Student Transfer Requests

Students who desire to attend a Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) specialty program should visit the Specialty Programs webpage to learn about available specialty programs and the applications process.

Transfer Provisions Apply to Residents of Prince William County Only

Transfer season for the 2025-26 school year opened on January 3, 2025, and closed on April 30, 2025.

Students are generally required to attend the school zoned for their primary residence.

Attendance areas are established for each school by the School Board in a manner that best meets the needs of the students in the county.

Prince William County residents, who are parents or guardians of students enrolled in PWCS, may request a student transfer from their student's zoned school during the established time period each school year.

Student transfers can be requested for the following reasons:

  • Parental employment in Prince William County Public Schools
  • To leave a school that is significantly overcapacity to alleviate overcrowding.
    • PWCS designates which schools students can transfer into and out of by January 15 each school year.
    • Some schools are open or closed transfer for all grades, or only specific grades.
  • To address hardship in finding safe affordable before and/or after school child care within the student's school attendance zone
  • Lack of school age care at the student's base school (grades K-5 only)
  • Extenuating circumstances

Please carefully review Regulation 721-1 (grades K-8) and Regulation 721-2 (grades 9-12) for more detailed information about the acceptable reasons for student transfers.

Schools Closed to Transfer

List of Overcapacity Schools

Overcapacity schools are schools that are projected to be more than 120% of its capacity and undercapacity schools are projected to be less than 80% of its capacity.

Overcapacity schools are closed for transfer.

Parents/guardians have the option to request a transfer for their student from an overcapacity school to an undercapacity school.

Overcapacity Elementary Schools

  • Covington-Harper Elementary School
  • Dale City Elementary School
  • Enterprise Elementary School
  • The Nokesville School
  • Pattie Elementary School
Undercapacity Elementary Schools
  • Alvey Elementary School
  • Ashland Elementary School
  • Bristow Run Elementary School
  • Cedar Point Elementary School
  • Glenkirk Elementary School
  • Innovation Elementary School
  • Mountain View Elementary School
  • Rosa Parks Elementary School
  • T. Clay Wood Elementary School
  • Victory Elementary School (grades K-1)

Overcapacity Middle Schools

  • The Nokesville School
Undercapacity Middle Schools
  • Fred M. Lynn Middle School
  • Graham Park Middle School
  • Potomac Middle School

Overcapacity High Schools

  • Colgan High School
Undercapacity High Schools
  • Brentsville District High School

Schools Closed to Transfers for Specific Grades

Schools may find it necessary to not accept incoming transfers at a specific grade level as enrollment increases throughout the spring and summer.

In addition to the schools that are overcapacity schoolwide, these schools are closed to transfers for the grades levels indicated. This list is current as of June 18, 2025.

Parents/guardians should not request to transfer into any of these schools for the grade levels indicated.

  • Antietam Elementary School (grades 1-2)
  • Belmont Elementary School (grade 5)
  • Featherstone Elementary School (grades 2-3)
  • Forest Park High School (grades 9-12)
  • Gainesville Middle School (grades 6-8)
  • Henderson Elementary School (grades K-3)
  • King Elementary School (grades K, 5)
  • Lake Ridge Middle School (grades 7-8)
  • Marumsco Hills Elementary School (grades 1, 4, 5)
  • Osbourn Park High School School (grades 9-12)
  • Penn Elementary School (grades 2, 3)
  • Springwoods Elementary School (grades K–5)
  • Swans Creek Elementary School (grades 4-5)
  • Victory Elementary School (grades 2-5)

Student Transfer Request Procedures

All transfer forms and any associated documents should be submitted to schools electronically. Please click the appropriate link below to begin the student transfer request process.

Grades K-8 Student Transfer Request Procedures

All PDF documents should be downloaded and saved to your computer and opened in the Adobe PDF program. This will enable you to use the "fill & sign" feature to complete the transfer form.

Step 1

Parents/guardians should read Regulation 721-1 before requesting a student transfer.

Step 2

Parents/guardians must complete Student Transfer Request Form Attachment I (PDF). Please make sure to include an email address on this form. Parents/guardians should retain a copy for their personal records.

