What is the difference between an Intra-District and Inter-District Permit?

Intra-District Permits are for families who currently live within the SCUSD boundaries to request a transfer to a school that is not their neighborhood school (school of residence). Visit our SchoolFinder tool to find your neighborhood school. 

Inter-District Permits are used to transfer in and out of the Sacramento City School District. 

• Incoming inter-district permit applicants live outside the SCUSD boundaries and must receive an approved Inter-district Transfer Permit (ITP) from their district of residence prior to applying online April 17 - April 25.
• Outgoing inter-district permits can be accepted at any time. Complete the Inter-district Transfer Permit (ITP) and submit it using this webform. 

Do all district schools and specialty programs participate in the District Permit Process?

No. Not all district schools or specialty programs participate in the District Permit process. Some schools reach their grade level enrollment capacity prior to the District Permit time period.

Due to the unprecedented number of applications submitted to the TK Lottery, district permit requests will not be available for Transitional Kindergarten at this time. The next opportunity for in-district families to apply for transitional kindergarten will be through regular registration starting on May 19, 2025.

See our list of participating schools and programs in the 2025-2026 District Permit process here. 

My student is currently on an Open Enrollment/High School Specialty Program waiting list. Can we apply for an intra-district permit?

If your student is on an Open Enrollment/High School Specialty Program waiting list, your intra-district permit application will be marked ineligible. 

If you would like to remove your student from an Open Enrollment/High School Specialty Program waiting list, you can log into your SchoolMint account and withdraw the application or email Becky Petrie at becky-petrie@scusd.edu for assistance.  

How many schools or specialty programs can my student apply to?

Students may apply to one school or specialty program. 

What schools do not have an attendance area boundary assignment?

• A.M. Winn Public Waldorf TK-8 School
• Alice Birney Public Waldorf TK-8 School
• Arthur A. Benjamin Health Professions High School
• Bowling Green Chacon Language and Science Academy
• Bowling Green McCoy Academy for Excellence
• Camellia Basic Elementary – Grades 1-6
• George Washington Carver School of Arts and Sciences
• Leonardo da Vinci TK-8 School
• Phoebe Hearst Elementary School
• New Joseph Bonnheim Elementary School
• School of Engineering and Science
• The Met Sacramento High School
• Umoja International Academy – Grades 9-12
• West Campus High School

Are computers available for families to use to apply?

Yes, the Enrollment Center has Chromebooks available for families to use in filling out the online application.

Can I make a change to my student’s application?

Yes, changes can be made to a submitted application anytime during the application window, between April 15 – 25, 2025. Make sure to resubmit the edited application by the application deadline, April 25, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.

How will we know you received my student’s application?

Once you successfully submit the district permit application, there will be a confirmation screen and notification confirming the submission. Families will receive the notification based on what preferences (email, text message or both) were selected when registering. Families can log into their SchoolMint account at any time to see the status of their application(s).

What is the SchoolMint Message Center and where is it located?

Log onto your SchoolMint Parent/Guardian account and click the Messages button in the top green navigation bar. The Message Center has all messages sent to you from the platform organized by date. If you only receive text message notifications, you can log into SchoolMint and read full messages in the Message Center.

If my student is new to the district, when do we register them?

When applicants are offered a placement, they will have to submit an online registration form and provide the following information by their offer deadline to finish the acceptance process.

Upload one of the following options listed under (Ed. Code 48204.1):

• Utility service contract, statement, or payment receipts
• Property tax payment receipts
• Rental property contract, lease with payment receipts
• Voter registration
• Correspondence from a government agency
• Pay stubs

A link to the registration form will be included in the offer notification.

Should I register my incoming kindergartener in their neighborhood school before I apply for an intra-district permit?

It is recommended that you register your incoming kindergartener in their neighborhood school ( i.e. school of residence) before or after you apply for an intra-district permit in case your child is not selected through the lottery. Learn how to register for Kindergarten.

Is transportation provided by the school district to my District Permit School?

No, transportation is not provided for students on a district permit. Parents are responsible for transporting their students.

Can I use my work address for my student to apply?

