Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Program Options application process "first come/first served" or lottery-based?
The Program Options application process is lottery-based. Those who apply on the first day of the window and those who apply on the last day of the window have the same chances of selection.

Do any of the Program Options have a 3K and/or 4K option?
The Montessori program includes 3K and 4K programs; this program is tuition-based and is included within the Program Options application process.

If my child is in 3K or 4K in the Montessori, do I need to apply for the school’s Program Options?
No, you do not need to re-apply but will receive an Intent to Transition in the spring semester.

Is transportation provided for all students in Program Options?
Yes, however students in 3K will not have transportation provided until they turn four years old.

How do I arrange transportation for my child?
Transportation is provided for most all Program Options students (see information about 3K). The Program Options application has a place to request transportation.

May I remain at a Program Options school if I withdraw from the program within the school?
Students who withdraw from any Program Options program must enroll in their zoned school.

Do I have to apply for Program Options if I live in the school zone?
No, if you live in the school zone, it is not necessary to apply for the Program Option through the lottery with the exception of the Montessori program at Ebenezer Avenue Elementary School. Keep in mind, if you live in a school zone that has a Program Option and your child relocates during the school year, the child is not guaranteed a seat in that program option track the following school year.

If I am zoned for a Program Option School location and move but want to remain in the program, what do I do?
If your child is enrolled as a Program Options student, but you moved within the district and want your child to stay in the program, please notify the school you are staying and provide an updated proof of residency.

Which applicants are given priority?
Priority is given to:

applicants living within the school’s zone,
applicants with siblings enrolled in the program on the same level (elementary, middle, high),
Rock Hill Schools employees.
Applicants who have previous experience in a similar program option model.

I was not offered a slot for my first or second choice Program Options school. May I be considered for or added to the waitlist for other programs?
Applicants who are not offered slots for their first or second choice Program Options may be considered for other programs for which there is availability.

If I am offered a slot in my first program option, but change my mind, may I still be considered for a slot in my second program option?
If an applicant declines the offer of their first choice, they will not be granted an offer in their second choice or any other Program Options program.

If I currently live outside of the school district but will be relocating within after the Program Options application deadline, may I apply for Program Options?
If a potential applicant relocates to the Rock Hill area after the deadline, they must wait until the following year to apply.

Can all middle school students apply to the High School STEAM Program?

All middle school students are eligible for South Pointe's STEAM program. Families of eighth grade students who are currently enrolled at Saluda Trail Middle School will complete a Letter of Transition. Families from other Rock Hill middle schools must complete an application.

Are students who have been accepted into the South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics (SCGSSM) Accelerate program also required to complete a Program Options application?
No, students who are accepted into the SCGSSM Accelerate program are not part of the Program Options programs.

If I have a child in the middle school Immersion or STEAM Program (rising sixth-eighth grade at the time the application is submitted), is my elementary student applicant given priority admittance?
No, the sibling priority only applies to admittance into a program on the same level (elementary, middle, high).

If I have a child in fifth or eighth grade in the Immersion or STEAM Program, do I need to apply for Immersion or STEAM for sixth or ninth grade?
No, parents/guardians of rising sixth grade and eighth grade Immersion or STEAM students will be given an opportunity to express their intent to transition to the middle school program via an Intent to Transition form to be distributed by the school during the second semester.

Are the siblings of students in French Immersion given priority in Spanish Immersion (and vice versa)?
No, students will be given priority for the Language Immersion Program of the language in which their sibling is currently enrolled.

How are students removed/withdrawn from Program Options programs?
Students who have been accepted for a program option will remain in the school for the entire academic year.

Parents who wish to withdraw a student from a program should notify the Program Options school of their decision to leave and then contact the registrar of their zoned school to enroll there. Parents who withdraw a student from a Program Options school can do so at the end of the first quarter or end of the first semester only. Please note that students who are withdrawn from a Program Options school may not re-enroll or re-apply to a Program Options school until the following school year.

Students who are withdrawn from a Program Options program will return to their zoned school.