Intradistrict K-5 School Transfer Application
In 2026, the ACSD Board revised Board Policy C30, School Assignment and Intra-District Transfer, to offer more flexibility to families when choosing an elementary school for their child(ren).
All students are first assigned to the school where their parents or legal guardians live. This policy allows a fair, transparent, student-centered process for ACSD families to request a transfer to another K-5 school within ACSD.
The application window normally begins in January and is open to any student entering K-5 the next school year. However, if a family is new to the District, they may contact the Superintendent's office to apply outside of the normal application window by contacting Darcie Arensmeyer, Assistant to the Superintendent: 802-382-1277 or darensmeyer (at) acsdvt.org.
Eligibility
A family is eligible to use the policy if:
1. They have a student entering Kindergarten through 5th grade during the following school year, and
2. They live in an ACSD town (Bridport, Cornwall, Ripton, Middlebury, Salisbury, Shoreham, Weybridge)
Important Notes & FAQs
- This policy and application are only for families who want to transfer to a school other than their assigned school. If you wish to remain at the school that you are assigned based on residency, do not fill out the application.
- Please ensure the Superintendent's Office receives your application before the deadline. Transfer requests will not be considered after this window.
- Any family who moves to the ACSD outside of the application window may apply for intradistrict transfer outside of the application window by contacting the Superintendent's office: 802-382-1274.
- All applications will be processed at the same time. There is no benefit to getting your application in earlier in the window.
- If you receive a wait-list spot, a spot may open after the official transfer process has ended.
- If you are applying for siblings, each child needs a separate application unless you want their decisions to be linked (ex: If you have two children and you would only accept a new school placement if both of those children can attend).
- In some cases, a transfer may be denied if it results in making the class your child is leaving too small.
- If the number of transfer requests for a classroom exceeds the number of spots available, an anonymous lottery will be held for the spots in that classroom.
- After transferring into a new school, the student is assumed to be a member of the new school community and does not need to apply again in the following years. If the child does not wish to stay at their new school, they must use the transfer application process.
- You will be asked about your transportation needs if you receive a spot at a new school. ACSD will make every effort possible to support a family with transportation.
Please contact Darcie Arensmeyer, Assistant to the Superintendent, with questions 802-382-1277 or darensmeyer (@) acsdvt.org.
Timeline & Application Window
2026-2027 was the first year we implemented the new school transfer policy. Here is the timeline we used. We anticipate the 2027-2028 process will follow a similar timeline:
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January 30-March 2, 2026: The application window opened for families to express interest in a school transfer
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Early-Mid March 2026: Applications were processed & a lottery was held for the transfer requests that exceeded available slots.
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Late March, 2026: Families were notified of their new school or waitlist status for the 2026-27 school year and accepted or declined their placement for the 2026-27 school year.
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August, 2026: Students begin in their new school