Enrollment Management
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Controlled Open Enrollment
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Parents who want to send their child to a school other than their designated residential attendance zone school may apply to any SDMC K-12 public school during Controlled Open Enrollment (COE).
COE is an opportunity for parents to request enrollment for their children to innovative programs like International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE), WOZ-Ed Pathways, Visual & Performing Arts, Dual Language, and Career Academies in areas such as Design & Engineering, Business & International Studies, Medical and more.
Contact Schools to Schedule a Tour/Visit
Lottery
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Parents may apply for Controlled Open Enrollment during the lottery window for the upcoming school year. Late applications, submitted after the lottery window, will be added to the requested school(s) waitlist. After the annual COE lottery is complete, the waitlist is used to fill Available Seats by School/Grade during the school year.
Approval of COE applications is subject to class size and/or school capacity. Application results are emailed to parents.
2025-2026 COE application is available for waitlist.
2024-2025 COE applications are closed.
Waitlist
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After the annual COE lottery is complete, the waitlist is used to fill Available Seats by School/Grade during the school year.
Applications that are not selected during the lottery, and late applications submitted after the lottery, are automatically placed on the waitlist for the requested school(s). The waitlist is purged before the next lottery.
School Year 2025-2026
Waitlist applications are scheduled to be reviewed on the following dates (*review schedule subject to change):
05/2025
Students will be re-assigned to their approved school, effective for the first day of the 2025-2026 school year.
8/2025
Students will be re-assigned to their approved school, effective immediately.
10/2025
Students will be re-assigned to their approved school for the second quarter, effective 10/2025.
12/2025
Students will be re-assigned to their approved school for the second semester, effective 1/2026.
Appeals
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The ENROLLING PARENT may submit an Appeal for denied Out-of-zone Requests and wait-listed COE applications.
Using the form titled ‘APPEAL’ in their FOCUS parent portal account, the ENROLLING PARENT must submit a written statement that explains why they feel the denial would pose a serious and continuing hardship that cannot reasonably be eliminated or reduced by means other than reassignment.
The Appeal MUST INCLUDE a written statement and supporting documentation such as, but not limited to:
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- Legal documentation
- Medical documentation
The District Appeals Committee will review Appeals in order of submission, and decisions are final.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Do I need to apply for COE every year?
No. Students are automatically re-enrolled at their CURRENT school (including students approved for COE) for the next school year until they reach the highest grade offered at that school.
When a student transitions from Elementary to Middle school, or from Middle to High school, parents must apply for COE if they want their child to attend a school other than their zoned school.
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If my child is approved for COE, can they ride the bus to school?
Students approved for COE are not eligible for school bus transportation except for Johnson K-8 (IB), Palmetto High (AICE), and Southeast High (IB). Transportation of students approved for COE to/from all other schools is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.
A hub bus stop (central location) will be designated at a school site for the three eligible programs. Under the Florida Administrative Code, parents/guardians will be responsible for arranging transportation to/from the hub bus stop, to ensure the safety of their student(s) while traveling to/from the hub stop, and to supervise their student(s) while waiting for the school bus at the hub stop.
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How do I know if a school has room?
These are the current Available Seats by School/Grade.
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What if I change my mind and want to enroll at my attendance zone school?
If you choose to cancel your COE assignment, the enrolling parent must submit a completed and signed Rescind Request Form.
Rescind Request Form - English
Rescind Request Form - Spanish
How to Apply
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For specific instructions on how to apply, select your enrollment status below.
COE applications must be completed/signed by the ENROLLING parent/guardian via their FOCUS account. The student applicant must be active, linked and enabled to the ENROLLING parent/guardian FOCUS account before the enrolling parent can access the COE application.
In FOCUS, click on your student's name first.
Then make sure you select the desired program and school year:Controlled Open Enrollment - This is the general application for grades K-12.
Special Program Choice - AICE/IB This is the application for advanced curriculum programs with additional eligibility requirements.
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Current SDMC Students
For students currently attending a public school in the School District of Manatee County, the ENROLLING parent/guardian may access the Controlled Open Enrollment application via their FOCUS account.
If you do not have a FOCUS account, or your student is not linked to your FOCUS account, please follow the instructions at https://www.manateeschools.net/focus.
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Inactive (Previously Enrolled) SDMC Students
To participate in COE, the student must be marked "Active" in FOCUS.
Returning K-12 students that were previously enrolled at an SDMC public school already have a Student ID# assigned in FOCUS, but they are marked "Inactive".
Parents must contact their student's attendance zone school or the Office of Student Assignment to reactivate their student in FOCUS.
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NEW Students - Grades K-12
For K-12 students that have NEVER been enrolled in a School District of Manatee County school or program, the parent/guardian must create a FOCUS account, AND complete Registration for their child, BEFORE they can access the COE application.
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New Students - VPK
During COE, families have an opportunity to select the VPK school site that will best meet their student's needs.
Children who turn four (4) years old by September 1st, and have a valid VPK Certificate of Eligibility are eligible to participate in the School District of Manatee County's VPK Program during that school year.
Please carefully follow the instructions at https://www.manateeschools.net/vpk.
