Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) | Registration & Transfers
Frequently Asked Questions About Registration | Click to Expand
How do we register for school?
For new students registering for the current school year, please visit our How to Register for the 2023-24 (CURRENT) School Year page for directions. If you are applying for your child to join us for the next school year, please see our How to Register for the 2024-25 (NEXT) School Year page. Please ensure you are registering for the correct school year or you will have to start over.
Which schools are part of the San Carlos School District?
The District has eight schools - Arundel Elementary, Brittan Acres Elementary, Heather Elementary, White Oaks Elementary, Arroyo Upper Elementary, Mariposa Upper Elementary, Central Middle School, and Tierra Linda Middle School. We also have Early Learning Center/Preschool classes on each of our elementary campuses.
How can I check if our property falls under SCSD, and which school we are zoned to?
Check our School Locator (found under Enrollment > School Boundaries - link at the bottom) and enter your address. If your residence falls within the boundaries of SCSD you will be advised which schools you are zoned to. Please note that the school district boundaries are not identical to the civic boundaries of the City of San Carlos. Once you are registered we will confirm which school you are assigned. We cannot guarantee you would be assigned your home school. This is always dependent on spots being available at the time of registration. If your home school is full you would be overflowed to one of our other elementary/upper elementary/middle schools.
We are soon moving into the district but have not secured a property yet. Can we register now?
Please wait to register until you have secured a property and have either a lease or sales contract to provide as evidence of residence. You will also need to provide two utility bills, but if these have not been issued yet you can provide letters of connection instead, as long as they have the property address and resident's name on them.
What Proofs of Residency are Required for Registration?
Please see our Required Registration Documents page for more information.
We are currently living with another family member that is resident within SCSD. How can we register our child that also lives with us to attend an SCSD school?
You would need to submit a notarized Residence Affidavit stating this and also supply 2 utility bills in the name of the resident. Affidavit forms can be downloaded from our website on the enrollment page.
What proof of immunization is required? Do you need the doctor's signed form?
Please see our Immunizations & Health Forms page for more information. A document downloaded from your provider's website is sufficient, as long as it has all the details and the physician's letterhead.
We would like our child to attend a school other than the one we are zoned to within SCSD.
Once you have registered you would need to submit an Intradistrict Transfer request in addition to your registration. We would review this and then advise if a spot is available in your requested school. You may be waitlisted if space is not available in the grade level you have requested. See our Transfer Requests page for more information.
If my child attends preschool in the District, do I still need to register as a new student?
Yes, preschool students currently enrolled in one of our SCSD preschools must still complete the registration process to be enrolled in TK or Kindergarten. If your child is currently enrolled in one of our SCSD preschool classes, they are not yet a matriculated student and are required to register for TK/Kindergarten.
What is Transitional Kindergarten (TK)?
Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is a bridge between preschool and kindergarten for children turning five-years old. It provides young learners a head start and the opportunity to learn and grow in an environment that is tailored to meet their academic and social needs. Please see our Transitional Kindergarten page for more information
Is my child eligible for Transitional Kindergarten?
For the upcoming 2024-25 school year, students are eligible to enter the following grade levels based on their birthdate:
- In 2023–24, TK students are eligible if they turn 5 between September 2 and April 2
- In 2024–25, TK students are eligible if they turn 5 between September 2 and June 2
- In 2025–26, TK students are eligible if they will have their fourth birthday by September 1 of the school year
TK & Kindergarten Eligibility Chart by DOB for California
If your child is not eligible for TK/K based on their birthdate, SCSD has excellent Early Learning/Preschool Programs for 2-4 year olds located on all of our elementary school campuses. Please visit our San Carlos Early Learning Center/Preschool page for more information.
When do we find out if our child is an Early Bird or Late Bird for Kindergarten?
Kindergarten students start and end times will vary depending on their “Early Bird” or “Late Bird” assignment. Early Birds start their day at 8:20 am and end an hour earlier than the regular school schedule. Late Birds start an hour later at 9:20 am and end at the same time as the regular school schedule. Schedules are set at each school site and campuses will notify families of placement in early August. There are various factors considered when placing students which include availability, families with siblings, those with financial burdens and the students age.
Do I have to register my student every year?
No. New Student Registration is only for students who will be new to the district. Re-enrollment/Back-to-School Forms for current students will be sent directly to parents/guardians via email in the spring, typically in April.
When planning a move, please use our School Locator tool to verify your new address is in the SCSD attendance boundaries. As a reminder, students must live in the district to attend our schools. If your new residence is outside our attendance boundaries, you will need to apply for and receive an approved Interdistrict Transfer to continue attending school in San Carlos. The required documents for an address change are below. Please email the documents to your school secretary.
Can my child attend San Carlos schools if we don't live in the district?
Registration into the San Carlos School District begins with residency. You must live in the SCSD attendance boundaries to attend our schools or receive an approved Interdistrict Transfer, please see our Transfer Request website for more information. For more information refer to our AR 5111.1 District Residency.
