Elkhorn Public Schools limits 2026‑27 intra‑district transfers to Elkhorn High, sets seat caps

The Elkhorn Public Schools Board materials for March 2026 state that the district will limit in‑district transfers for the 2026‑27 school year to Elkhorn High School, and identify specific seat caps for each grade at EHS. The packet describes the change as a tool to manage enrollment growth while maintaining equitable access across schools.

District materials list proposed open seats at Elkhorn High of 22 for ninth grade, 10 for tenth grade, 4 for eleventh grade and 5 for twelfth grade. The materials state that all other EPS schools will be closed to intra‑district transfers for the 2026‑27 year and say the capacity decisions are based on physical space and staffing considerations and projected resident enrollments.

The document explains the order of acceptance and criteria for approval. If applications exceed available seats, the district will use a lottery system; students of certificated staff are exempt from the lottery and are acted on before the lottery. Transfers will be reviewed by the superintendent or a designee. The packet emphasizes that approval will depend on space in the requested grade/program, enrollment projections for both sending and receiving schools, and programmatic capacity (for example, special education and gifted programs).

Special education transfers will be evaluated on a case‑by‑case basis by the Director of Special Education Services (or designee) to determine whether the receiving school can provide required services and accommodations; the materials cite the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.) and note FERPA (20 U.S.C. § 1232g) permitting release of records when a student seeks to enroll in a different district.

The packet lists transfer limitations: students may transfer only once during their district enrollment (from initial enrollment through graduation), may return to their school of residence before the first day of school, and transportation for transfer students is not provided by Elkhorn Public Schools.

The materials include multiple slides with application timelines and deadlines but show conflicting dates within the packet. One slide lists an application window opening March 10, 2026, with an application deadline of April 10, 2026, decisions from the district on April 17 and parent confirmation by April 24. Another slide lists an April 1 application deadline and parents/guardians notified on April 25. The packet also references board meeting dates (January 12 presentation, possible February 9 vote, March 9 policy committee capacity recommendation). The materials instruct readers to review the district’s administrative rules and the posted application links for the definitive process and deadlines.

District rationale included in the packet emphasizes balancing enrollments across Elkhorn High, Elkhorn North and Elkhorn South and easing capacity pressures at Elkhorn South and Elkhorn North; staff note that feeder patterns differ among the schools and that limiting transfers to EHS helps retain students seeking a smaller high‑school experience.

The packet also lists administrative grounds to deny or cancel transfer requests, including when acceptance would increase operating costs (for example, requiring new staff or contractors), would require procurement of new equipment as determined by the superintendent, would require rearrangement of caseloads for staff or contractors, or when an application lacks required documentation.

Next procedural steps in the materials indicate the application window is open in March 2026 and that the district will notify parents/guardians in writing of transfer decisions on the dates shown in the packet; because the packet contains differing timelines, the district materials and website should be consulted for the official application deadline and notification date.