Please click on the "Create Account" link at the top right to register for Expanded Choice or school magnet programs.

Please note that registrations from previous years are not valid and you must register again.

You may log in at any time during the registration process to add additional children to your profile, add additional choices, change existing choices, or withdraw from any previously selected choices.

System Requirements:

This application supports most modern web browers (Edge, Chrome and Firefox). The system has not been tested with browsers other than those specified.

This application has not been thoroughly tested with nor do we support 3rd party web browsers, or mobile computing devices. Use these devices and browsers at your own risk.

  • The application process
  • What is Expanded Choice, Magnet Programs, and the Richland Two Virtual School formerly known as R2eSchool Program?
  • Choice Eligibility
  • How do we assign lottery numbers?

Key Choice Dates to Remember:

Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 8:00 AM - Choice process begins

Friday, December 15, 2023 at 5:00 PM - Choice application deadline

Monday, February 12, 2024 at 8:00 AM until Friday, February 16, 2024 at 5:00 PM - Application reopens for applicants to accept or decline Choice offers.

Important Information about Choice II

Richland Two offers a second round of application and selection for Expanded Choice and Magnet Programs. Please read the information below very carefully to minimize any confusion about the application process.

Due to the popularity of these Choice programs, not all schools and programs are accepting applications for Choice 2. Furthermore, some programs only have openings for certain grade levels. If you apply to a grade level without openings, you are applying to be added to the wait pool. The information list below details which schools are open to Expanded Choice and where seats are currently available in our Magnet Programs. Please read this information carefully before making your application decisions.

Application Differences between Expand Choice and Magnet Programs

There are differences in the application process for Expanded Choice and Magnet Programs. The differences are based on the selection process - Magnets offer a limited number of seats per grade level while Expanded Choice schools do not select by grade level.

If you accepted a seat in an Expanded Choice Program, you can apply for another choice option in Choice 2.

If you accepted a seat in a Magnet Program during Choice 1, you are ineligible to apply for other Choice options in Choice 2.

If you applied to Magnet Programs in Choice I, but were not selected, you do not need to re-apply in Choice 2 for the same programs. Your Choice 1 applications remain in the waiting pool.

If you applied to Magnet Programs in Choice 1, but were not selected, you can apply to different magnet programs during Choice 2. However, applying for different programs during Choice 2 will take you out of the waiting pools for your Choice 1 selections. Duplicate applications may result in a delay or even non selection to programs.

Open Schoolwide Magnet Program with lottery selection

  • Magnet: Conder Arts Integrated at L.W. Conder Elementary
  • Magnet: FAME at Dent Middle
  • Magnet: Longleaf Engineering and Arts Program (LEAP) at Longleaf Middle
  • Magnet: Medical, Engineering, and Discovery through Arts (MED) at Bridge Creek Elementary
  • Magnet: NASA Explorer School (NES) at Forest Lake Elementary
  • Magnet: Ridge View High School: A Med Pro Magnet

Open School within-a-School magnets with lottery selection

  • Magnet: Academy for Civic Engagement (ACE) at Lonnie B. Nelson Elementary

    Open to rising Grade Levels: K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th

  • Magnet: Center for Inquiry (CFI) at Summit Parkway Middle

    Open to rising Grade Levels: K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th

  • Magnet: Center for Knowledge (CFK) at E.L. Wright Middle

    Open to rising Grade Levels: K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th

  • Magnet: Center for Knowledge (CFK-North) at Muller Road Middle

    Open to rising Grade Levels: K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th

  • Magnet: Convergence Media (CavPlex) at Richland Northeast High

    Open to rising Grade Levels: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th,

  • Magnet: Elementary Learning Collaborative (ELC) at Forest Lake Elementary

    Open to rising Grade Levels: K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th

  • Magnet: Language Immersion Academy at E.L. Wright Middle

    Open to rising Grade Levels: 6th, 7th, 8th

  • Magnet: Language Immersion Academy at Polo Road Elementary

    Open to rising Grade Levels: K

  • Magnet: STEMS at North Springs Elementary

    Open to rising Grade Levels: K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th

  • Magnet: The Montessori Magnet at Pontiac Elementary

    Open to rising Grade Levels: Pre-K, K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th

