Nearly 40 parents have asked the Cherokee County School District to transfer their children to another county school this year.

Parents had until June 26 to request the district move their children from Blacksburg Primary, Blacksburg Elementary, Limestone- Central, Luther Vaughan, and Mary Bramlett elementaries. The schools offering school choice are currently in federal Title 1 school improvement for not making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for two straight years under the No Child Left Behind law.

"School choice is one of the options available in these Title 1 schools," district Title 1 coordinator Elizabeth Brittain said. "Parents left in the schools working towards change can choose supplemental services such as tutoring."

A total of 38 student transfer requests were received from the Title 1 schools through June 25, according to preliminary figures from the district office.

B.D. Lee Elementary was the most popular destination.

A total of 19 Mary Bramlett and Limestone-Central Elementary students have asked to transfer to B.D. Lee Elementary this school year.

Eleven Mary Bramlett and Luther Vaughan elementary students have asked to transfer to Alma Elementary. All three schools operate on a yearround school schedule.

Seven Luther Vaughan students requested to move to Grassy Pond Elementary.

Blacksburg students expressed almost no interest in changing schools.

Blacksburg Primary had one student request a transfer to Draytonville Elementary. There were no transfer requests from Blacksburg Elementary.

Parents will receive a letter about their transfer request before year-round schools open July 10, Brittain said. The district must provide transportation for these students to attend another county school.

"The new schools will have the bus information for student transfers," Brittain said. "It may take the first day or two of school before we have the bus schedules worked for new students."

The school choice applies only to district Title I schools.

Title 1 is a federal academic program provided in eight county elementary schools. At least half of the students in each school qualifies for free and reduced lunch.

This year's district Title 1 budget is $2.3 million.

"Title I is so much more than a funding source," Brittain said. "It is a reform engine and a supporter of reform initiatives that ultimately provide the path for all children in Title I schools to feel the joy of success."