For 2024-25 Zone Waivers, please see school for a hard copy.
During the district’s open enrollment period each year, a parent/guardian may request that his/her child attend a school within the district other than the one to which the child is zoned. Zone waiver applications must be completed on a yearly basis and are applicable to one school year only depending on school enrollment and capacity. The open enrollment process shall be completed before other nonresident transfers are approved. Once accepted, the student shall provide his/her own transportation to and from the school. The student must maintain satisfactory attendance, behavior, and effort to remain in the new school.
Murfreesboro City Schools will conduct the open enrollment period for zone waivers from February 27 – March 28, 2025. Parents or guardians of a student seeking to transfer their child to an open zoned school for the 2025-26 school year must apply within this timeline. There are two types of requests that are completed on the same form.
February-March: Voluntary Campus Tours at Open Zoned Schools
February 11: Board approval of open/closed zone schools for 2025-26
February 12 – 26: Advertise Open Enrollment (two-week requirement)
Feb 27 – Mar 28: Open Enrollment (30-day requirement). Closes at 4:00PM on March 28th
Mar 29 – April 4: Spring Break
April 9: Conduct lottery, if necessary.
April 11: Notify all applicants via email
April 21: Appeal deadline
May 9: Appeal Committee Hearing
These school are closed zoned with no available seats:
| School | Proposed # Open Seats Available | Closed Grade Levels |
| Bradley Academy | 15 seats in kindergarten 7 seats in 1st grade 9 seats in 2nd grade 5 seats in 3rd grade 13 seats in 4th grade 19 seats in 5th grade |
6 |
| Cason Lane Academy | 5 seats in kindergarten 10 seats in 1st grade 3 seats in 2nd grade 2 seats in 3rd grade 11 seats in 4th grade 13 seats in 5th grade |
6 |
| Erma Siegel Elementary | 5 seats in kindergarten 11 seats in 1st grade 4 seats in 2nd grade 5 seats in 3rd grade 5 seats in 5th grade |
4,6 |
| Hobgood Elementary | 5 seats in kindergarten 2 seats in 1st grade 2 seats in 2nd grade 6 seats in 4th grade 5 seats in 5th grade |
3,6 |
| Mitchell-Neilson Elementary | 5 seats in kindergarten 3 seats in 1st grade 5 seats in 2nd grade 3 seats in 4th grade |
3,4,5,6 |
| Northfield Elementary | 15 seats in kindergarten 15 seats in 3rd grade 19 seats in 5th grade |
1,2,4,6 |
| John Pittard Elementary | 15 seats in kindergarten 3 seats in 1st grade 5 seats in 2nd grade 10 seats in 5th grade |
3,4,6 |
| Reeves-Rogers Elementary | 5 seats in kindergarten 7 seats in 3rd grade 6 seats in 4th grade 7 seats in 5th grade |
1,2,6 |
For closed zoned schools, only students on existing zone waivers, who have not changed addresses, may apply to continue at these schools.
Before starting the waiver form, make sure to know the school your child is zoned for which can be found at the following link. (https://ewa2.edulogweb.com/murfreetn1web/webquery/)
Zone waivers will be submitted online with the link below.
Open enrollment period for zone waivers from February 27 – March 28, 2025. (Zone waivers close at 4 p.m. on March 28.)
Do I have to apply for a zone waiver every year?
Yes. Zone waiver applications must be completed on a yearly basis and are applicable to one school year only depending on school enrollment and capacity.
Do I have to complete a zone waiver for each of my children?
Yes. One application is required for each child.
Does MCS accept students who do not live within the city limits?
Out-Of-City Applications are accepted at our open-zoned schools. Approval is based on space available in the applicable grade level at the requested school. The open enrollment process shall be completed before other nonresident transfers are approved.
Does MCS accept students who live outside of Rutherford County?
Out-of-County applications are accepted at our open-zoned schools. The open enrollment process shall be completed before other nonresident transfers are approved. Approval is based on space available in the applicable grade level at the requested school. Non-refundable tuition in the amount of $4,000 per year (paid in full at the beginning of the year) is applicable if their zone waiver is approved.
Who determines the open and closed school zones?
MCS School Board reviews projected enrollment with district administration annually as outlined in Board Policy 6.205.
Whom shall I call regarding a zone waiver?
Zone waivers are processed by the Student Support Services Department at the MCS Central Office. Please direct questions to:
Elizabeth Emslie, Administrative Assistant
(615) 225-9346 or elizabeth.emslie@cityschools.net
Ken Rocha, Assistant Superintendent, Student Support Services
ken.rocha@cityschools.net
May I submit a zone waiver application to a closed school for my youngest child if my older children are already attending that closed zoned school?
Yes. Our goal is not to split children apart from the same household. Despite the school being a closed zone school, you must submit a zone waiver application and indicate the older sibling(s) are already on a zone waiver to that school.
What happens if I change my physical address during the school year? For example, I move.
Any time a family changes their address, it is requested that they inform the school and show proof of residency. School zones are based on a student’s residence/address. If a student moves during the school year, then the student will be expected to attend school in their new address’s school of zone. If the school is not a closed zoned, a zone waiver application may be submitted for the student to finish out the school year. This decision will be based on available space and the student’s attendance and behavior record.
I missed the zone waiver application period. Can I submit a late application?
Zone waivers are advertised for at least two weeks before the application window begins, and the application window is at least an additional four weeks (a total of six weeks). Late applications for new zone waiver requests will not accepted.
What MCS employees are eligible to submit zone waivers?
Parents, guardians and grandparents who are employed by MCS, with the exception of substitute teachers, may submit a zone waiver. However, zone waivers for grandchildren of employees are not guaranteed and are contingent on if space is available in the grade level. See Administrative Directive 6.205.2 for additional information.