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Choice Transfers/Variances

The school a student attends is determined by each student's residential address. If a student wishes to attend a school that does not serve the area of his/her residence, parents/guardians must request a Choice Transfer or variance. Choice Transfers and variances are granted for one full school year, or until the end of the current school year. Families wishing to remain at their non-residential school must remember to (re)apply each year.

The below list of schools have been determined to be at capacity for the remainder of the 2025-2026 school year and 2026-2027 school year (as of January 15, 2026):

  • Cascade View Elementary
  • Cathcart Elementary
  • Central Emerson Elementary
  • Dutch Hill Elementary
  • Little Cedars Elementary
  • Machias Elementary
  • Riverview Elementary
  • Seattle Hill Elementary
  • Totem Falls Elementary

For the 2026-2027 school year, Choice Transfers and variances will be accepted for consideration/review beginning Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

Choice Transfers and variances may be approved or denied based on:

  • Space or program availability and/or class size
  • Student's disciplinary records
  • Student's attendance patterns

Contact

Sonya Lang
Choice Transfers/Variances
360-563-7240
choicetransfers@sno.wednet.edu

Quick Links

Washington State Choice Transfer Request Portal

student enrollment options-
learning by choice

Types of Choice Transfers/Variances

Other school district to Snohomish School District school - Choice Transfer Request: 

  • If you live outside of district and want to attend a Snohomish School District school, you can apply for a Choice Transfer Request through this link.
  • Additional information needed for consideration:
    • Copy of attendance record (previous/current year)
    • Copy of discipline report
    • Copy of IEP/504 (If applicable)

Snohomish School District school to another Snohomish School District school - In-District Variance Form: 

Sonya Lang, Snohomish School District 
1601 Avenue D
Snohomish, WA 98290

Snohomish School District to another school district - Resident Release/Choice Transfer Request: 

General information

Renewing Choice Transfers and variances
Families must (re) apply for a Choice Transfer and variance every year that they want their child to attend a school that is not their neighborhood school.  Choice Transfers and variances may be approved or denied based on:

  • Space or program availability and/or class size
  • Student's disciplinary records
  • Student's attendance patterns

Applications received after April 15 and prior to August 22 will be considered on a case-by-case basis and considered on a first-come, first-served (of the original request) basis relative to each school’s enrollment and available staffing. Students would then be expected to enroll in their neighborhood school.

In all cases where the district approves a variance, the student or the student's parents/guardians shall be solely responsible for transportation to and from school.

Notification
Applications will be reviewed in the order they are received beginning February 18. The district shall provide all applicants with written notification of the approval or denial of the application within 45 days of receipt.

Right to appeal
Per RCW 28A.225.230(3) and WAC 392-137-190, parents/guardians have the right to appeal to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to determine if the district complied with state statute, regulations, district policy and procedures and if they were applied fairly and equitably. Additional information on student transfer appeals may be found at the OSPI Student Transfers website.

District policy and procedure
Full details of district policy and procedure are listed in School Board policy and procedure 3130/3130P, 3140 and 3141/3141P.