BLYTHEWOOD – Richland School District Two’s annual Choice program application window for the 2026-2027 school year has officially opened. Families looking to explore educational options beyond their assigned neighborhood schools can fill out the choice application now through Friday, Dec. 19.
For the upcoming academic year, the district says that every school in the district is open for choice, offering families widespread access to specialized programs and out-of-zone attendance.
The Choice Program
While most students attend neighborhood schools based on their address, the Choice program allows parents and guardians to apply for admission to another school in the district.
Richland Two offers magnet programs, the AVID Early College, the virtual R2eSchool, or a traditional school outside their zone through “Expanded Choice.”
Participation is limited to students currently residentially zoned for Richland School District Two.
Deadlines and Process
During the application window (Nov. 10 – Dec. 19 at 5 p.m.) families can log in to the district’s portal and choose up to three programs or schools for consideration.
According to district guidelines, admission is determined through one of two methods: lottery selection and criterion selection. Selection method depends on the program.
Lottery selection is used for Expanded Choice and Schoolwide Magnets. At these schools, selection is based on available capacity at the requested school.
Criterion Selection is used for School-Within-a-School magnets and Magnet Centers, where programs often require a competitive interview process and are limited by seat availability. R2eSchool is also a criterion-based option for students in grades 6-12. This is a full-time virtual program, which attend virtually from home through personalized learning pathways.
Important Dates
Applying is only the first step. Parents and guardians must log back into their application accounts to view decision statuses during the Choice Acceptance window – Feb. 9 and Feb. 13, 2026.
Offers must be accepted by 5 p.m. on Feb. 13. Failure to log in and accept an offer by the deadline will result in an automatic decline of the placement.
Information Nights
Beginning Monday, Dec. 1, Richland Two will host Magnet and School Information nights throughout the district. Blythewood-area schools are schedule for:
- Blythewood Middle – Dec. 4
- Muller Road Middle – Dec. 8
- Blythewood High – Dec. 9
- Westwood High – Dec. 10
- Center for Knowledge North – Dec. 17
Visit richland2.org for dates on all information nights.
Program Options
With four different types or programs offered, it is important to research before choosing.
According to Richland Two, Magnet Programs offer learning opportunities related to various themes for interested students.
Expanded Choice offers the opportunity to apply to attend a school other than the school for which they are zoned. Selection of non-zoned students is based on school capacity and determined through lottery.
The R2 AVID Early College is open to students who want to become part of the AVID class for all four years of high school. Eligibility is determined through a number of factors, including eighth grade PSAT score (if taken) or MAP and Lexile scores.
Richland Two’s eSchool Program serves middle and high school students interested in a full-time, synchronous virtual learning option.
Requirements and Eligibility
Once a student is approved and accepts a Choice placement, they generally do not need to reapply in subsequent years. However, the district warns that Choice status is not permanent; it can be revoked due to poor attendance, lack of cooperation, or failure to maintain academic standards in performance-based magnet or AVID programs.
For families satisfied with their current placement, no action is required. District officials reiterated that residentially zoned schools remain fully available without an application.
For more information or to access the application, families can visit the Richland School District Two website (richland2.org/departments/pupil-services/enrollment/choice).
A “Digital Choice Fair” is currently available online to help parents navigate their options. Visit richland2.org/departments/pupil-services/enrollment/choice/choice-fair for more information.