The Sacramento City Unified School District interprets the Allen Bill in the following ways:

• A parent/guardian who resides outside the SCUSD boundaries, is required to provide on letterhead a statement from the employer verifying employment and the work address within the SCUSD boundaries.
• Since our district utilizes addresses for school placement, in order to establish residency the student must enroll and attend the neighborhood school associated with the work address for a full academic year. So for example if the work address is associated with California Middle School the student must apply and be approved via Inter-district permit and attend California Middle School.
• Once this is complete and the student is attending for a full academic year, the student can then apply for any programs through the High School Specialty Program (HSSP) or Open Enrollment (OE).
• Families cannot use their work address to apply for the HSSP or OE if they are not attending our school(s) through the Allen Bill currently.
• Residency is established by attending a full academic year.
• Students who live outside the district boundaries may apply from April 7, 2025 at 8:00am, through April 25, 2025 at 5:00pm, via an inter-district transfer permit, to any school or program that still has openings.

Can I turn in a late application for my student?

All applications must be turned in by 5:00 p.m on April 25, 2025. No late applications will be accepted.

When do I find out if my student is accepted? 

Notification will be sent to families through SchoolMint on May 12, 2025. Families will receive the notification based on what preferences (email, text message or both) were selected when registering.

Are translation services available during the application process?

Yes, the SchoolMint application uses Google Translate, which can translate text into over 100 languages. Guardians can select their preferred language from the menu at the top of the page to view translated information.

The district’s Matriculation & Orientation Center (MOC) can also provide interpretation services to assist families with the application process. MOC staff are available to assist at the Enrollment Center.

My family is moving outside of the SCUSD boundary. What will happen to my student’s acceptance?

If you move outside of the SCUSD boundary, it will void your student’s acceptance offer. You must register your student with the new school district. You can apply for an inter-district permit after you get an approved Inter-District Permit Transfer form by your new district of residence. 

I live within the SCUSD boundary, but my student attends a private school. Can my student apply through an Intra-District Permit?

Yes. 

I live outside of the SCUSD boundary and one of my students already attends a SCUSD school. Do my other students have sibling preference? 

Yes, the student(s) applying will receive sibling priority for inter-district permits.

I am a SCUSD employee and live outside of the SCUSD boundary. Does my student have preference to attend the school I work at?

Yes, the student applying will receive parent employment priority for inter-district permits.

How does the lottery work?

The District Permit application is not a first-come, first-serve basis. You may apply anytime during the application window to be considered.

SCUSD uses a computerized, third-party lottery system to place eligible students at their school or specialty program. A lottery must be implemented if applications exceed the grade capacity at the requested program.

One of the following lottery scenarios will occur:

1. Your student is selected for their school or specialty program and receives a notification communication to accept the placement through SchoolMint. 
2. If your student was not selected, they will be notified that they have been placed on a waiting list* and then be notified if a spot opens up.

What happens if my student doesn’t get offered a spot at the school or specialty program?

You will receive a notification from SchoolMint that the school or program you have applied for has reached space capacity.

Students who apply to a school or specialty program, and have not met the admissions requirements will become ineligible and not be included in the lottery.

Who has priority in the lottery selection process?

Lottery Selection Priorities

1st Priority

• Intra-District Permit applicants with a sibling already in attendance at the selected school and will continue to be enrolled in the upcoming school year.

2nd Priority

• Intra-District Permit applicants whose parent/guardian’s primary place of employment is the selected school.

3rd Priority* – Current SCUSD TK Students Only

• Intra-District Permit applicants who apply for kindergarten at the school they attended for TK. 

4th Priority

• All other Intra-District Permits

5th priority

• Approved Inter-District Permit applicants with a sibling already in attendance at the selected school and will continue to be enrolled in the upcoming school year.

6th priority

• Approved Inter-District Permit applicants whose parent/guardian’s primary place of employment is the selected school.

7th Priority* – Current SCUSD TK Students Only

• Approved Inter-District Permit applicants with students who apply for kindergarten at the school they attended for TK. 

*Does not apply to schools without attendance boundaries.