2023-2024 School Choice applications are accepted December 1-31, 2022.

School Choice allows a parent/guardian to request enrollment for their child(ren) in a School District of Manatee County K-12 public school that has not reached capacity.

Parents may use School Choice to enroll their children in 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.

Please note, students enrolled in School Choice are not eligible for school bus transportation with the exception of Johnson K-8 (IB), Palmetto High (AICE), and Southeast High (IB). Transportation of students to/from all other choice schools is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.

How it Works
School Choice is not first-come/ first-placed. Approval of school choice applications is subject to class size allocation capacities.

School choice applications are collected throughout the month of December and held until January when a lottery takes place. The lottery results are emailed to applicants in February/March.

How to Apply
During the application window (December 1-31, 2022), School Choice 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's FOCUS account for the enrolling parent to access the School Choice application.

Please select your enrollment status below for instructions:

Current SDMC Students
For students currently attending a public school in the School District of Manatee County, the ENROLLING parent/guardian may access the School Choice application by logging in to their FOCUS account during the choice application window (December 1-31, 2022).

If the enrolling parent does not have a FOCUS account, please create a FOCUS account.

INACTIVE (Previously Enrolled) SDMC Student
Former SDMC students already have a Student ID# assigned. Parents must contact the Office of Student Assignment to activate the student as an applicant in FOCUS.

Students New to the School District
If the student has NEVER enrolled in the School District of Manatee County, the parent/guardian must create a FOCUS account and register their child in the district's FOCUS student information system BEFORE accessing the application for school choice. Beginning November 19, 2022 go to Registration and select: “Click to enroll *NEW* K-12 Student for the first time.” Parents/guardians are encouraged to review the "Registration Checklist" as soon as possible, and allow extra time to gather and upload official documents that are required (such as a certified birth certificate, Florida Immunization Form, etc.).

Transportation
Students enrolled in School Choice are not eligible for school bus transportation with the exception of Johnson K-8 (IB), Palmetto High (AICE), and Southeast High (IB).

A hub bus stop (central location) will be designated at a school site for these three programs. Pursuant to 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.

Transportation of students to/from all other choice schools is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.

What about the current school year?
School Choice applications for the CURRENT school year, with the exception of AICE or IB programs, are not being accepted at this time. The enrolling parent may apply for AICE or IB school programs using the "Special Program Choice - AICE / IB Application" available in FOCUS under the applicant child's name.

For Hardship Transfer request details, please visit the Student Transfers page or contact the Office of Student Assignment.