School Choice for 2025-2026 School Year

The 2025-2026 school choice application period will open on November 4, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. and close on January 8, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. All Indian River School District school choice applications must be submitted online at schoolchoicede.org. The online system offers both English and Spanish options for applications. 

• Decisions on Grades K-12 will begin February 25, 2025. Parents must accept the invitation by the designated deadline within the invitation. 
• Please note: kindergarten students must be pre-registered with their home school before school choice applications will be processed.

When visiting schoolchoicede.org, parents must create an account with a user name and password. It is recommended that the user name be an e-mail address. Once an account has been created, the parent can complete the application for selection of choice schools. There are up to 3 choices available. However, the parent is not required to request 3 schools. Simply request the school(s) of interest.

A separate application must be submitted for each child. Parents can also apply to the Spanish Immersion Program for kindergarten. (Certain conditions apply for application of Spanish Immersion in subsequent grades).    

Existing IRSD School Choice Students in the Fifth or Eighth Grade:
School Choice students currently in the fifth or eighth grade require completion of another school choice application to be considered for the next building level next year. Failure to complete the new school choice application will result in the student being placed in his/her home school for the 2025-2026 school year.

The school choice system will also designate district schools that are anticipated to have openings and those that are at capacity. Parents will still be permitted to submit applications for “At Capacity” schools. However, these applications may be placed on a waitlist or denied due to capacity.

The parent/guardian will receive an e-mail confirmation once the school choice application has been submitted. The parent/guardian may review, edit or withdraw the application at any time prior to the January 8, 2025, deadline with the use of the established user name and password. 

For more information about school choice or the online application system, please contact the IRSD district office at (302) 436-1000. 

SCHOOL CHOICE PRESENTATION - 2025-2026 (CLICK HERE)

Good Cause Applications

Good Cause applications are the only school choice options available for 2025-2026 and must meet one of the criteria listed below.

IRSD will consider "choice" applications outside of open enrollment when "Good Cause" exists. As we know life doesn't happen on a schedule. Sometimes changing family circumstances make "choicing" your child to a particular school a necessity. Below are the definitions for Good Cause: 

  • A change in the family residence within Delaware.
  • A family moves to Delaware from out of state
  • A change in the marital status of the parents
  • A change in guardianship
  • Placement in foster care or Adoption
  • Participation in a foreign exchange to Delaware
  • A child who is in a substance abuse or health treatment program
  • A reported, recorded and substantiated instance of "bullying" against their child as defined in §4112D of Title 14
  • Another reason that is consistent with the reasons above

Please be advised that not only would your request need to meet the definition of “Good Cause”, but:

  • Space must be available within the building and/or classroom.
  • Attendance and discipline are deciding factors

Please use the below link to begin completion of the Good Cause Application.

GOOD CAUSE APPLICATION 2024-2025
GOOD CAUSE APPLICATION 2025-2026

Communication regarding choice applications will be made to the applicant’s email address. Also please check your spam folder.

For more information about school choice or the online application system, please contact the IRSD district office at (302) 436-1000. 

Contact: 
Preston Lewis
Administrator of Student Services
(302) 436-1000