Duval Schools headquarters | Megan Mallicoat, Jacksonville Today
Published on November 14, 2025 at 12:41 pm
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If you’re looking to enroll a first-time student in Duval Schools or switch schools for this coming fall, here’s what you need to know — as January deadlines for school-choice applications are quickly approaching.
Enrolling new students
Enrollment in Duval Schools is a two-part process. First, you need to get your kid into the district’s system and create an account for yourself too, and then, you’ll apply for and register them for the specific school you want them to attend, whether it’s your neighborhood zoned school or one clear across the county.
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If your child is new to Duval Schools (and that includes incoming kindergarteners), start by creating a student account that will ultimately assign your child a unique student ID number. If you don’t have a computer or internet access, the district suggests going to your neighborhood school or making an appointment with the staff at the Parent Resource Center in midtown.
To create your child’s account, first gather the paperwork that you’ll need. These documents include:
- Your child’s birth certificate
- Proof of immunization or an exemption
- Proof that your child has had a physical exam within the last year
- Proof of residence
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As of this guide’s publication, Florida still requires students to be vaccinated against several diseases — though that could change. For now, though, you’ll need to submit Form DH 680 to show proof of vaccination. (Pediatricians will usually fill this out and give it to you at shot appointments.)
You might also need to bring a recent report card if your student is transferring to Duval from another district. In some cases, you’ll need proof of guardianship also. If you can’t immediately prove residence with documents like a JEA bill, payroll statements or a vehicle registration, DCPS provides a 15-day grace period during which your child may attend school.
The documents you use can be photos or digital versions, so don’t sweat it if you don’t have a scanner handy.
When you have your documents assembled, fill out Duval Schools’ New Student Application. Then, create your own Linked Parent Account account, which will connect to your student’s account and allow you to receive updates about your child’s academic progress eventually.
By default, your student will be enrolled in your neighborhood school. If that’s your choice, great! You’re done.
If you want to explore the district’s available school choice options, though, keep going.
Lottery and open enrollment
If you want to send your child to a school that you’re not zoned for — whether because of a magnet program or simply because you prefer a different school — you’ll need to submit a special assignment lottery application. The lottery application period opens on Dec. 1, 2025, and closes on Jan. 31, 2026.
Duval Schools selects students from lottery applications semi-randomly — magnets are allowed to weigh certain preferences, listed under section 5.46 in the district’s policy manual) — and while taking into account the priority you assign to your selections.
You’ll receive lottery results electronically in mid-March. If your student isn’t chosen for a program, their name will be added to a wait list. The district says there’s still a good chance of getting a seat at your top school over the summer as student enrollment shuffles. Use the parent account you created to check in on your lottery wait list progress.
If you miss the lottery window, you can try to snag a seat for your child during a controlled open enrollment period that runs from mid-March through August and briefly at the end of each academic quarter during the school year. Check the district’s list of space available at each school, then submit the controlled open enrollment application form.
