Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) | Registration & Transfers
Frequently Asked Questions About Registration | Click to Expand
When do I register my child for school?
Please see our Important Dates for Registration & Transfers page.
How do we register for school in SCSD?
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For new students enrolling in the current school year (2024-25), please visit our Register for the 2024-25 (Current) School Year page.
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For new students enrolling in the next school year (2025-26), please visit our Register for the 2025-26 (NEXT) School Year page.
Be sure to select the correct school year when registering to avoid needing to restart the process.
Which schools are part of the San Carlos School District?
The District has eight schools - Arundel Elementary, Brittan Acres Elementary, Heather Elementary, White Oaks Elementary, Arroyo Upper Elementary, Mariposa Upper Elementary, Central Middle School, and Tierra Linda Middle School. We also have Early Learning Center/Preschool classes for 2-4 year olds on each of our elementary campuses.
How can I check if our property is within SCSD, and which school we're zoned for?
To find out if your residence falls within SCSD boundaries and which school you're zoned for, use our School Locator (located under Enrollment > School Boundaries). Simply enter your address.
Please note that SCSD boundaries do not match the civic boundaries of the City of San Carlos. Once you register, we will confirm your school assignment. However, we cannot guarantee placement at your home school, as this depends on available spots at the time of registration. If your home school is full, your child will be assigned to another elementary, upper elementary, or middle school.
Are students guaranteed admission to their assigned school?
Students residing within the school attendance area receive first priority for enrollment at their assigned school, provided they register within the New Student Priority Registration period. For the 2025-26 school year, this period opens on January 8, 2025. To secure priority placement, completed registration forms with all required documents must be submitted by 4:00 pm on January 31, 2025. Students with siblings already attending the home school will also be prioritized, pending verification of documentation and registration during this period.
All registrations completed within the Priority Registration period will receive priority placement at the home school if space allows. However, placement in Transitional Kindergarten is not guaranteed at the home school and depends on the number of students registering at each site. If space is unavailable, your child may be assigned to a different elementary school within the district.
What happens if my child is assigned to another school due to a lack of space?
After the New Student Priority Registration deadline, placements for all new registrations will be based on the student’s home address and the availability of classroom space. Students registering after January 31, 2025, will be placed as space allows. If the number of registered students exceeds available seats for a grade level, placements will be prioritized based on the date of fully completed and verified registrations.
If classroom space is unavailable at your home school, your child will be placed on a waiting list for that school and temporarily "overflowed" to another school within the San Carlos School District that has available space. If space opens at the home school before the school year begins, families will be contacted to return. Students retain priority to return to their assigned home school based on their residence address for the following year, or families may request to remain at the overflow school if they prefer.
We are moving into the district but haven’t secured a house/apartment yet. Can we register now?
Please wait to register until you have secured housing and can provide a lease or sales contract as proof of residence. You will also need to provide two utility bills. If utilities haven’t been issued yet, you may submit letters of connection, as long as they include the property address and the resident's name.
What Proofs of Residency are Required for Registration?
Please see our Required Registration Documents page for more information.
We are currently living with another family in SCSD and our name is not on the lease, property tax bill or utility bills. How do we register our child?
What proof of immunization is required? Do you need the doctor's signed form?
Please see our Immunizations & Health Forms page for more information. A document downloaded from your provider's website is sufficient, as long as it has all the details and the physician's letterhead.
We would like our child to attend a different school within SCSD. How do we request a transfer?
After registering, you’ll need to submit an Intradistrict Transfer request. We will review your request and notify you if a spot is available at the desired school. If space is unavailable in your requested grade level, your child may be placed on a waitlist. For more details, please visit our Transfer Requests page.
Can my child attend San Carlos schools if we don’t live in the district?
Enrollment in the San Carlos School District requires residency within the SCSD attendance boundaries. If you live outside the boundaries, you will need an approved Interdistrict Transfer to attend our schools. For more information, please visit our Transfer Request page or refer to our AR 5111.1 District Residency policy.
If my child attends preschool in the District, do I still need to register as a new student?
Yes, preschool students currently attending in one of our SCSD preschools must still complete the registration process to be enrolled in TK or Kindergarten. If your child is attending in one of our SCSD preschool classes, they are not yet a matriculated student and are required to register for TK/Kindergarten. For preschool students who live outside the boundaries of SCSD, you must apply for and receive and approved Interdistrict Transfer, see our Transfer Requests page for more information.
What is Transitional Kindergarten (TK)?
Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is a bridge between preschool and kindergarten for children turning five-years old. It provides young learners a head start and the opportunity to learn and grow in an environment that is tailored to meet their academic and social needs. Please see our Transitional Kindergarten page for more information
Is my child eligible for Transitional Kindergarten?
For the upcoming 2025-26 school year if they will have their fourth birthday by September 1 of the school year.