  • R2Virtual School (formerly known as R2eSchool)

    Open to rising Grade Levels: 6th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th,

Open school-within-a-school magnets with selective criteria

  • Magnet: Academy of Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine at Summit Parkway Middle

    Open to rising Grade Levels: 6th, 7th, 8th

  • Magnet: AVID Early College at Ridge View High School

    Open to rising Grade Levels: 9th

  • Magnet: Center for Achievement (CFA) at Kelly Mill Middle

    Open to rising Grade Levels: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th

  • Magnet: Discovery at Spring Valley High

    Open to rising Grade Levels: 9th

  • Magnet: Explorations at Spring Valley High

    Open to rising Grade Levels: 9th

  • Magnet: Horizon at Richland Northeast High

    Open to rising Grade Levels: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th,

  • Magnet: INC. at Kelly Mill Middle

    Open to rising Grade Levels: 6th, 7th, 8th

  • Magnet: Institute for Allied Health Sciences at Ridge View High

    Open to rising Grade Levels: 9th, 10th

  • Magnet: Institute for BioHealth Sciences at Ridge View High

    Open to rising Grade Levels: 9th, 10th

  • Magnet: Leadership Academy at Muller Road Middle

    Open to rising Grade Levels: 6th, 7th, 8th

  • Magnet: Leadership Academy at Wright (LAW) at E.L. Wright Middle

    Open to rising Grade Levels: 6th, 7th, 8th

  • Magnet: Palmetto Center for the Arts (PCA) at Richland Northeast High

    Open to rising Grade Levels: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th,

  • Magnet: Scholars Academy Magnet for Business and Law at Ridge View

    Open to rising Grade Levels: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th,

  • Magnet: School for Zoological and Botanical Studies at Longleaf Middle

    Open to rising Grade Levels: 6th, 7th, 8th

  • Magnet: Studio D at Westwood High School

    Open to rising Grade Levels: 9th, 10th

  • Magnet: The Learning Collaborative (TLC) at Dent Middle

    Open to rising Grade Levels: 6th, 7th, 8th

  • Magnet: The STEM Institute of Design and Innovation (SIDI) at Summit Parkway Middle

    Open to rising Grade Levels: 6th, 7th, 8th

  • Magnet: TWO Academies at Dent Middle

    Open to rising Grade Levels: 6th, 7th, 8th

Magnets closed to Choice for all grade levels

  • Magnet: Computer Science Immersion at Sandlapper Elementary
  • Magnet: International Baccalaureate World School at E.L. Wright Middle
  • Magnet: iRED at Westwood High
  • Magnet: Med Pro at Kelly Mill Middle
  • Magnet: Richland Northeast International Baccalaureate World School
  • Magnet: School of Academics, Innovation, and Leadership (SAIL) at Rice Creek Elementary
  • Magnet: School of Entrepreneurial Leadership (SEL) at Joseph Keels Elementary
  • Magnet: STEAM Leadership Academy at Killian Elementary
  • Magnet: Windsor Elementary International Baccalaureate PYP World School


Key Choice Dates to Remember:

Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 8:00 AM - Choice process begins

Friday, December 15, 2023 at 5:00 PM - Choice application deadline

Monday, February 12, 2024 at 8:00 AM until Friday, February 16, 2024 at 5:00 PM - Application reopens for applicants to accept or decline Choice offers.


Monday, February 12, 2024 8:00:00 AM through Friday, February 16, 2024 5:00:00 PM is designated as the time when applicants can log back into the choice application site to see whether they were approved or not for a program. The school district will send out reminders however it is the applicant's responsibility to go back into the system using your user name and password to find out your status and accept or decline if you are selected for your Choice.

Application for Expanded Choice or Magnet programs is easy! First you need to register with the system. To do so click on the Register link on the top of this page. You'll need a valid email address to complete registration. Once registered you will be automatically logged into the system and you will also receive an email verifying your registration and providing you with your account details.

Applications for students living outside of the Richland School District Two attendance area will be not be accepted for Expanded Choice.

Now that I am a registered user what's the next step?

