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 29 – April 1, 2024. Parents or guardians of a student seeking to transfer their child to an open zoned school for the 2024-25 school year must apply within this timeline. There are two types of requests that are completed on the same form.
Feb 29 – April 1: Open Enrollment (30-day requirement). Closes at 4:00 p.m. on April 1, 2024.
April 2: Conduct lottery, if necessary.
April 2-5: Notify all applicants via email.
If you have submitted an application and have not received an email notification by April 7th, please call us at (615) 225-9346.
These school are closed zoned with no available seats:
For closed zoned schools, only students on existing zone waivers, who have not changed addresses, may apply to continue at these schools.
| School | Proposed # Open Seats Available | Closed Grade Levels |
| Bradley | 25 seats total in grades K, 1, 3, 4, 5 | 2, 6 |
| Cason Lane | 50 seats total in all grades | None |
| Erma Siegel | 5 seats total in 1st grade 10 seats total in 2nd grade |
K, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| Hobgood | 25 seats total in grades 2, 3, 4, 6 | K, 1, 5 |
| John Pittard | 20 seats total in grades K-2 | 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| Mitchell-Neilson | 50 seats total in grades K, 1, 3, 4, 5 | 2, 6 |
| Northfield | 50 seats total in grades K, 1, 2, 3, 4 | 5, 6 |
| Reeves-Rogers | 50 seats total in grades K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | 6 |
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/murfreetn3web/webquery/)
Zone waivers will be submitted online with the link below.
Open enrollment period for zone waivers from February 29 – April 1, 2024. (Zone waivers close at 4 p.m. on April 1.)
To assist families in determining if a zone waiver is appropriate for their child, we encourage you to talk with your current principal, assistant principals, counselor, and/or teacher.
If you are interested in having your child apply for another school, you may want to tour the campus. You may sign up to reserve a tour spot below.
| Opened Zoned School Tour Schedule | ||
| School | Dates | Sign Up Link |
| Bradley | Tour Tuesdays March 5th from 9:00-9:30 AM March 5th from 3:00-3:30 AM March 12th from 9:00-9:30 AM March 19th from 4:00-4:30 PM March 19th from 4:30-5:00 PM |
Sign Up |
| Cason Lane | March 5th @ 2 PM & 5 PM | Sign Up |
| Erma Siegel | March 7th from 7:45 – 8:15 AM March 19th from 7:45 -8:15 AM |
Sign Up |
| Hobgood | March 14th from 4:00-4:30 PM March 14th from 4:30-5:00 PM |
Sign Up |
| Mitchell-Neilson | March 4th from 8:45 AM & 2:30PM | Sign Up |
| Northfield | March 20th at 9:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM | Sign Up |
| John Pittard | March 6 from 9:00-9:30 AM March 13 from 9:00-9:30 AM March 20 from 4:00-4:30 PM |
Sign Up |
| Reeves-Rogers | March 5 from 9:00-9:30 AM March 11 from 8:45-9:15 AM |
Sign Up |
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.