Student Services - Student Registration

School assignments are based on the residential address of the custodial parent, kinship caregiver or legal custodian ("enrolling adult") and proof of residency in Muscogee County is required before a school assignment is granted. Proof of address is a current utility bill and one of the following documents: a valid residential lease or rental agreement, a current property tax statement, property deed or settlement statement for the home. All proofs of address must indicate the enrolling adult’s name and address. If none of these documents are available in the enrolling adult’s name due to living with someone else, a notarized Affidavit of Residency must be completed by both the owner/tenant and the enrolling adult. The owner/tenant must provide the documents required for proof of address. The Affidavit of Residency must be completed at the Department of Student Services, Central Registration, and both parties are required to be present.

To determine the school of assignment based on your address for this school year, see the MapNet Web School Attendance Zone Locator (https://muscogee.k12.ga.us/Divisions/OperationsAndFacilities/Transportation/BusStops). The school identified for a particular address reflects the assignment for the current school year. The descriptions and maps of school attendance zones available in the MCSD website, in the Columbus City Planning Division website, or in the local newspapers are intended for general reference only.

Enrolling adult's requesting a Hardship transfer must provide evidence of a compelling reason for requesting the transfer. Bus transportation is not provided by the school district for hardship transfers. The deadline for hardship transfer requests closes on the last of May 24, 2022, at 11:59 P.M. Parents of students new to the school district for the coming year may request hardship transfer forms from the school or at Central Registration at the time of enrollment and submitted to the Director of Student Services at the Muscogee County Public Education Center.

Specialized programs of study are offered at Britt David, Clubview, Dimon, Downtown, Hannan, St. Mary’s, and Wynnton elementary schools; at Arnold, East Columbus, Fort, Richards middle schools and Rainey McCullers School of the Arts; and at all high schools. Parents of students interested in attending a magnet school/program should contact the desired school for information about the program and application process. Transportation is provided for students attending those schools/programs provided their residence is more than one and one-half miles from the school.

Out-of-County and Out-of-State students are not eligible to attend Columbus High School Liberal Arts Magnet, Rainey-McCullers School Of the Arts, or Britt David Magnet Academy. There is an exception for Muscogee County School District employees.

If you have questions about school assignments or school attendance zones, call Central Registration at 706-748-2222.

When a student is absent, a written excuse is to be brought to school explaining the reason for the absence. This excuse is to be brought to school within three school days of each absence, as required by Muscogee County School District policy. It is the responsibility of the guardian, or person in control of a child or children to ensure that the school receives each and every written excuse.

Children may be temporarily excused from school when:

1. they are personally ill and their attendance in school would endanger their health or the health of others;
2. in the immediate family there is a serious illness or death which would reasonably necessitate absence from school;
3. on special and recognized religious holidays observed by their faith;
4. mandated by order of governmental agencies (e.g., pre-induction physical examination for military service or court order);
5. principal’s approval of attendance at school related experiences;
6. when registering to vote or voting in a public election;
7. when visiting parents on or home from deployment or to attend military functions;
8. to serve as a page in the Georgia General Assembly or
9. when participating in Student Teen Election Participant activities.

Every student in Muscogee County receives a Student Handbook, which describes the attendance policy adopted by the Muscogee County School District. It is the responsibility of the student and parent, guardian or person in control to read and understand the contents of the handbook. Also, for the purpose of monitoring school and class attendance, it is the responsibility of the parent, guardian or person in control to initiate regular contact with school personnel to ensure that their child attends school and class regularly.

Georgia state law O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690.1 provides the following:

1. Mandatory attendance in a public school, private school, or home school program shall be required for children between their sixth and sixteenth birthdays. Such mandatory attendance shall not be required where the child has successfully completed all requirements for a high school diploma.
2. Every parent, guardian, or other person residing within this state having control or charge of any child or children during the ages of mandatory attendance as required in subsection (a) of this Code section shall enroll and send such child or children to a public school, a private school, or a home study program that meets the requirements for a public school, a private school, or a home study program; and such child shall be responsible for enrolling in and attending a public school, a private school, or a home study program that meets the requirements for a public school, a private school, or a home study program under such penalty for noncompliance with this subsection as is provided in Chapter 11 of Title 15, unless the child's failure to enroll and attend is caused by the child's parent, guardian, or other person, in which case the parent, guardian, or other person alone shall be responsible; provided, however, that tests and physical exams for military service and the National Guard and such other approved absences shall be excused absences. The requirements of this subsection shall apply to a child during the ages of mandatory attendance as required in subsection (a) of this Code section who has been assigned by a local board of education or its delegate to attend an alternative public school program established by that local board of education, including an alternative public school program provided for in Code Section 20-2-154.1, regardless of whether such child has been suspended or expelled from another public school program by that local board of education or its delegate, and to the parent, guardian, or other person residing in this state who has control or charge of such child. Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to require a local board of education or its delegate to assign a child to attend an alternative public school program rather than suspending or expelling the child.
3. Any parent, guardian, or other person residing in this state who has control or charge of a child or children and who shall violate this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to a fine not less than $25.00 and not greater than $100.00, imprisonment not to exceed 30 days, community service, or any combination of such penalties, at the discretion of the court having jurisdiction. Each day's absence from school in violation of this part after the child's school system notifies the parent, guardian, or other person who has control or charge of a child of five unexcused days of absence for a child shall constitute a separate offense. After two reasonable attempts to notify the parent, guardian, or other person who has control or charge of a child of five unexcused days of absence without response, the school system shall send a notice to such parent, guardian, or other person by certified mail, return receipt requested. Public schools shall provide to the parent, guardian, or other person having control or charge of each child enrolled in public school a written summary of possible consequences and penalties for failing to comply with compulsory attendance under this Code section for children and their parents, guardians, or other persons having control or charge of children. The parent, guardian, or other person who has control or charge of a child or children shall sign a statement indicating receipt of such written statement of possible consequences and penalties; children who are age ten years or older by September 1 shall sign a statement indicating receipt of such written statement of possible consequences and penalties. After two reasonable attempts by the school to secure such signature or signatures, the school shall be considered to be in compliance with this subsection if it sends a copy of the statement, via certified mail, return receipt requested, to such parent, guardian, other person who has control or charge of a child, or children. Public schools shall retain signed copies of statements through the end of the school year.

Out-of-County and Out-of-State Tuition for Students of Employees