How to Apply for a Voluntary School 
  Transfer Within 
 Rochester School District


MARCH 31, 2025 application deadline for early may 
decision notification 


Students in the Rochester School District (RSD) have all been assigned a specific school based on their primary home address. These assignments are available in a number of places including:

  • Online at the Rochester School District websites

  • Onsite at the RSD Family and Community Resource Center at 150 Wakefield Street Suite 204, Rochester, NH (Tues 8:00 to 1:00 PM,
    Thu 1:00 to 5 PM, the 1st and 3rd Wed evening from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, and every third Saturday from 9:00 AM to noon) 

  • Onsite at the RSD Central Office at the same address, Suite 200 during regular business hours 

  • At your child’s school

  • Through phone inquiries can be directed to 603-332-3678.

Who can apply for a voluntary transfer?
According to the School District's “Voluntary Transfer of Students to Schools” Policy, a parent/guardian may submit a student transfer request application for any of the following reasons:

  • A student with special needs (this includes hardship, medical and


    educational special needs) is requesting to stay in their current school or 


    transfer to a different school. Parents/guardians shall be responsible for transportation.


  • A student that is a rising 5th grader who wishes to remain in their current elementary school provided there is space. In addition, the child’s attendance and behavior will be considered in the review process. Parents/Guardians shall be responsible for transportation. Siblings would remain in their current school building unless a separate transfer request is submitted. Parents/guardians shall be responsible for transportation.


  • Staff who choose to have their children attend the school in which they are employed at the Rochester School District provided there is space and that it does not interfere with their role and responsibilities. (Staff shall be responsible for transportation).

It is important to note that an application for any of the above categories, will be considered, but it DOES NOT GUARANTEE APPROVAL and will be subject to the full review process by the Principal and Superintendent.

How do I apply for a voluntary school transfer?
To submit a request to transfer to a school, other than the one assigned to your primary home address or to request to stay at your current school although you have been assigned to a different school, you must complete the Voluntary School Transfer Form. 

The form, is available -  

There are several ways to complete and submit the form -
*Note - this is not a fillable form it is designed to be downloaded and then completed by computer or by hand

  • Download the form and fill it out online, save it with the following name convention Your child’s last name School Transfer Form (Smith School Transfer Form). Then attach the form to an email and submit it to student.registration@sau54.org .You do not need to write an additional email message. You will receive a confirmation when the form is received.

or

Rochester School District

Attention School Enrollment Team

150 Wakefield Street, Suite 8

Rochester, NH 03867

or

  • Download and print the form, then fill it out clearly with black or blue ink and mail to:

Rochester School District

Attention School Enrollment Team

150 Wakefield Street, Suite 8

Rochester, NH 03867

or

  • Come pick up a form at your child’s school, RSD Family and Community Resource Center at 150 Wakefield Street, Suite 204 or the Central Office, Suite 200 at the Rochester Community Center. 

In all cases, after your submission is received, an email confirmation will be sent to the email you provided in the application.

If your child has an Individual Education Plan (I.E.P.) or a 504 Plan, we suggest you discuss, prior to submission, the potential transfer request with your case manager and the positive/negative impact of the transfer you are requesting. Part of the district’s review process will include getting their input.

How are voluntary transfer requests processed?

Transfer requests are logged into the Master Transfer Request list. They are then reviewed for completeness by the District’s Enrollment Specialist. If information is missing or incorrect, the Specialist will reach out to you for clarification. Incomplete or incorrect forms cannot be processed.

Accurately completed transfer requests are reviewed by the Superintendent, or their designee, along with the Principals of the potential affected schools and other District staff as needed. The Superintendent will then make a final decision on a case-by-case basis, relative to the circumstances and school capacity. Once the decision is made, the parent/guardian is notified by email and regular mail.

In the event of a denial, the Teaching, Learning, and Student Supports Committee shall hear appeals of voluntary transfer requests. The Committee shall make a recommendation to the Board for final approval of any change in voluntary transfer request decisions..

What is the timeline for processing voluntary transfer requests?

March 31, 2025 Initial School Transfer Request Deadline - The initial deadline for submitting your request for the 2025-2026 Academic Year is March 31, 2025. This will allow schools, as they assemble their classroom lists, to determine capacity and openings.Submissions will be accepted up until the beginning of the school year, but transfer space may no longer be available.

May 1 : Families Notified - Families will receive notification of transfer decision by mail and email.
June - Aug: Ongoing Reviews -  Transfer Requests received after March 31 will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Who can I contact if I have additional questions?
For more information, please contact our Enrollment Specialist at 603-332-3678, Stanley.c@ sau54.org or visit our RSD Family and Community Resource Center at 150 Wakefield Street Suite 204, Rochester, NH.