# California public school options: neighborhood, transfer, magnet, and charter

Learn how assigned schools, district transfers, magnet programs, and charter schools work in California.

5 min read

Updated: 2026-09-28

Most California children have an assigned public school based on their home address. Families may also be able to request another school in the same district, apply to a school in another district, or choose a magnet or charter school. The local rules and deadlines determine which options are available.

## Your assigned school

The school assigned to your address is often called your neighborhood school or school of residence. Confirm the assignment directly with the district. The closest school may belong to a different attendance area.

Districts usually ask for proof of address, the child's age, and other enrollment records. The assigned school provides the most direct enrollment path because it does not require transfer approval or a lottery.

## A transfer within your district

An intradistrict transfer is a request to attend a different school in the same district. The local school board sets the application dates, priorities, and rules.

Approval usually depends on available space. A district may use a lottery or priorities such as siblings when requests exceed the number of seats. Check whether the transfer includes transportation and whether approval continues in later years.

## A transfer to another district

An interdistrict transfer is a request to leave your home district and attend a school in another district. It usually requires approval from both districts.

The receiving district can consider space and its local policy. If a request is denied, the written decision should explain the reason and any appeal process. These transfers can take longer, and transportation is commonly the family's responsibility.

## Magnet programs

A magnet is a public school or program built around a theme such as science, arts, language immersion, or career education. It may be an entire school or a program inside a larger school.

The district controls admission. Some magnets use a lottery. Others give priority based on geography, siblings, or published program rules.

## Charter schools

A charter school is a tuition-free public school that operates under an approved charter. Families apply directly to the school instead of receiving an assignment based on their address.

When applications exceed available seats, admission generally uses a public random drawing with legally permitted preferences. A charter may have its own calendar, transportation policy, instructional approach, and governing board. Families who need special education services should ask how the school provides those services.

## What to check before applying

Start with the district's current enrollment and transfer pages. Confirm:

- the application deadline
- whether your child is eligible
- how admission decisions are made
- whether transportation is provided
- whether enrollment continues through the school's final grade
- how the school provides any services your child needs

## Sources

- [California Department of Education: enrollment and public school options](https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/eo/)
- [California Department of Education: district of choice](https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/eo/dc/)
- [California Department of Education: district transfers](https://www.cde.ca.gov/RE/di/fq/districttransfers.asp)
- [California Department of Education: charter schools](https://www.cde.ca.gov/SP/ch/cefcharterschools.asp)
- [California Department of Education: magnet schools](https://www.cde.ca.gov/Sp/eo/mt/)

## Keep exploring

**School options**

Compare neighborhood, transfer, magnet, and charter options and find the local rules that control access.

[See this topic](/learn/public-school-options)

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