Official Site of The State of New Jersey

Tier 1 students include the following applicants:

• Students who are enrolled in a New Jersey public school in their resident school district:
  • During the time of application, and
  • For the entire year immediately before enrollment in a choice district
• Charter school students
• Choice students who have reached the final grade in their choice district (unless the final grade is grade 12)
• Students who moved during the year but attended the public school of both the old and new resident districts
• Students who qualify as homeless or displaced

If a student is homeless or displaced and the choice district has an available seat, they may be enrolled immediately, even if it is after the October deadline.

Kindergarten Students

To qualify as Tier 1 for kindergarten, a student must either:

• Be attending their resident district preschool, or
• Have a sibling attending the choice district in the current year who will continue to attend the school the following year

Tier 2 students include the following applicants:

• Students who do not meet the requirements of Tier 1
• Students who have not attended their resident public school for the entire year immediately prior to enrollment in the choice district
• Students attending nonpublic or private schools
• Students who are homeschooled

Choice districts are not obligated to accept Tier 2 students. If a choice district accepts Tier 2 applicants, it may do so after all qualified Tier 1 applicants have been accepted. If there are more Tier 2 applicants than choice seats available, the choice district must hold a lottery to select students.

Choice districts may give enrollment preference in the application process to students in the following circumstances:

• Students who have a sibling who is currently attending the choice district in the current year and will continue attending the following year
• Choice students who have completed the final grade of the sending district (except for grade 12)
• Students who were living in the choice district but moved out of the district before the application deadline

Enrollment preferences and policies can be found on the district's website.