Step 3

Parents/guardians must attach Verification of Child Care Form (PDF) only if the lack of available and affordable child care in their school attendance area is the reason for the transfer request.

Parents/guardians must attach Student Transfer Request Addendum Attachment II (PDF) only if the reason for the student transfer request is extenuating circumstances for physical or psychological reasons.

Step 4

Parents/guardians submit the completed Student Transfer Request Form and any additional attachments, if required, to the student's zoned school electronic by the specified deadline.

All Student Transfer Request forms should be submitted to the registrar at the student's zoned school.

If you cannot submit the form via email, please viste to the website of your student's zoned school to determine the mailing address to which the form should be sent. It is preferred that forms be sent via email, if possible.

Step 5

The principal at the student's zoned school signs the Student Transfer Request form and sends it to the principal of the requested school.

Step 6

The requested school principal reviews the Student Transfer Request documents and makes a decision about accepting or denying the transfer.

Step 7

The requested school principal sends information about their decision to the email address listed on the Student Transfer Request form. If no email address is provided, notifications may be made by U.S. mail or phone call.

Step 8

If the transfer is denied, the parent/guardian may choose to appeal the decision.

Grades 9-12 Student Transfer Request Procedures

All PDF documents should be downloaded and saved to your computer and opened in the Adobe PDF program. This will enable you to use the "fill & sign" feature to complete the transfer form.

Step 1

Parents/guardians should read Regulation 721-2, "Student Transfers - High School," before requesting a student transfer.

Step 2

Parents/guardians must complete the Student Transfer Request Form Attachment I (PDF). Please make sure to include an email address on this form. Parents must retain a copy for their personal records.

Step 3

Parents/guardians must attach Student Transfer Request Addendum Attachment II only if the reason for the student transfer request is for extenuating circumstances.

Step 4

Parents/guardians submit the completed Student Transfer Request Form and any additional attachments, if required, to the student's zoned school electronic by the specified deadline.

All Student Transfer Request forms should be submitted to the registrar at the student's zoned school.

If you cannot submit the form via email, please viste to the website of your student's zoned school to determine the mailing address to which the form should be sent. It is preferred that forms be sent via email, if possible.

Step 5

The zoned school principal signs the Student Transfer Request form and sends it to the principal of the requested school.

Step 6

The requested school principal reviews the Student Transfer Request documents and makes a decision about accepting or denying the transfer.

Step 7

The requested school principal sends information about their decision to the email address listed on the Student Transfer Request form. If no email address is provided, notifications may be made by U.S. mail or phone call.

Step 8

If the transfer is denied, the parent/guardian may choose to appeal the decision.

Appeals Process

If a transfer is denied by the requested school principal, an appeal letter may be submitted to the College, Career, and Student Support Department.

In the appeal letter, the parent/guardian needs to provide detailed information and reasoning why the transfer should be approved. See below for guidelines:

  • The deadline for grade 1-12 student transfer appeals is June 1.
  • Appeal requests for kindergarten students who were registered before June 1 shall be in writing to the Supervisor of Elementary Counseling and Related Services by June 30.
  • Appeal requests for kindergarten students who were registered after June 1 shall be in writing to the Supervisor of Elementary Counseling and Related Services within 30 days of registration.
  • The Supervisor of Elementary Counseling and Related Services or the Supervisor of Secondary Counseling and Student Support Services in consultation with the Director of College, Career, and Student Support will review each case and approve or deny the transfer appeal request. This decision is final.

Student transfer appeals for students shouldbe submitted via email (administrative assistant email included). If you're unable to email your appeal, you appeal can be submitted by mail:

Grades 1-5

Email: Anne Henry, Supervisor Elementary School Counseling and Related Services, [email protected]

Mail: Anne Henry
Edward L. Kelly Leadership Center
College, Career, and Student Support Department
PO Box 389
Manassas, VA 20108

Grades 6-12

Email: Jane Prince, Supervisor of Secondary School Counseling and Related Services, [email protected]

Mail: Jane Prince
Edward L. Kelly Leadership Center
College, Career, and Student Support Department
PO Box 389
Manassas, VA 20108