• HARDSHIPS FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2025-2026

    Hardship Application Window: June 1, 2025 - August 14, 2025

     

    Student Hardship Transfer Guidelines

     

    To apply for a hardship transfer, child(ren) must be currently registered as a Paulding County School District student.  If your child(ren) are not currently registered, please visit the Central Registration webpage to make an appointment to register. 

      • Application must be completed by enrolling parent.
      • Parent/guardian and student must be residents of Paulding County.
      • Supporting documentation must be provided upon request.
      • Parent/guardian must agree to a one-year commitment.
      • Only one hardship request per year will be considered.

     

    CLICK HERE: Hardship Transfer Application

     

    Parents will be notified in writing via email as to the decision made for the request – please DO NOT call the Board of Education as to the status of your request.  The hardship transfer process takes approximately 2 weeks.

    Please note that hardship school transfer requests will only be considered if classroom space is available.

    The hardship school transfer window will close after the end of day on the 10th day of the new school year – August 14, 2025.

     

     

    Hardship transfers do not allow for the choice to a specific school but rather seek to address issues that would prohibit a student from attending his/her zoned school. For purposes of student transfer, a “hardship” is defined as a significant and/or substantial circumstance at their “home school” where it is necessary for student to be assigned to another school for the wellbeing of the student. Issues such as grievances arising from parent-school conflicts, peer group associations, discipline, attendance problems, parental preference, convenience, access to friends, or a general dissatisfaction with a particular school would not substantiate a hardship under this process. 

     

    For all Hardship transfers, the following provisions apply:

    1. A student may receive only one hardship transfer during a school year;
    2. Transfers are considered for individual students, not family groups;
    3. Transportation must be provided by the parent/guardian, including students of employees;
    4. If the student transfers at the high school level, he/she must meet Georgia High School Association requirements to participate in competitive interscholastic activities;
    5. Students granted hardship transfers must maintain acceptable attendance, behavior, and grades as determined at the discretion of school administration. Students of employees on transfer must meet the same behavior and attendance requirements as other students on transfer;
    6. The parent/guardian is expected to maintain a cordial and cooperative working relationship with school personnel; and
    7. Failure to comply with any provision of this paragraph shall authorize immediate withdrawal of such student.

     

    Students on transfer may not ride the school bus either to or from school.

     

    The Paulding County School District reserves the right to deny a school transfer request if the request is not considered a true hardship. 

    1. Transfer requests may be denied or revoked based on one or more of the following reasons:
      1. Lack of available permanent classroom space in the school to which the student requested a transfer;
      2. Excessive absences, tardies, early sign-outs or late pick-ups of the student;
      3. Behavior;
      4. Insufficient substantiation to warrant the move (grievances arising from parent-school conflicts, discipline, attendance problems, parental preference, convenience, access to friends, or a general dissatisfaction with a particular school are not sufficient reason for a transfer to be granted);
      5. Falsification of records;
      6. Other just cause.

     

    For more information regarding the Paulding County School District's School Choice procedures, please see Administrative Regulation Student Assignment to Schools JBCCA-R.

    To discuss extenuating circumstances or if you have additional questions concerning hardship school transfers, please contact Marie Sellers at msellers@paulding.k12.ga.us or 770-443-8000.