Once you complete registration you will need to add an applicant to your account. Applicant is another way of saying student and applicant refers to those individuals for whom you have legal guardianship over and for whom you wish to apply for Expanded Choice, Magnet Program, or the Richland Two Virtual School formerly known as R2eSchool Program.. You must add at least one student before you will be allowed to add any applications. You can always add more students. There is no limit on the number of applicants you can add to your account, however, applicants are limited to three (3) programs maximum each.

I have added my applicant information, now what?

Now that you have at least one applicant associated with your account you are ready to add an application, or applications, to that applicant's profile. Adding applications is easy. Simply click the "Add an Application" button and you will be presented with a series of panels asking you which program type you wish to apply for (i.e. Expanded Choice, Magnet Program, or Richland Two Virtual School formerly known as R2eSchool Program), which specific program within that program type (i.e. Expanded Choice: RidgeView High School, Magnet Program: TWO Academies, the R2eSchool Program etc) and finally specific information that needs to be collected based on that specific program.

Any applications that are started but not submitted prior to the deadline will not be accepted and withdrawn.

I Am Done Adding Applications, What Now?

You do not need to do anything further once you have finished. During the application period you may log back in and:

  • Add, Change or Delete student information
  • Add, change or delete applications
  • Make sure you have read the requirements of each application thoroughly as some programs have additional requirements such as interviews, additional pages that must be completed prior to selection, etc. It is your responsibility that you understand and follow these additional requirements.

Is There Anything Else I Should Know?

Yes, please read the information about Expanded Choice, Magnet Programs, and the Richland Two Virtual School formerly known as R2eSchool Program so you have a clear understanding of how each is different. Richland School District Two prides itself on its vast array of program offerings. Each program is unique, requiring different criteria and expectations; therefore, it is extremely important that you are knowledgeable about the programs in which your applicant is interested.

Please refer to the Key Dates section at the top of this page to make sure you understand how long the process is active for and when you will need to log back in to check the status of your applications.


Key Choice Dates to Remember:

Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 8:00 AM - Choice process begins

Friday, December 15, 2023 at 5:00 PM - Choice application deadline

Monday, February 12, 2024 at 8:00 AM until Friday, February 16, 2024 at 5:00 PM - Application reopens for applicants to accept or decline Choice offers.

Expanded Choice

In Richland School District Two, students are assigned to a school according to their residential address. Expanded Choice is a program that allows Richland Two families to apply to attend another school other than their residentially zoned school.

Parents who exercise any of the choice options must provide transportation for their children. Students are expected to remain at the choice school until they move to the next level (elementary-middle-high) at which time they may apply for another choice. Parents and students are encouraged to exercise their choice options by selecting the school and programs that best meet their needs.

The District uses a Net 20 selection. With Net 20, each school open for Expanded Choice is allowed 20 transfer slots through the Choice process. The 20 slots may increase based on the number of students leaving that school through the Choice program. For example, if 13 students utilize “Expanded Choice” to attend another school, then that school losing the 13 students will have 20 transfer slots plus the additional 13 slots for a total of 33 slots.

Magnet Choice

Richland School District Two has a commitment to create world-class instructional programs that provide unique, high-quality learning opportunities and experiences for students. To this end, we are pleased to offer our magnet programs.

The instructional focus of our magnet programs is tailored to specific educational goals and outcomes. Our magnet programs provide ample choices that match the interests and aptitudes of selected students in our elementary, middle, and high schools.

The design of the magnet programs meets specific needs and reflects distinct educational philosophies. Each of these programs provides students with individual attention and challenging coursework geared to nurture their unique interests. Each offers diverse opportunities such as a particular teaching method, special course offerings, and an emphasis on a specific field of study.

Interested students throughout the district are encouraged to apply for admission to the magnet program of their choice. All students who live in the Richland School District Two attendance zone, as well as those who are affiliated with Fort Jackson in rising sixth through ninth grades, are eligible for admission into the district’s magnet programs. Magnet programs are an extension of our commitment to provide optimum learning settings for all of our students.

Admission is based on successful completion of the acceptance process, which includes meeting qualifying criteria. Each magnet program has limited enrollment capacity. Upon acceptance, students must transfer to the magnet’s host school and provide their own transportation.


