DALTON, Ga. — Families with students attending a particular city school or who’ve had a child in the school in the past will get preference above new families in the school application process, officials have decided.
The rule applies to out-of-zone students — those who live in the city but are applying to attend a school other than the one they’re zoned for — and out-of-district students — those that do not live in the city but are applying to attend a city school and pay tuition.
City residents attending the school they’re zoned for get first preference, regardless of their history with that school.
School board members studied a proposed new policy that would move all out-of-zone students ahead of some out-of-district students. But on Monday, they voted 3-1 on a policy that continues to give preference to siblings of out-of-district students ahead of new out-of-zone students with no previous ties to a school.
Board member Danny Crutchfield said some residents were afraid a new policy would split siblings among different schools.