District accepting School Choice applications through February

In an effort to give parents more flexibility and control in the educational process for their children, Darlington County School District is again offering district-wide Expanded School Choice requests. The online application period for the 2023-24 school year will continue through Feb. 28.

Under the Expanded School Choice program, students who reside in Darlington County may request to attend any school in the county, except for the Darlington County Virtual Academy and Mayo High School for Math, Science, and Technology. Mayo High School already offers choice as part of its magnet program and is, therefore, not included in the Expanded School Choice program. Darlington County Virtual Academy serves students districtwide, regardless of where they are zoned, but has a separate application process through the Office of Innovative Programs.

Any student in Darlington County may apply for the Expanded School Choice program, regardless of whether that student is currently enrolled in a public school, a private school, or a home school. Through Feb. 28, parents can submit Expanded School Choice applications through the district’s website, www.dcsdschools. org.

Parents will be notified of their child’s lottery number by email on June 9 after a random selection lottery drawing. Notification emails of the students selected for the available slots will be sent on June 9, giving the selected students the opportunity to transfer to their choice school. The deadline for parents to request the change and confirm the transfer will be June 30. After the deadline passes, any available slots will be filled by the next available lottery number. Please note, the “Stay Put” deadline for Expanded School Choice is July 1. After this date, the student will remain at the school chosen through the end of the semester.

Please be aware that normal school registration will be held before the Expanded Choice notification date of June 9. Parents should go ahead register their child for their zoned school during normal registration. If the student is accepted in Expanded Choice, the registration will be transferred to the new school automatically.

Under the Expanded