Some SC students can choose which school to attend. When you can apply
School districts around the South Carolina Midlands have their own versions of schools choice. Enrollment in those programs, for some districts in Richland and Lexington counties, is now at hand.
Some offer specialized education in science, fine arts or language. Others allow students to attend schools outside their assigned attendance zone for medical reasons or childcare convenience. Here’s everything to know about what programs are available and when to apply.
Richland 1
Richland 1 offers magnet choice programs for students of all ages at their elementary, middle and high schools, including those focused on aerospace, health sciences and career awareness. All district students are eligible to apply for the district’s magnet programs, unless the program is specifically designated for a certain attendance zone.
Admission is based on successful completion of the application process, which can include attending an information session, meeting qualifying criteria and completing an application through the Novus Choice portal.
Applications for the 2026-27 school year will open Dec. 8. The deadline is Jan. 30, 2026.
The district provides transportation for career, language immersion and Montessori programs. Families must provide their own transportation for other programs.
Some programs select participants using a computerized random selection process (lottery) when there are more students and families interested in a particular magnet program than there are slots available.
Families will be notified in February if their student is selected for the program of their choice.
Richland 2
Richland 2 has an expanded school choice and a magnet program, as well as an early college program and an eSchool program.
Applications are now open for the 2026-27 school year and must be completed by Dec. 19, 2025.
Richland 2 parents must create an online account, add their students to the application and select between one and three desired schools for each student. If a student is already a participant, families do not need to reapply.
Expanded school choice allows families to enroll their children in district schools outside of those in their attendance zone.
Richland 2 has an expansive elementary and secondary magnet programs, with focuses on topics like language immersion, health sciences and leadership.
AVID Early College — Advancement Via Individual Determination — is a program that is available for students who are willing to take AVID classes all four years of high school. Placement is based on eighth grade standardized test scores.
The district’s eSchool program allows for a fully virtual learning experience from the student’s home, and is available for those in sixth through 12th grades.
Applicants can log back in between Feb. 9 and Feb. 13, 2026, to find out if they were approved for a program.
Students are selected via a lottery drawing for some programs, though not all.
Lexington 1
Lexington 1 has limited school choice, which allows students to attend schools outside their regular attendance zone when space is available.
Applications will reopen in the spring of 2026 for the 2026-27 school year.
Last year, the district was not able to offer the choice program at every school because some campuses were already at capacity.
Lexington 1 holds a lottery drawing for students spots when a school receives more applications than seats available.
Families must be residents of the district and parents must be able to transport their students to their choice school.
Lexington 2
Lexington 2 offers school choice on a limited basis. Only certain circumstances are considered valid reasons, to attend a district school outside a family’s attendance zone, including medical reasons, childcare needs, a parent’s work location, a child’s daycare location or to be placed at the same school as a child’s sibling.
Those interested must fill out an application from the school or the district office. Those applications are now available for the 2026-27 school year. Completed forms should be emailed to studentservices@lex2.org or turned into the district’s Student Service Office by Jan. 16, 2026.
Parents must agree to transport their child to their school to ensure attendance and punctuality.
Lexington-Richland 5
Lexington-Richland 5 has a magnet school program that provides students with the opportunity to learn through specialized pathways with a focus on science, art or global education at the elementary and secondary level.
Applications are currently open and close Jan. 28, 2026.
Dutch Fork Elementary, Harbison West Elementary, H.E. Corley Elementary, Leaphart Elementary, Nursery Road Elementary and Seven Oaks Elementary have programs ranging from an environmental science academy to a Montessori Magnet.
Irmo Middle, Irmo High, Dutch Fork High, Spring Hill High and the Center for Advanced Technical Studies have programs from a career pathways magnet to International Baccalaureate options.
Lottery results and selection notifications will be sent to families on Feb. 6, 2026, and well be required to accept or decline their child’s placement by Feb. 10, 2026. Those who wish to decline their placement and remain in the waiting pool for their preferred choice will be contacted if a spot opens.
