Request a Transfer

Transfer Process

Knox County Schools is committed to providing every student in grades K–12 with an enriching educational experience that includes great educators in every school, high-quality instruction, various resources, and targeted support for students to be successful and prepared to be FUTURE-READY.

Our transfer process allows families school choice and students the opportunity to access specialized programming and course offerings that may not be available at their zone school. Approval of transfers is heavily based on available capacity, and an expectation that students on transfer will attend school regularly, progress academically, and exhibit behaviors conducive to a positive learning culture and graduation outcomes.

Transfer application window for 2027–2028

Parents or guardians may request a transfer during one of the two designated "transfer windows" for the 2027–28 school year. The transfer application window for the 2026–27 school year is closed.

The transfer windows for the 2027–28 school year will be open for families to apply during the following times:

Priority Window: October 1, 2026 at 8 a.m. – February 16, 2027 at 4 p.m.
Final Window: April 1, 2027 at 8 a.m. – June 1, 2027 at 4 p.m.

apply for a transfer

For more information or support, contact the KCS Enrollment and Transfer Office at (865) 594-1502 or transfers@knoxschools.org.

Application Process Timeline

Priority Window

October 1, 2026 – February 16, 2027 (1st window) - Best time to APPLY!

Priority Window Application Timeline

All applications are processed after the window closes on February 16 at 4 p.m.
Parents are notified of transfer approvals or waitlists by March 30

Final Window

April 1, 2026 - June 1, 2026 (2nd window) - Only apply if you did not apply in the Priority window

Final Window Application Timeline

All applications are processed after the window closes on June 1 at 4 p.m.
Parents are notified of transfer approvals or waitlists in July 2027
The transfer waitlist remains active until August 1, 2027

General Information

Rules & Conditions

All transfer requests are subject to the availability of capacity, including space, program offerings, and staffing levels at the requested school.

If a transfer application is submitted late or is denied, the student must attend their base (zoned) school at the beginning of the new school year.

If a transfer request is approved, it remains valid through the final grade level of the school—5th grade for elementary, 8th grade for middle, and 12th grade for high school, etc. A parent or legal guardian must accompany the student to the new school for enrollment and registration. These students are expected to maintain appropriate academic performance, attendance, and behavior.

Transportation is not provided for transfer students so parents, guardians, or students themselves must arrange daily transportation to and from school.

Students who transfer may become ineligible to participate in TSSAA-governed sports for up to one year.

Placement Priority

Once an application has been verified, general transfer requests are assigned an electronic number through a lottery-style process. School assignments are made in the order of those assigned numbers, following the priorities outlined in Knox County Board of Education Policy and Procedure J-152:

Children of teachers requesting transfer to the school where they teach, in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated.
Children of contract employees
Students applying for entry into a Magnet School or continuing in a magnet school feeder pattern.
Students continuing in the Project GRAD program.
Students pursuing a full academic course of study not available at their base school. This applies only to comprehensive two-, three-, or four-year programs and requests based on a single class will be treated as general transfer requests.
Students who have a sibling currently enrolled at the requested school and who will continue attending during the requested transfer year. A sibling is defined as a brother, sister, half-sibling, step-sibling, or foster child living in the same household.
Students who do not meet any of the above criteria.
Out-of-district students (considered only after all eligible Knox County students have been placed).

Appeals Process

Revocation

If academic, attendance, and behavior expectations are not met, the receiving school principal may request to revoke the transfer. The Director of Schools (or designee) will review and approve or deny the request.

If a transfer is revoked, the student will return to their base school at the end of the semester, unless otherwise directed.

Additionally, students attending a school outside their assigned zone without an approved transfer will be returned to their base school as follows:

Grades K-5: At the end of the nine-week grading period
Grades 6-12: At the end of the semester

If the enrollment is determined to be intentional on the part of the parent or legal guardian, the Director of Schools may pursue legal action in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated.

Important Terms & Resources

Transfers – Requests made by current Knox County Schools students to attend a school outside their assigned zone.

Enrollment – The process for students who are new to Knox County Schools.

Base School – The school assigned based on the parent’s or guardian’s residence; students are required to attend this school unless a transfer is approved.

Receiving School – The school a student is approved to attend through a transfer.

Out-of-Zone Student – A student attending a school other than their assigned base school.

Sibling – A brother, sister, half-sibling, step-sibling, or foster child residing in the same household.

Lottery-Style Process – An electronic system used to assign numbers to verified transfer applications. Assignments are made in numerical order within prioritized categories, based on available space. Available seats are determined by grade clusters: Grades K–3, 4–5, 6, 7–8, and 9–12.

School Zone Search

School Board Policy J-152

Online Transfer Application

Transfer Appeal Form

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I apply for a transfer?

General transfers must be submitted during one of two annually designated application periods:

Priority: Opens on the first business day of October and closes on the Tuesday following President's Day.
Final: Opens on the first business day of April and closes on the first business day in June.

Transfers must be requested during the school year prior to the year the transfer would take effect. For example, a student entering ninth grade must apply for a transfer during their eighth grade year.

If a family experiences extreme circumstances that impacts their student's enrollment in school, they may submit a written request to the Director of Enrollment for review and consideration via email at enrollment@knoxschools.org. For additional questions, contact the Enrollment Office at 865-594-1502.

If a transfer application is not submitted during the appropriate window or is denied, the student is expected to attend their assigned base school at the start of the new school year.

Can I apply for a transfer outside the transfer windows?

Once the transfer window has closed for the school year, families may re-apply for a transfer for the following school year. If a family experiences extreme circumstances that impacts their student's enrollment in school, they may submit a written request to the Director of Enrollment for review and consideration via email at enrollment@knoxschools.org. For additional questions, contact the Enrollment Office at 865-594-1502.

Where can I get the transfer application?

When will I find out if my transfer has been granted?

Is transportation provided for transfer students?

How long is my transfer good?

An approved transfer is active through the final grade of the school to which the transfer was granted. For example, a transfer to an elementary school will be good through fifth grade and a transfer to a middle school will be good through eighth grade.

Transfers are subject to revocation if a student does not remain in good standing and fail to meet expectations for academics, attendance, and behavior.

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