Key Choice Dates to Remember:

Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 8:00 AM - Choice process begins

Friday, December 15, 2023 at 5:00 PM - Choice application deadline

Monday, February 12, 2024 at 8:00 AM until Friday, February 16, 2024 at 5:00 PM - Application reopens for applicants to accept or decline Choice offers.

Qualifications for School Choice

  • Each year, based on the expected enrollment and capacity of each school, the school district decides which schools and programs will be open to Choice as well as how many students can be approved to attend a school through Choice.
  • To apply for Choice, students must reside within Richland School District Two.
  • Students who are currently in kindergarten through 11th grade may apply for Choice. In addition, students who will begin kindergarten in the upcoming year may apply.
  • Preschool age students (ages three and four) are not eligible to use Choice to gain entry into a preschool program (except for applying to Montessori at Pontiac). The Center for Child Development (CFCD) handles all pre-K applications and enrollments.
  • Students receiving special education may apply for choice to a magnet school, magnet program, virtual school, or another school within the district through the Choice program. During application periods, parents/guardians apply online and follow the district’s school choice process. The decision to grant the choice request is based on the student’s programming needs and program capacity at the school of choice. Richland Two adheres to state special education program capacity guidelines. Once a student is granted choice, all district transportation rules apply and the student is no longer eligible to receive district transportation, including Special Needs Transportation to and from school. Parents/guardians are responsible for transportation to their school of choice.
  • Parents whose children participate in any of the district's Choice programs must provide transportation for their children to and from school. The inability of a student to meet the attendance expectations of the Choice school will lead to Choice being revoked. In that case, the student must then return to the zoned school.
  • A Sibling Transfer is a transfer granted for a student when the student’s sibling is attending or will attend the requested school during the same year through an approved District transfer. The sibling transfer may be used to allow the requesting sibling to transfer into a school without participating in Choice or transfer into a school when one student is selected for a transfer through Choice and the other sibling is not. Once a student is granted a sibling transfer, the student may remain at the school for the remainder of that level (Elem. Middle, High) as long as the student's parent/guardian continues to reside in Richland Two.
  • The rules of the South Carolina High School League determine eligibility for interscholastic athletics and activities for middle and high school students. It is the parents’ and students’ responsibility to be aware of these athletic procedures before applying for a Choice option. Any student who accepts a Choice program and participates in an athletic activity at the Choice school during the spring or summer (cheerleading tryouts, spring football practice, summer team camps) may have their eligibility affected. If you have questions regarding Choice and participation in interscholastic athletics, please contact your school’s athletic director prior to applying for a Choice program or a transfer to a school other than your zoned school. Additionally, many eligibility concerns are addressed in the athletics frequently asked questions.
  • Employee and School Board Choice cannot be used for an approval into magnet programs or magnet centers. Employees must apply to magnets through the Choice online process. Employees and school board members who cease working in Richland Two or participating on the board immediately lose eligibility for this enrollment benefit.
  • Any student attending a school through Choice must maintain exemplary punctuality and attendance at school, cooperation with the school in regards to academic and disciplinary expectations and provide transportation to and from school as a condition of remaining at the school.

Key Choice Dates to Remember:

Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 8:00 AM - Choice process begins

Friday, December 15, 2023 at 5:00 PM - Choice application deadline

Monday, February 12, 2024 at 8:00 AM until Friday, February 16, 2024 at 5:00 PM - Application reopens for applicants to accept or decline Choice offers.

The Lottery Process

Not all programs offered by the district are placed by lottery selection. The lottery number assignment process is automated and not subject to individual assignment.

During the choice process administrators will indicate their readiness for the lottery process to proceed at which time the expanded choice administrator will initiate the process that selects students at random from their respective pools and assigns them a number. The numbers are sequential meaning for a program with 50 applicants 50 lottery numbers, 1 through 50, will be assigned at random. No weighting or other criteria are used for this selection and assignment.

To prevent tampering assigned lottery numbers are encrypted during the lottery process and decrypted for program administrators when selections are made. At no time is the data stored in raw form.

The district uses industry accepted best practices for random number generation and assignment.