Clay County School Board approves policy for controlled open enrollment

Jacksonville, FL — It gives families about a month to submit applications.

The Clay County School Board has approved a policy to comply with Florida's new open enrollment law.

Under that policy, students across the district and in other counties can apply for a space in Clay County Schools, if the schools have less than 85% enrollment.

We're told that 85% threshold currently applies to 11 schools in Clay County:

ELEMENTARY K-6 

Coppergate Elementary

RideOut Elementary

S. Bryan Jennings

Shadowlawn Elementary

Swimming Pen Creek Elementary

WE Cherry Elementary

JUNIOR HIGH 

Lakeside Junior High

Orange Park Junior High

SENIOR HIGH 

Clay High

Orange Park High

Ridgeview High

Families wishing to take part in open enrollment have to submit a complete online application by May 8th, which you can find on the district's website. Printed copies of the application are also available at the school district's offices in Green Cove Springs.

If there are more applicants for a school than there are open seats, a lottery process will take place. We're told students in the following categories will receive priority consideration:

-Dependent children of active duty military personnel whose move resulted from military orders.

-Children who have been relocated due to foster care placement in a different school zone

-Children who move due to court-ordered change in custody due to separation or divorce of the serious illness of death of a custodial parent

-Students residing in the district

A wait list will be maintained through the fifth day of the school year.