NACS sets transfer capacities for 2026–27, opens applications through June 30, 2027
April 13, 2026 | Northwest Allen County Schools, School Boards, Indiana
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Northwest Allen County Schools trustees voted to establish transfer-student capacities for the 2026–27 school year and to publish the openings and application dates to the Indiana Department of Education.
Mr. Dale presented demographic and enrollment data that the district used to shape the proposal: the district saw 126 fewer students in fall 2025 than in fall 2024, and about 1,359 students who live inside district boundaries choose to attend other schools (two-thirds, he said, using vouchers to attend private schools). To respond, the administration proposed accepting out-of-district transfer students at the following grade-level capacities across the district: 40 elementary seats per grade, 20 middle-school seats per grade and 10 high-school seats per grade (the packet displayed a total of 340 openings).
Mr. Dale explained the mechanics the district will use if applications exceed capacity: timely requests will be treated equally and, if necessary, placements will be determined by a publicly verifiable random selection (lottery) in accordance with state rules. He also recommended that the district set June 30, 2027 as the deadline for receiving transfer requests for the 2026–27 school year; the board will still vote on the policy on second reading before issuing formal acceptances.
Board members asked about transportation (transfer families must provide it, with narrow special-education exceptions), whether current students could transfer between district schools during the first year of rebalancing (administration recommended holding the line to protect staffing), and how families with multiple students would be accommodated (administration would attempt to honor families’ preferences subject to capacity and lottery rules).
Trustees approved the establishment of capacities and took the policy (C-125) through first reading, with administration planning to publish the dates and capacities to the Indiana Department of Education and on the district website.
Mr. Dale presented demographic and enrollment data that the district used to shape the proposal: the district saw 126 fewer students in fall 2025 than in fall 2024, and about 1,359 students who live inside district boundaries choose to attend other schools (two-thirds, he said, using vouchers to attend private schools). To respond, the administration proposed accepting out-of-district transfer students at the following grade-level capacities across the district: 40 elementary seats per grade, 20 middle-school seats per grade and 10 high-school seats per grade (the packet displayed a total of 340 openings).
Mr. Dale explained the mechanics the district will use if applications exceed capacity: timely requests will be treated equally and, if necessary, placements will be determined by a publicly verifiable random selection (lottery) in accordance with state rules. He also recommended that the district set June 30, 2027 as the deadline for receiving transfer requests for the 2026–27 school year; the board will still vote on the policy on second reading before issuing formal acceptances.
Board members asked about transportation (transfer families must provide it, with narrow special-education exceptions), whether current students could transfer between district schools during the first year of rebalancing (administration recommended holding the line to protect staffing), and how families with multiple students would be accommodated (administration would attempt to honor families’ preferences subject to capacity and lottery rules).
Trustees approved the establishment of capacities and took the policy (C-125) through first reading, with administration planning to publish the dates and capacities to the Indiana Department of Education and on the district website.
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