain at the same school. The school must contact the School of Choice Office for correct coding information in Infinite Campus. 

If a student leaves the school district and then returns within the same school year, the student is considered a returning student and would return to the same school they were attending previously. The student must meet district expectations for attendance and behavior. If these expectations were not being met, then the student will return to their zone school after returning to the district. 

If a student has never been enrolled in a WCSD school; the student is deemed a new student and has one (1) month or 30 days to apply for a School of Choice placement or attend their zoned school.  Please call 775-333-6099 or email schoolofchoice@washoeschools.net. 

Please contact the Athletic Director at the High school or the WCSD Coordinator of Athletics and Activities at 775-353-6901.  All student eligibility is governed by NIAA Regulations.

Please contact the School of Choice office at 775-333-6099 or email at schoolofchoice@washoeschools.net.