The Controlled Open Enrollment process is available to any family that desires for their child to attend a school that is not their neighborhood school but did not receive a special assignment through the lottery process.

Controlled open enrollment applicants are placed when a space is available at a school on a first-come, first-served basis. Placement is not guaranteed. Once you submit an application, it remains active for the remainder of that school year. No further submissions are necessary.

Important: The process assumes that you want your child to attend any of the schools you apply for.
Remember: If you are placed in a school you have applied for, you are removed from the waitlist of all other schools.
Therefore: We strongly recommend that you do not apply for a school unless you are willing to accept the placement in that school if a seat opens for your child.

When is the Controlled Open Enrollment Process Available to Families?

The controlled open enrollment process will open March 23, 2026, for the 2026-27 school year.

After the first week of school, students may transfer between schools using the controlled open enrollment process at the conclusion of each quarterly grading period. The window to apply for a new school will open one week prior to the end of the quarter. Students accepted to a new school will be in attendance at that school on the first day of the next grading period.

Middle and high school students are advised to only consider transferring after the second grading period. Transferring after the first or third grading periods could have an adverse impact on the student’s schedule, which may negatively impact student progress toward graduation.

Controlled open enrollment for the 2025-26 school year has concluded.

How to Submit a Controlled Open Enrollment Application

• Log in to your Linked Parent Account through the Family Portal 

• Select the FOCUS button at the top of the page or from the "My Links tab" 

• On the left-hand side, select your student’s name 

• The controlled open enrollment applications will be located in the drop-down menu

• You will find magnet programs and schools on the magnet application. Neighborhood schools will be listed on the Special Transfer Option (STO) application.

• You may submit an application for one magnet school and one STO school.

• Remember: If you are placed into one of your choices, you will be removed from all other waitlists.

Families with Students in Exceptional Student Education Programs

Students in Exceptional Student Education (ESE) programs should consult with the ESE Department before transferring schools through controlled open enrollment. While many schools can support ESE accommodations and Individual Education Plans (IEPs), students in ESE programs who receive placement through the lottery or open enrollment processes are not guaranteed access to ESE services at schools where they receive placements. Students in ESE settings should consult with the ESE Department on opportunities for school choice where their ESE services can be provided.

What Happens after I Submit a Controlled Open Enrollment Application for my Student?

If a student is placed at a new school, families will be notified by an Enrollment Services team member. Parents or guardians will also receive an email notification if a student is placed in a new school. If the desired school is full, the student will be placed on the waitlist for the school, and parents can monitor the child's position on the waitlist in FOCUS through their linked parent account.

Other Controlled Open Enrollment Details

• Residents of other Florida counties are eligible to apply.

• Transportation is the responsibility of parent/guardian for special transfer option schools.

• If you are submitting a Controlled Open Enrollment application for Darnell-Cookman, Paxon, Riverside (Engineering program), Stanton, or Wolfson, please email a copy of your child’s most current transcript to enroll@duvalschools.org. 
  

Need Help?

The best way to get assistance is to send your question or request to District Enrollment Services.

You can also call us at: (904) 390-2082 or make an appointment to visit us at:

The Parent Resource Center

4037 Boulevard Center Dr., Jacksonville, FL 32207. 

8 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday.

Walk-ins are also welcome, but wait times for walk-ins may be extensive, especially in the summer.