For families who do not live within the PCSSD school zone but wish to attend one of the schools, the Arkansas School Choice Act is an option. Arkansas Public School Choice enables a student in kindergarten through grade 12 to attend a school in a nonresident district. School applications are accepted annually between January 1 and May 1. Applications that are emailed or postmarked prior to January 1, 2025 or after May 1, 2025 will not be accepted. Uniformed service families are exempt from the deadline.

Arkansas Public School Choice FAQ

The Public School Choice Act of 2015
Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-1903
A public school choice program is established to enable a student in kindergarten through grade twelve (12) to attend a school in a nonresident district, subject to the limitations under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-1906 and the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) Rules Governing The Public School Choice Act of 2015.

Resident/Non-Resident
§ 6-18-1902

• “Resident District” means the school district in which the student resides as determined by § 6-18-202.

  • “Resides” means to be physically present and to maintain a permanent place of abode for an average of no less than four (4) calendar days and nights per week for a primary purpose other than school attendance.

• “Nonresident district” means a school district other than a student’s resident district.

Parents/guardians can complete a school choice application online or at the PCSSD Central Office (located at 925 E. Dixon Road). When filling out the application, please indicate what grade your child will be in for the upcoming school year. Please list your full address and phone number on the application. You may submit your completed application in one of the following ways:

• Email: schoolchoice@pcssd.org

• In-person:
  PCSSD Central Office
  925 E. Dixon Rd., Little Rock, AR, 72206

• By Mail:
  c/o Equity and Pupil Services
  925 E. Dixon Rd., Little Rock, AR, 72206

Accepting or Rejecting Applications
By July 1 the nonresident district shall notify the parent and the resident district in writing that the applicant was accepted or rejected

For information regarding School Choice within PCSSD, please contact:
Chanda Swinson
Office of Equity and Pupil Services
Phone: (501) 234-2021

For information regarding Arkansas Public School Choice Act of 2015, please contact:
Arkansas Department of Education
Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Phone:  501-683-1876
Email:  ade.efa@ade.arkansas.gov