What is a transfer student? 

A transfer student is a student who moves schools after the first day of school or the first date of fall sports (if they participate) in their 9th grade year.

Even if you did not participate in any sports at your previous school, you are still a transfer student.

You are not a transfer student if you are in the 7th or 8th grade; or you are starting your first day of 9th grade (or attending the first day of fall sports in your 9th grade year).

How do I start the process for determining my eligibility at my new school?

First, you should be fully enrolled at your new school. Next, start by filling out this form: https://forms.gle/qRpR4YLuabBjffp28

All transfer students are eligible for JV or lower upon enrollment in their new school. If you are interested in varsity eligibility one of the following criterion need to be met:

1. Family Residence Change: The student transfers from one public school district attendance area to another public school district attendance area at any time during the calendar year in which there is a change of residence and occupancy in Minnesota by the student’s parents. If the student’s parents move from one public school district attendance area to another public school district attendance area, the student will be eligible in the new public school attendance area or a non-public school if the student transfers at the same time the student’s parents establish a new family residence. Families should be prepared to provide the following documentation:

• New mailing address of the parents or guardians
• Voting registration of parents or guardians that coincides with the new residence
• Driver’s license registration that coincides with the new residence
• Purchase or rental agreements
• Homestead classification
• Any reliable evidence of residency

2. Court Ordered Residence Change for Child Protection: The student’s residence is changed pursuant to a child protection order placement in a foster home, or a juvenile court disposition order. 

3. Divorced Parents: A student of divorced parents or parents who were never married, who resides with one parent and moves to reside with the other parent shall be eligible at the time of the move: (a) At the public school in the new public school attendance area as determined by the district school board where the new residence is located; or (b) At any non-public school. The student may utilize this provision only one time during grades 9-12 inclusive. The new residence cannot be located in the same public school attendance area as the previous residence.

4. Move From Out of State: If a student’s parents move to Minnesota from a state or country outside of Minnesota and if the student moves at the same time the parents establish a residence in a Minnesota public school district attendance area, the student shall be eligible at the first school the student attends in Minnesota.

If none of these options fit your situation you may have the opportunity for an eligibility review. A review will only occur under the following circumstances:

1. Documented internal Board of Education policies regarding the movement of students within the school district.

2. Adoption, abandonment, or death of a parent. 

3. A documented substantial negative change in the economic status of the student’s parents which requires the student to withdraw from their current school and enroll in the public school located in the public school district attendance area where the student’s parents reside. 

4. School Student Bullying or Harassment—The provisions of MN Statutes 121A.03 and 121A.031 shall be applied. 

5. Administrative error in addressing a student’s initial eligibility. 

6. Completion of a licensed program for treatment of chemical dependency or diagnosed mental health disorder provided all other eligibility rules are followed.

7. School Administrators Review—When the six transfer eligibility review exceptions above are not applicable, the Receiving School Principal and Activities Director and the Sending School Principal and Activities Director together may submit a written request to the MSHSL that circumstances exist which warrant a review of varsity eligibility by the MSHSL. The school administrators must identify the circumstances that exist and submit information and documentation to support their request for review of varsity eligibility. This transfer eligibility review exception is applicable only for students who transfer from one MSHSL member school to another MSHSL member school.