Unique hardships depend on individual student concerns. However, issues such as grievances arising from parent-school conflicts, peer group associations, discipline, attendance problems, and a dissatisfaction with a particular school are not considered hardships.  Hardship transfers do not allow for the choice of a specific school but rather seek to address issues that would prohibit a student from attending his/her zoned school. A decision regarding the transfer request will be made by a hardship transfer committee and all decisions are final. Parents/guardians should receive a response to the transfer request within 30 days of receipt of the request.

Hardship Transfers may be considered for the following reasons:

• Legal – The student is subject to a court order that would prevent him/her from attending the school to which he/she is zoned to attend;
• Medical – The student’s physician, psychiatrist or physiologist should provide written documentation and specific medical reasons (physical and/or psychological) why a student cannot attend the school to which he/she is zoned to attend;
• Child Care (Elementary Students Only) – If each of the parent(s)/guardian(s) in the home work, and their work makes it necessary for their elementary student to stay with a private sitter or in a day care center in another attendance zone, the parent/guardian may request a transfer to a school closer to the day care facility;
• Other issues that would preclude a student from attending the school to which he/she is zoned to attend, to be evaluated at District discretion on a case by case basis.

Hardship transfer applications for the 2024-2025 school year will be available in late May, 2024.

How to Apply

Hardship transfer applications may be submitted online.  For current Cobb County students, the online application can be found in ParentVUE.  For students new to Cobb, the online application is part of the Online Registration system.  Directions for applying through both systems can be found HERE.