Nashville families can now apply to schools they aren’t zoned for. Here’s what to know.

It’s time again for parents in Metro to shop around for school options. The applications are for families who want to send their children someplace other than their zoned school.

Metro Nashville Public Schools has more than 100 open enrollment schools to choose from, which may suit the different needs of students. Certain schools offer special emphasis on things like arts or academics.

One thing to keep in mind is that transportation isn’t guaranteed for students who enroll someplace other than their zoned school, though the district does have a partnership for certain students to ride city buses at no cost.

On the larger scale, where students enroll affects school funding. The more students go to an optional school, the less money their neighborhood school receives. So these decisions not only affect individual students, but also the communities around them.

The Optional Schools application is open today through February 10. We've got frequently asked questions, an informational booklet in several languages and a list of things to consider before you apply. https://t.co/EESMGBTMVq pic.twitter.com/KWLHPBzStf

— Metro Schools (@MetroSchools) January 23, 2023

The applications are available online in Spanish, Arabic, Swahili, Kurdish and Burmese. Families who want in-person support in filing their applications can schedule an appointment at the Family Information Center. That can be done by email or by calling 615-259-4636.

Families can apply for up to seven optional schools, ranking them in order of preference with No. 1 as their top choice. The district says a computer program will randomly select who gets a seat in each school, based on the schools listed in each application. The district’s FAQ page contains even more details about the school options process.

Parents applying for students entering kindergarten must also fill out a separate kindergarten registration, which opens Jan. 30.

Families can submit their application online or via mail. The deadline for applications is Feb. 10 (by 4:30 p.m. for those submitting in-person.) The district will announce results on March 6 at www.mnps.org/school–options.