Students can apply for fall transfers

Families looking to get their children into another school next year now have their first opportunity.

Parents can apply to move their students within Newport-Mesa Unified for the 2012-13 school year now through March 15.

The school of choice program allows parents the opportunity to transfer their children to schools outside of their neighborhood, said district spokeswoman Laura Boss.

The transfer request process is open to residents who live inside the school district.

The process has been going on for more than 25 years, and while parents can apply all year, this is their first opportunity for next fall, said Tere Russell, secondary program support.

Whether a request is fulfilled depends on availability at the chosen school, she said.

A computerized lottery system will prioritize the applications after all have been received, she said.

The district does consider if another sibling is already attending the requested school, Russell said.

“We don’t want to break up families,” she said.

The district has received 88 applications as of Tuesday, she said, adding that some parents apply to as many as 10 schools.

Applications must be completed at https://www.nmusd.us/transfers.

Computers are available at every school site or the district Education Center, 2985 Bear St.

Parents will be notified of the status of their application by email or writing by May 15.

britney.barnes@latimes.com

Twitter: @britneyjbarnes