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Controlled Open Enrollment (School Choice)

School attendance zones permit parents to enroll their children in a school other than the one to which they have been assigned.  Parents or guardians requesting a student reassignment must complete and submit an application for consideration to the District Hardship Committee. Please note that transportation is not provided for reassignment requests.

For more information or for a list of schools currently at capacity (closed), please see the chart below or call at (941) 255-0808 Option 3.

 

 

2025-26 Controlled Open Enrollment Process

  • School attendance zones permit parents to enroll their children in a school other than the one to which they have been assigned. 
  • Parents or guardians requesting a student reassignment must complete an application for submittal to the District Hardship Committee.
  • During any month, parents may submit an Application for Student Reassignment if they wish to move their child to a school outside their district as long as that school is not at capacity enrollment.
  • No child will be reassigned to a school that is at capacity.
  • Parents may obtain an Application for Student Reassignment from any school, Murdock District Office, or CCPS Website.
  • The Application for Student Reassignment must be submitted to the Office of the Assistant Superintendent of School Support for review by the Hardship Committee.
  • Students will be able to change schools after the Hardship Committee's approval.
  • Students seeking reassignment to a “Year Round elementary school” must seek reassignment no later than ten (10) school days from the start of the Year Round School Calendar.
  • Transportation to and from the reassigned school is the sole responsibility of the parent/guardian.
  • Potential funding for student transportation may be offered through state endorsed Scholarship Funding Organizations (SFO).  These organizations manage various state sponsored funding opportunities, such as the Hope Scholarship Program and the Family Empowerment Scholarship.  Parents/Guardians are encouraged to research potential transportation funding options located at the Department of Education website located at


 

Controlled Open Enrollment Chart 2025-2026 School Year    

Student capacity numbers will be updated every 12 weeks per State Statute.

School Capacities will be updated on: November 1, 2025, February 1, 2026, and May 1, 2026.

  • In addition to the January Controlled Open Enrollment window, parents of kindergarten students have the option of Controlled Open Enrollment by completing a Student Reassignment Notification form during Kindergarten Round-up during the months of April/May.
  • If a high school student is reassigned, it must be in accordance with the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) rules. Student-athletes will be asked to complete an "Affidavit of Compliance with the FHSAA Policy on Athletic Recruiting".
  • Upon recommendation of the principals and the review and approval of the Hardship Committee, a student may be returned to the assigned school in his/her attendance area for the following reasons: discipline and/or attendance problems; other changes in circumstances. ()
School Programmatic Capacity Actual Enrollment Available Grade Level Capacity School Enrollment Status
Deep Creek 792 729  
East 792 710 CLOSED KG
Kingsway 688 590 CLOSED 3
Liberty 792 759 CLOSED 3,4 & 5
Meadow Park 792 661 CLOSED 5
Myakka River 560 593 CLOSED
Neil Armstrong 792 710 CLOSED 2,3,4 & 5
Peace River 792 489  
Sallie Jones 676 601  
Vineland 560 486 CLOSED K, 3 & 4
School Programmatic Capacity Actual Enrollment Available Grade Level Capacity School Enrollment Status
L. A. Ainger 968 619  
Murdock 858 650  
Port Charlotte 1049 836  
Punta Gorda 1260 1162  
School Programmatic Capacity Actual Enrollment Available Grade Level Capacity School Enrollment Status
Charlotte 1760 1911 CLOSED
Lemon Bay 1285 1319 CLOSED
Port Charlotte 1840 1708  

 

School Programmatic Capacity Actual Enrollment Available Capacity
FSW Collegiate High School 415 379 Please refer to the individual charter school website for updated available capacity
Babcock Ranch Neighborhood School 1225 1250 Please refer to the individual charter school website for updated available capacity
  • School Programmatic Capacity Actual Enrollment Available Grade Level Capacity School Enrollment Status
    Deep Creek 792 729  
    East 792 710 CLOSED KG
    Kingsway 688 590 CLOSED 3
    Liberty 792 759 CLOSED 3,4 & 5
    Meadow Park 792 661 CLOSED 5
    Myakka River 560 593 CLOSED
    Neil Armstrong 792 710 CLOSED 2,3,4 & 5
    Peace River 792 489  
    Sallie Jones 676 601  
    Vineland 560 486 CLOSED K, 3 & 4
  • School Programmatic Capacity Actual Enrollment Available Grade Level Capacity School Enrollment Status
    L. A. Ainger 968 619  
    Murdock 858 650  
    Port Charlotte 1049 836  
    Punta Gorda 1260 1162  
  • School Programmatic Capacity Actual Enrollment Available Grade Level Capacity School Enrollment Status
    Charlotte 1760 1911 CLOSED
    Lemon Bay 1285 1319 CLOSED
    Port Charlotte 1840 1708  

     

  • School Programmatic Capacity Actual Enrollment Available Capacity
    FSW Collegiate High School 415 379 Please refer to the individual charter school website for updated available capacity
    Babcock Ranch Neighborhood School 1225 1250 Please refer to the individual charter school website for updated available capacity

2026-27 Upcoming Controlled Open Enrollment Process

  • During the January Controlled Open Enrollment Window, any child of school age who resides in Charlotte County may apply to attend a school out of his/her assigned attendance zone as long as that school is not at capacity enrollment.
  • The appropriate reassignment form to be completed for the January Controlled Open Enrollment Window is the Student Reassignment Notification form. Parents may obtain this form from any public school within the district, the Murdock District Office, or the CCPS website.
  • The Student Reassignment Notification form must be submitted to obtain a student reassignment and is accepted only during the month of January. This is the only time that reassignment requests are guaranteed unless school boundaries are at capacity.
  • A random lottery, to be conducted during the first two weeks of February, will be used in situations where there are more requests than available seats at a particular school.
  • Out-of-County students may not supplant In-County students at any point in the Controlled Open Enrollment process.
  • Students seeking reassignment to a “Year Round elementary school” must seek reassignment no later than ten (10) school days from the start of the Year Round School Calendar.
  • Students who are aid dependent of a former or current member of the United States military, as defined by F.S.1003.051 (b), will be provided preferential treatment.
  • Transportation to and from the reassigned school is the sole responsibility of the parent/guardian unless the student is enrolled in a specialized academic magnet program at the secondary level.
  • Potential funding for student transportation may be offered through state-endorsed Scholarship Funding Organizations (SFO).  These organizations manage various state-sponsored funding opportunities, such as the Hope Scholarship Program and the Family Empowerment Scholarship.  Parents/Guardians are encouraged to research potential transportation funding options located at the Department of Education website located at: 

Students residing within Charlotte County may, subject to the policies and procedures of the School Board, attend any school within the District under the procedures outlined in the reassignment request form. The School District shall have full and complete authority in the matter of the assignment and placement of students in educational programs.

Athletic participation will be governed by the rules of the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA). 

Students residing outside of Charlotte County may, subject to the policies and procedures of the School Board, apply for reassignment under the procedures outlined in the Out-of-County application.

  • Students residing within Charlotte County may, subject to the policies and procedures of the School Board, attend any school within the District under the procedures outlined in the reassignment request form. The School District shall have full and complete authority in the matter of the assignment and placement of students in educational programs.

    Athletic participation will be governed by the rules of the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA). 

  • Students residing outside of Charlotte County may, subject to the policies and procedures of the School Board, apply for reassignment under the procedures outlined in the Out-of-County application.