1. Parent/Guardian must contact the district of residence to initiate this process. A signed interdistrict attendance permit application must be obtained from your district of residence. If your district of residence is located within San Diego County, please select one of the following: Application for Interdistrict Attendance Permit / Solicitud de Permiso para Asistencia Interdistrital
2. Include a copy of your child's latest Section 504 Educational Plan or special education Individual Education Plan (IEP) if your child is supported by one of these plans.
    
3. The completed, signed application, along with any attachments, must be emailed to your district of residence. Once your district of residence processes your application, they will send it to us directly.
    
4. Incomplete applications will be returned to the parent/guardian.
    
5. Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applications may be denied due to limited district resources including lack of space in the relevant grade level. Please note several schools are currently near or at capacity. Per district policy, transfers to these schools will be limited and/or unavailable.
    
6. While an application is pending, the student must attend school in the district of residence.
    
7. Parent/guardian will be notified by Student Services via email of the final decision. If your transfer is approved, you must enroll at the requested school within two weeks of receiving the email confirming your application has been approved.

Student Services will notify the parent/guardian by email of their decision.

Education Code 46601 provides the following timeframes for notification:

• For requests submitted during the regular school year, districts shall respond within 30 days of submitting the request.
• For requests submitted for admission in the subsequent school year up to 30 days prior to the start of the subsequent school year, districts shall respond with 14 calendar days of the start of the subsequent school year.

While your application is pending, the student must attend school in the district of residence, a charter school, a private school, or other option complying with California compulsory education requirements.

Student Services will notify the parent/guardian by email of their decision.

Education Code 46601 provides the following timeframes for notification:

• For requests submitted during the regular school year, districts shall respond within 30 days of submitting the request.
• For requests submitted for admission in the subsequent school year up to 30 days prior to the start of the subsequent school year, districts shall respond with 14 calendar days of the start of the subsequent school year.

While your application is pending, the student must attend school in the district of residence, a charter school, a private school, or other option complying with California compulsory education requirements.

1. A permit for interdistrict attendance is valid only while conditions stated on the permit are maintained, and the permit may be revoked for failure to comply with conditions (e.g. attendance, citizenship, scholarship).
2. Should the student's residence change from one district to another, you will need to apply to your new district of residence to remain in SMUSD.
3. When a student on a current Interdistrict Attendance Permit promotes to middle and/or high school (i.e., grade 5 to 6 or grade 8 to 9), and wants to remain in the district of desired attendance, the parent/guardian will need to reapply for an Interdistrict Attendance Permit. Please note students attending Double Peak School and La Mirada Academy do not have to reapply for an attendance permit when promoting from grade 5 to 6.
4. Transfers for grades 9-12 may result in the student being ineligible to play CIF sports for a period of time. Eligibility determinations are subject to the rules of the San Diego Section of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF-SDS) and its member conferences and leagues. If you should have any questions regarding eligibility, the phone number for CIF-SDS is (619) 292-8165.
5. Transportation is not available to students on an approved transfer.

Within 30 calendar days of the district's failure or refusal to issue a permit, you may appeal to the county board of educaion having jurisdiction over the district of residence of the parent/guardian. Failure to appeal within the required time is good cause for denial of an appeal. An appeal shall be accepted only upon verification by the county board's designee that all appeals within the districts have been exhaused. Contact Student Services at transfers@smusd.org for further information on SMUSD's appeal process. 

For information on appeals to the San Diego County Board of Education, contact the Department of Student Support Services at the San Diego County Office of Edcuation at (858) 292-3786.

Families living within SMUSD boundaries and wanting to attend a school outside of our district can apply for an Interdistrict Attendance Permit at any time. Click one of the links below to complete your application. Completed applications should be emailed to transfers@smusd.org.

• Application for Interdistrict Attendance Permit
• Solicitud de Permiso para Asistencia Interdistrital

Families who live within the SMUSD boundaries and want to attend a school other than their school of residence can apply for an intradistrict transfer. Applications will be accepted through March 31, 2025.

Click here to apply!

If your student is new to SMUSD and you want to request a intradistrict transfer, please submit your application by to March 31, 2025. New student enrollment opens on February 1, 2025. Please complete the new student enrollment process at your school of residence. Applications will not be considered until students are enrolled at their school of residence. 

Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applications may be denied due to limited district resources including lack of space in the relevant grade level. Please note several schools are currently near or at capacity. Per district policy, transfers to these schools will be limited and/or unavailable.

Students currently enrolled in SMUSD who are moving from elementary to middle or middle to high school must select classes at their school of residence pending the results of the transfer request. If the transfer is approved, you will need to contact the approved school to complete a new course selection request for the approved school.

Families with more than one student in the household must complete an application for each student. If one student is approved, their sibling is not automatically guaranteed a spot at the same school. Priority is given to keep siblings together, however, it is not guaranteed.

Parent/guardian will be notified by Student Services via email of the final decision. If your transfer is approved, you must enroll at the requested school within two weeks of receiving the email confirming your application has been approved.
 

SMUSD encourages new families to enroll as soon as possible to ensure there are seats available in their school of residence. Since class sizes are limited, parents/guardians may be notified of the status of their intradistrict transfer request just prior to the start of the school year (early to mid August). We appreciate your patience.

A intradistrict transfer permit is valid only while conditions stated on the permit are maintained, and the permit may be revoked for failure to comply with conditions (e.g. satisfactory attendance (90% or greater), citizenship and scholarship.

This policy shall be interpreted consistently with the District’s policies regarding nondiscrimination, victims of violence, children of active duty military parents/guardians, and McKinney-Vento eligible students.

When a school has reached capacity at all grades and is closed, the District will not approve new Intradistrict transfer requests for the school until such time as the Superintendent or Board determines that the school is no longer at capacity.
Transportation is not available to students on an approved intradistrict permit.