School Choice Lottery

Yes! Fort Wayne Community Schools accepts students from outside its boundaries as space allows.

A School Choice Lottery Application must be submitted. Lottery awards are based on a school’s space availability. Tuition payment may be required. Fees are set in August and may vary from year to year due to changes in public school funding by the State of Indiana. FWCS has the authority (by law) to deny a request for transfer* if the applicant has been suspended or expelled during the 12-month period preceding the transfer application for the following reasons:

• Suspension for ten (10) or more school days;
• For a violation under I.C. 20-33-8-16 (firearms, deadly weapons or destructive devices);
• For a violation of a school’s drug or alcohol rules; or
• When the applicant is ineligible to enroll during a period of expulsion or proposed expulsion under I.C. 20-33-8-30.

*This does not apply to any FWCS intra-district transfers (IDT).

Student and Family Support Services will be responsible for requesting and retrieving the applicant’s records from the previous school. The Out-of-District applications will not be entered into the lottery until the discipline records have been reviewed. Contact Student and Family Support Services, at 260.467.2120, for further information.

Yes! Families outside the FWCS boundaries may apply for Bunche Montessori Early Childhood Center or Whitney Young STEAM Early Childhood Center. Bunche accepts students who are 3 or 4 years old by Aug. 1, 2026, for pre-K. Whitney Young accepts students who are 4 years old by Aug. 1, 2026, for pre-K. A tuition payment is required for all pre-K students residing outside FWCS boundaries. FWCS also offers pre-K in most of our elementary schools. A limited number of spaces are available to those outside the FWCS boundaries through the On My Way Pre-K program.

FWCS offers early kindergarten testing for students whose birthdays are close to the cutoff date. Make sure you complete the lottery application before requesting early kindergarten testing.

Yes, if you already have a child in one school and want another to attend, you need to fill out an application for your other child. If you have more than one child you want to enter a new school, you will need to fill out lottery applications for each child.

Yes, we offer a Sibling Preference to give siblings a greater chance at attending the same school. The Sibling Preference applies to siblings remaining at the same school of choice for the 2026-27 school year. If one student moves up to the next school in the feeder pattern, the Sibling Preference no longer applies. To qualify for the Sibling Preference, you must list siblings on the lottery application and submit the lottery application on time (by March 1, 2026). 

No, once your child is in their school of choice, you do not need to fill out another application. Your child will stay in that school’s feeder pattern through graduation unless you choose to return to your home feeder pattern or apply for a different school.

No, students can only be on one waiting list at a time. If you want to move to another waiting list, you will forfeit your spot on your preferred school’s waiting list.

Please contact the FWCS Office of Special Education at 260-467-1110 to determine eligibility and services available at a specific school.

All FWCS employees are allowed to have their student attend the school building in which they are assigned. The exception to this practice is employees wanting to enroll their children in a Title I pre-K program. Staff members living outside the school's boundaries are not eligible to bring their pre-K child to the program.

All FWCS employees receive a preference in the school choice lottery regardless of which school you are choosing and regardless of if you live inside or outside FWCS boundaries. You must complete the online application through the myFWCS Parent Portal and complete the employee verification form. Only on-time applications (submitted by March 1, 2026) will be considered for the Employee Preference.

Yes, for the best chance to get your school of choice, you should enter the lottery during the on-time window of December 1, 2025 - March 1, 2026, but it doesn't matter what date you enter during that time period. People who enter on the first day are put on the same list as those who enter on the last day of the on-time lottery window. Then all applications during the on-time window are randomly mixed to create the draw lists.

All applications received March 2, 2026, or after are considered late. They will not be included in the lottery draw. Late applications will be added to the school choice waiting list in the order they were received. Families interested in attending a school other than their home school are encouraged to fill out a lottery application, even if it is after the deadline. Many of our schools do not have a waiting list.

• Suspended for 10 or more school days;
• Violation under I.C. 20-33-8-16 (firearms, deadly weapons or destructive devices);
• Causing physical injury to a student, school employee or school visitor;
• Violation of a school’s drug or alcohol rules; or
• Expulsion or proposed expulsion under I.C. 20-33-8-30.

FWCS Student and Family Support Services will request and the student's records from their previous school. Out-of-district applications will not be entered into the lottery until the discipline records have been reviewed.

*This does not apply to any FWCS intra-district transfers (IDT)