Frequently Asked Questions

Principal announcements typically occur in the spring before the school opening to allow time for staff recruitment and community engagement.

Student assignment recommendations are developed using multiple factors, including projected enrollment, school capacity and utilization, proximity, feeder patterns, stability and continuity, transportation and operational considerations, and the district’s long-range enrollment needs. Recommendations are considered within the broader objectives outlined in Board Policy 4150 and are evaluated using current enrollment data and projections.

No single factor determines an assignment recommendation. In some situations, these factors may point in different directions, requiring the district to consider the overall impact of potential assignment options.

Assignment changes will not take effect until the start of the 2027-28 school year. Start dates vary based on the operating calendar of the school.

This is the initial draft of the 2027-28 enrollment plan. We invite families to share their questions, ideas, and concerns through our online forum, ThoughtExchange. The Board will review community feedback during a work session on Oct. 20.

Feeder patterns and continuity are important considerations in assignment planning. The district considers how elementary, middle, and high school assignments connect and how proposed changes may affect students’ ability to progress with their peers.

For students transitioning to high school, cohort continuity is particularly important because a boundary change may affect an entire grade-level cohort at an important transition point.

At the same time, feeder patterns must be considered alongside projected enrollment, capacity, proximity, transportation, and other operational factors. The district may therefore need to balance continuity with other enrollment planning needs.

Review all the application dates and events for the 2027-28 school year.

Families wishing to request a school other than their base school may submit an application during the magnet application period and/ or during the request for transfer application period. For more information visit wcpss.net/enroll.

Community feedback plays a vital role in shaping our enrollment plan. While we may not be able to meet every individual request, we carefully review all input and work to balance the needs of families with the district’s goals for capacity, stability, and student success. The Board will continue to review the plan and may direct staff to make changes before they vote on the final plan on Nov. 17.

That means that there isn't a calendar application school offered for your address that will provide transportation. Families may apply to any school during the transfer process and, if approved, they wouldn't receive district-provided transportation. More information is at the bottom of this page. 

Track assignments are completed by the school. Principals work together to keep families on the same track.

Yes, we collaborate with local traffic authorities to address potential traffic bottlenecks and safety concerns around schools.

Board Policy 4150 guides the development of annual enrollment plans. This policy includes 4 pillars: student achievement, stability,  proximity, and operational efficiency. Assignment areas are developed by balancing, to the extent reasonable, the goals and factors outlined in the 4 pillars. Watch a video explaining this process.

After feedback is reviewed and presented on October 20, families will be notified via email.

Yes, you still have to register the student for Kindergarten at their base school. Learn more about how to enroll.

No. If you are a current WCPSS student, you do not need to register at the new school. If your address is still affected when the plan is approved, and if you don't qualify for or participate in the stability transfer, your student will automatically be assigned to their new school for the 2027-28 school year.

Students currently attending a magnet middle school will initially be assigned to their base high school. To continue in a magnet program in high school, families must submit a magnet application during the application period, Oct. 15 through Jan. 21, 2027. Learn about our magnet programs.

WCPSS providers serve all schools in the district, supporting students and staff. When students transition from one school to another, providers have access to the student's documents (including therapy notes, evaluations, IEP, and progress reports) and the new/former providers connect to discuss the transition as needed. Parent input is welcome, including anything the parent can suggest to make the transition more successful for the student.

Transition meetings generally occur for students moving up from preschool to elementary, elementary to middle, and middle to high. That said, parents can request a parent-teacher conference or an IEP meeting, depending on the concerns and questions parents have.  We appreciate the partnership we have with parents to make sure student transitions are positive and productive.

Transfers are evaluated based on several criteria such as program continuity (e.g., magnet or calendar), siblings already attending the requested school, and available capacity. Senior students typically receive high consideration to minimize disruption.

Reassignments happen when enrollment patterns shift or new schools open, and adjustments are needed to maintain balanced school capacities. Staff try to limit the frequency of changes affecting the same neighborhoods at a particular grade level.

Staff review multiple factors, including school capacity, proximity, feeder pattern continuity, and anticipated residential growth. The goal is to balance enrollment while minimizing disruption whenever possible.

 In some areas, nearby schools are already at or over capacity. Assigning families to a slightly farther school with available space ensures that every student has a seat in an appropriately sized learning environment.

We use a long-range facilities plan to determine when and where to build new schools, expand capacity at existing schools, and utilize reassignments to optimize available capacity.

School staff and counselors are available to support students during transitions. District teams also coordinate communication between sending and receiving schools to help students adjust smoothly.

Once the Board finalizes the plan, schools will share open house dates for newly assigned families.

Yes. The Wake County Board of Education may request additional changes after reviewing the revised draft and hearing community feedback at the Oct. 20 public hearing. Families can continue to share questions and feedback through a second online forum, which opens Oct. 20.

Staff will review feedback and evaluate any Board-requested changes before the Board's expected final vote on Nov. 17.

During the official transfer request period (March 1–12), families may submit a “back-to-base” transfer request. If the requested school is not capped, the request will be approved following Board Policy 4150. If the school is capped, requests will be reviewed individually, and approval is not guaranteed.

If a student is eligible for a stability transfer (review the proposed stability rules) AND an application is submitted during the designated Stability Transfer application period (late November - early December), the request will be approved. Please note that requests submitted after the Stability Transfer application period are NOT guaranteed and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with Board Policy 4150.

The stability transfer window is scheduled to open in late November. Eligible families will be emailed once the portal is open.

Stability transfers are valid through the terminal grade of the school.

• Elementary school stability transfers are valid through the 5th grade and do NOT need to be requested each year.

• Middle school stability transfers are valid through the 8th grade and do NOT need to be requested each year.

• High school stability transfers are valid through the 12th grade and do NOT need to be requested each year.

Providing bus service for Stability Transfers in these areas would place additional strain on our transportation system.

Siblings entering kindergarten in a future year are generally eligible to join their older sibling if they live at the same address and the older sibling is still enrolled at the same school.

Detailed information on course offerings, clubs, and extracurricular activities will be shared in the coming months. We aim to have this information available by the spring semester to assist families in planning for the upcoming school year. We plan to offer a diverse range of electives and clubs that reflect the interests and needs of our student body.

Principal announcements typically occur in the spring before the school opening to allow time for staff recruitment and community engagement. 

Lunch schedules will be designed to accommodate all students within the available space and resources. Student parking will be available, with priority given to sophomores and upperclassmen as the school adds grades.

Yes, Morrisville High will offer a comprehensive academic and extracurricular program, honors/AP classes, and varsity sports, although some offerings may be phased in as the school grows.

Students at Morrisville High will have access to a broad range of courses and opportunities as the school opens and grows. Because Morrisville High School will open with grades 9–10 and add additional grades over time, course offerings and extracurricular opportunities will develop as enrollment and grade levels expand. Once school leadership and staff are in place, they will begin planning for the 2027-28 school year. Families will receive more information about academic programs and course offerings as those plans are developed.