TK & Kindergarten Eligibility Chart by DOB for California
If your child is not eligible for TK/K based on their birthdate, SCSD has excellent Early Learning/Preschool Programs for 2-3 year olds located on all of our elementary school campuses. Please visit our San Carlos Early Learning Center/Preschool page for more information.
When do we find out if our child is an Early Bird or Late Bird for Kindergarten?
Kindergarten students start and end times will vary depending on their “Early Bird” or “Late Bird” assignment. Early Birds start their day at 8:20 am and end an hour earlier than the regular school schedule. Late Birds start an hour later at 9:20 am and end at the same time as the regular school schedule. Schedules are set at each school site and campuses will notify families of placement in early August. There are various factors considered when placing students which include availability, families with siblings, those with financial burdens and the students age. Please reach out to your school if you have additional questions.
If my child attends TK in the district, do I need to register for Kindergarten next year?
No. TK students currently enrolled in SCSD do not need to re-register for Kindergarten. They will be automatically enrolled and matriculated into Kindergarten.
Do I need to register my student every year?
No. Current students do not need to register again, but Re-enrollment/Back-to-School Forms are required each year and will be sent to parents/guardians via email in the spring. New Student Registration is only for students new to the district.
We are moving to a new residence. What does SCSD need to update our address?
Please contact your school Administrative Assistant to update your address. If you are moving within the boundaries of SCSD, you may be allowed to stay at your current school. Before moving, please use our School Locator tool to verify that your new address is within the SCSD attendance boundaries. If your new residence is outside the boundaries, you’ll need to apply for and receive an approved Interdistrict Transfer to continue attending SCSD schools. Please visit the Transfer Request page for more information.
Where will my children attend high school (9th–12th Grade)?
Students in San Carlos attend schools in the Sequoia Union High School District. For information about 9th–12th grade enrollment, please contact the Sequoia Union High School District at 480 James Avenue, Redwood City, CA 94062, or call (650) 369-1411. To verify which high school you are assigned to, use the Sequoia High School District School Locator.
How do I get a transcript for my child?
Contact the school office where your child last attended to request a transcript.
Frequently Asked Questions About INTRADISTRICT Transfers | Click to Expand
How do I transfer my student to another school within SCSD?
Intradistrict Transfer Requests are for San Carlos School District residents ONLY. If you do not live within the boundaries of SCSD, please see our Transfer Request page for more information on the Interdistrict Transfer process into SCSD from another school district.
Frequently Asked Questions about INTERDISTRICT Transfers | Click to Expand
Can we attend San Carlos schools if we don't live in the district?
Registration into the San Carlos School District begins with residency. You must live in the SCSD attendance boundaries to attend our schools or receive an approved Interdistrict Transfer, please see our Transfer Request website for more information. For more information refer to our AR 5111.1 District Residency.
Who receives priority for Interdistrict Transfers?
Siblings of currently enrolled students and children of San Carlos School District employees who work more than 20 hours per week receive transfer preference as long as there is space available in the grade-level and school requested.
If I work in the City of San Carlos, do I receive employee transfer preference?
No, only children of San Carlos School District employees receive preference.
How and when will I be notified of my transfer status?
Please see our Transfer Request website for more information.
More information:
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- Plan to attend school in your home school district unless you receive communication that your transfer has been granted.
- A transfer request is not a school registration and is not a guarantee of enrollment.
- All transfer requests expire on the first day of school. Transfers will not be granted after that day. There are no mid-year transfers.
Questions about Preschool, Before & Afterschool Programs, Universal Meals Program & Free/Reduced Lunch Program | Click to Expand
Can we apply to go to the Early Learning Center/Preschool at any site?
Yes, preschool registration is not dependent on your address. We have full-time and part-time preschool options for families including a new, part-day, California State Preschool Program (CSPP) class at Arundel where student tuition may be covered for families that qualify, based on income. Please contact the ELC Admin Assistant, Jackie Gee at [email protected] for information and visit our San Carlos Early Learning Center page.
Are Morning and After School Extended Day programs available?
Yes, we partner with several different providers for before and after school care. Please see our Afterschool and Extended Learning Programs page for links to these organizations for a deeper knowledge and understanding of the programs and times being offered.
Universal Meal Program
SCSD offers breakfast and lunch at no cost to all preschool-8th grade students - regardless of the student's Free or Reduced-Price meal status. Families have the choice to participate in the District’s meal program, but participation is not required. Please visit our Universal Meal Program page for more information.
Free and Reduced Price Meal Application
In addition to signing-up to receive free breakfast and/or lunch through our Universal Meal Program, we also ask that you complete the Free & Reduced Price EZ Meal Application to benefit your family, school and community even if you do not believe your will qualify based on your income. Completing this form helps your school receive more funding to support your child's learning environment. The application is used to calculate school funding levels from the state and federal level. Please visit our Free & Reduced-Price (EZ Meal) Application page for more information. For questions or concerns about the Free and Reduced Lunch Program, please send your email to: [email protected].