Frequently Asked Questions About Relocation

What school will my child attend? 

Where is the Registrar's Office?

Where do I register my child for school?

What do I need to take to the school to register my children?

What is the legal age of school attendance? 

How old must my child be to enroll in school? 

Can I elect to keep my child out of kindergarten?

How do I obtain a South Carolina immunization form?

I live with another family (shared housing). What do I need to do to register my children?

I just received my relative's child. What do I need to do to get this student enrolled?

My ward's parent is deceased. What do I need to get the student registered?

I am being deployed by the military and my child/ren will have to go to live with relatives (in Richland One). What do I do?

We recently moved. Can my child complete the school year in his/her current school?

When does the student transfer season begin?

How may I move my child to a school other than the one I'm zoned to attend?

Does transferring a student affect athletic eligibility?

I live in a neighboring school district. Can I apply for my child/ren to attend school in Richland One?

Where can I find school ratings/school report cards?

Question: What school will my child attend? 

Answer: Children attend the school serving the attendance zone in which their parent/guardian lives. To find out what school your child is zoned to attend, contact the Registrar's Office at 231-6944. If parents are divorced or legally separated, the child will be assigned based upon where the parent who has custody lives. 

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Question: Where is the Registrar's Office?

Answer: The Registrar's Office is located at the Lyon Street Student Services Center, 1310 Lyon Street.

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Question: Where do I register my child for school?

Answer: You register at the school you are zoned to attend.

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Question: What do I need to take to the school to register my children?

Answer: You need to have the following

• The student's birth certificate
• Social Security card
• South Carolina Immunization form. 
• Two (2) proofs of residence, such as utility bills, a contract or a lease must be provided. 
• The student's last report card or withdrawal paperwork from the previous school is needed as well. 

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Question: What is the legal age of school attendance? 

Answer: State law requires that students be enrolled in school from age 5-17.

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Question: How old must my child be to enroll in school? 

Answer:

• Children must be four years old on or before September 1 to enroll in the child development program. 
• Children must be five years old on or before September 1, to enroll in kindergarten.
• Children must be six years old on or before September 1
  to enroll in first grade.

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Question: Can I elect to keep my child out of kindergarten?

Answer: Parents who choose not to send their child to a public or private kindergarten must sign a waiver to that effect. Waiver forms are available at your local elementary school.

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Question: How do I obtain a South Carolina immunization form?

Answer: If your child is transferring from an out-of-state school, his/her health certificate should be taken to a doctor or clinic in South Carolina to have the previous information transferred to the South Carolina form. For additional information contact the school nurse.

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Question: I live with another family (shared housing). What do I need to do to register my children?

Answer: If proofs of residency are not in your name, you will not be able to register at the school. You first must contact the Registrar's Office at 231-6944 to receive a Proof of Residence form to take to the school.

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Question: I just received my relative's child. What do I need to do to get this student enrolled?

Answer: If you have a court order signed by a judge, you may take the document directly to the school to enroll the child. In all other cases, contact the Registrar's Office at 231-6944 for directions regarding verification of guardianship/custody.

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Question: My ward's parent is incarcerated; what do I need to do to enroll my new ward?

Answer: See answer above.

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Question: My ward's parent(s) is deceased, what do I need to get the student registered?

Answer: If you have a court order signed by a judge you may take the document directly to the school. Otherwise, you should contact the Registrar's Office regarding verification of guardianship/custody.

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Question: I am being deployed by the military and my child/ren will have to go to live with relatives (in Richland One). What do I do?

Answer: Your relative should bring the following to the Registrar's Office:

• a copy of your orders
• a power of attorney from you and
• two proofs of their residence.

The relatives will be asked to file a guardianship affidavit for educational rights at the Registrar's Office.

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Question: We recently moved. Can my child complete the school year in his/her current school?

Answer: If a student's permanent home address changes after the first marking period, the student will be given the option of remaining at the school s/he is attending for the remainder of that school year. This request must be made through the Registrar's Office. The family must present proof of the old address, the new address and a written release from their new school district (if the move is outside of Richland One). However, the student must enroll in his/her zoned school at the beginning of the next school year. 

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Question: When does the student transfer season begin?

Answer: The student transfer season--- for the upcoming school year---begins on March 1 of each year. Should March 1 fall on a weekend or non-work day, the starting date is the next official workday. 

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Question: How may I move my child to a school other than the one I'm zoned to attend?

Answer: In certain cases, students may be assigned or transferred to another school. 
* The school board recognizes only six grounds for granting a transfer: Title I Option, programmatic, employee option, severe hardship, majority/minority; and child care (Policy JFABC). 

To initiate a transfer request, contact the Registrar's Office at 231-6944. Approval of transfers is granted on a case-by-case basis. No transfer will be granted for either personal preference or convenience alone. Further, transfers will be approved only when space is available at the receiving school.

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Question: Does transferring a student affect athletic eligibility? 

Answer: All transfers made without an actual change of address by parents interrupt a student's athletic eligibility in grades 7-12 for 365 days ( one full calendar year), effective on the date the change was made, under the rules of the S.C. High School League, which governs high school athletics. For more information, call the district 's athletic director at 231-7496.

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Question: I live in a neighboring school district. May I apply for my child/ren to attend school in Richland One?

Answer: Students whose parents or guardians live outside of Richland One must pay tuition equal to the amount provided for each student by local taxes. A request for such permission is made through the Registrar's Office. The Superintendent or his designee must grant approval.

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Question: Where can I find school ratings/school report cards?

Answer: School ratings/report card information is available at www.myscschools.com/reportcards/2002/

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