Elementary School

Elementary School Options Application Timeline for School Year 2023-24

Application Window: CLOSED February 1, 4 p.m. – April 17, 4 p.m.
Application Deadline Monday, April 17, at 4 p.m.
Lottery* (online) May 2, at 1 p.m. (View the lottery)
Lottery Notification By midnight, May 8.
Accept/Decline May 19, 11:59 p.m.

Neighborhood and Targeted Transfers Application Timeline for School Year 2023-24

Application window: CLOSED Feb. 20 – April 17, 2023 at 4 p.m.
Lottery* (online) May 2, at 1 p.m. (View the lottery)
Families receive lottery results By midnight, May 8.
Deadline to accept/decline May 19, by 11:59 p.m.

*Families do NOT receive lottery results on the day of the automated lottery. Families are notified of their acceptance or placement on the waitlist by email and/or text after 4 p.m. on the date in the application timeline.

Option Schools:

Welcome to Kindergarten! Check out our video presentation to learn:

  • How to prepare for Kindergarten and what to expect
  • How to identify and register for your neighborhood school online or in-person
  • About option schools available to all students and how to apply
  • About the APS Extended Day program and how to register

Option Schools and Targeted Transfers – Lottery: If more applications are received than there are seats available, APS will conduct a random, double-blind lottery to determine admission.

  • The 2023-24 school-year lottery for elementary option schools will be held on Tuesday, May 2 at 1 p.m. View the online lottery.
    • Families DO NOT receive lottery results on the day of the automated lottery.
  • Families will be notified of their acceptance or placement on the waitlist by email and/or text on May 8 after 4 p.m.
  • Families must confirm or decline attendance to the school or program by May 19 at 11:59 p.m. 
  • If families do not accept or decline their seat by the deadline, their seat will be given to the next student on the waitlist.
  • If families apply to more than one school/program, their application will go into all lotteries simultaneously. 

Waitlists: Students who applied, but were not selected through the lottery process, will be placed in numerical order on a waitlist.

  • Applications received after the deadline are placed at the bottom of the existing waitlist for the upcoming school year.
  • When students on the waitlist are offered a seat, they have a one-week window to accept the slot. If the slot is not accepted within the one-week window, the offer will be rescinded and offered to the next student on the waitlist.
  • Option seats are continuously filled throughout the school year as seats become available.

Sibling Preference: Siblings who will be concurrently enrolled at the same elementary school will receive priority in admission.

Transportation: Transportation is available for students attending option schools/programs who live outside their school’s walk zone (View school bus eligibility maps).

  • All transportation for option school and programs is provided via hub stops. Hub stops are central locations—such as a community center or school—where students from several neighborhoods meet to catch the bus to their school and may be a longer distance from a student’s residence. Learn more.
  • Transportation is not provided for neighborhood transfers or administrative placements.

Registering for a Neighborhood School

Every student is guaranteed a space in the neighborhood school designated by their home address. Use the School Boundary (Attendance Zone) Locator to find your neighborhood school. Registration is required and can be completed online, at your neighborhood school, or by appointment at the APS Welcome Center.

  • Registration for school year 2023-24 begins on February 1, 2023.

Applying for an Option School

In order to be considered for an option school, families must submit an application online.  If more applications are received than there are seats available, APS will conduct a random, double-blind lottery to determine admission.All option school applicants are also encouraged to register for their neighborhood school.

  • If a space in an option school is offered to a family, the registration documentation provided will be transferred to the option school.
  • If a student is placed on a waitlist for an option school, registering at their neighborhood school guarantees the student will have a space for the upcoming school year.
  • Early neighborhood school registrations support APS with staffing projections and resource allocation.

For questions or assistance, call 703-228-8000 (option 3), email schooloptions@apsva.us or visit the APS Welcome Center at 2110 Washington Blvd for in-person support.