Where will my children go to high school - 9th-12th Grade?
How do I get a transcript for my child?
Contact the school office where your child last attended to request a transcript.
Frequently Asked Questions About INTRADISTRICT Transfers | Click to Expand
How do I transfer my student to another school within SCSD?
SCSD will begin accepting Intradistrict Transfer Requests for students that are registered and live within the San Carlos School District boundaries on February 1, 2024. The deadline to submit an Intradistrict Transfer Request is Friday, March 1. Completion of the Intradistrict Transfer form is not a school registration, please ensure you have also registered for the 2024-25 school year.
Intradistrict Transfer Requests are for San Carlos School District residents ONLY. If you do not live within the boundaries of SCSD, please see our Transfer Request page for more information on the Interdistrict Transfer process into SCSD from another school district.
- Parents who apply by the deadline will receive a transfer status/waitlist notification email by Friday, March 15 by 4:00 pm.
- Families that submit a transfer request after the deadline will be placed on the transfer wait list in the order the transfer request was received.
- All students will be placed on a waitlist as transfers are limited and approved in the spring after Priority Registration has ended and space availability can be determined.
- Siblings and students of SCSD employees will receive preference into their requested school.
- Students who are given the approval to transfer will remain enrolled at the new school through the highest grade level offered at that school and will continue on that track for upper elementary and middle school, as their transfer school becomes their new “home” school.
- Please plan to attend your neighborhood school unless you receive communication that your transfer has been granted.
- Transfer requests are granted only if there is room in the school and grade level requested.
- A transfer request is not a school registration and is not a guarantee of enrollment.
- All transfer requests must adhere to Board Policies on enrollment priority for neighborhood residents, class size, and consistency of program quality across all schools.
- Once a transfer request is approved, if you wish to return to your original “home” school, you must apply for an Intradistrict Transfer to return. The request will only be granted if there is space available in the grade level requested.
- All transfer waitlists expire once the school year begins.
Frequently Asked Questions about INTERDISTRICT Transfers | Click to Expand
Can we attend San Carlos schools if we don't live in the district?
Registration into the San Carlos School District begins with residency. You must live in the SCSD attendance boundaries to attend our schools or receive an approved Interdistrict Transfer, please see our Transfer Request website for more information. For more information refer to our AR 5111.1 District Residency.
Who receives priority for Interdistrict Transfers?
Siblings of currently enrolled students and children of San Carlos School District employees who work more than 20 hours per week receive transfer preference as long as there is space available in the grade-level and school requested.
If I work in the City of San Carlos, do I receive employee transfer preference?
No, only children of San Carlos School District employees receive preference.
How and when will I be notified of my transfer status?
All Interdistrict Transfer requests for the 2024-25 school year received by the deadline of Friday, March 1, 2024 will receive a letter of confirmation and are waitlisted until we have completed enrolling all in-district students. Families that submit a transfer request after the March 1 deadline will be placed on the transfer wait list in the order the transfer request was received. If space becomes available, we will reach out typically between the end of May-mid-August.
More information:
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- Plan to attend school in your home school district unless you receive communication that your transfer has been granted.
- A transfer request is not a school registration and is not a guarantee of enrollment.
- All transfer requests expire on the first day of school. Transfers will not be granted after that day. There are no mid-year transfers.
Questions about Preschool, Before & Afterschool Programs, Universal Meals Program & Free/Reduced Lunch Program | Click to Expand
Can we apply to go to the Early Learning Center/Preschool at any site?
Yes, preschool registration is not dependent on your address. Additionally, we have a new, part-day, California State Preschool Program (CSPP) class at Arundel from 9:00 am -12:00 pm where student tuition may be covered for families that qualify, based on income. Please contact the ELC Admin Assistant, Jackie Gee at [email protected] for information and visit our San Carlos Early Learning Center page.
Are Morning and After School Extended Day programs available?
Yes, we partner with several different providers for before and after school care. Please see our Afterschool and Extended Learning Programs page for links to these organizations for a deeper knowledge and understanding of the programs and times being offered.
Universal Meal Program
SCSD offers breakfast and lunch at no cost to all preschool-8th grade students - regardless of the student's Free or Reduced-Price meal status. Families have the choice to participate in the District’s meal program, but participation is not required. Please visit our Universal Meal Program page for more information.
Free and Reduced Price Meal Application
In addition to signing-up to receive free breakfast and/or lunch through our Universal Meal Program, we also ask that you complete the Free & Reduced Price EZ Meal Application to benefit your family, school and community even if you do not believe your will qualify based on your income. Completing this form helps your school receive more funding to support your child's learning environment. The application is used to calculate school funding levels from the state and federal level. Please visit our Free & Reduced-Price (EZ Meal) Application page for more information. For questions or concerns about the Free and Reduced Lunch Program, please send your email to: [email protected].