The information and resources on this page apply to 8th grade students who receive special education services and are transitioning from a middle school in the East County to the 9th grade in the Grossmont Union High School District.

East County school districts include Alpine, El Cajon, Dehesa, Jamul-Dulzura, La Mesa-Spring Valley, Lakeside, Lemon Grove, and Santee.

Enrollment information for students with an individualized education program (IEP) transferring into the Grossmont Union High School District from schools outside of the East County can be found by clicking Transfer from Outside East County.

Description of the 8th to 9th Grade Transition Process and Timeline

English     Spanish      Arabic

Schedule of High School Tours for Parents of 8th Grade Students Receiving Special Education

English     Spanish     Arabic

Transition IEP Meeting Parent Packet

English · · Spanish · · Arabic

Which high school will my son or daughter attend? 

• School of Residence - Most students, including students with disabilities, attend their high school of residence. To determine your son or daughter's high school of residence, click School Locator. School bus transportation is determined by the individualized education program (IEP) team on the basis of whether or not the student's disability impairs the student's ability to get to and from school.
• Guaranteed Choice and Open Enrollment - Parents of incoming 9th grade students as well as current 9th to 11th graders may request a different school from their student's neighborhood high school through Guaranteed Choice or Open Enrollment.  The process and timeline for requesting Guarenteed Choice or Open Enrollment can be downloaded by clicking Guaranteed Choice and Open Enrollment Timeline 2013-2014.  Steele Canyon and Helix Charter High Schools administer their own enrollment and parents are directed to contact either Helix or Steele Canyon directly. School transportation is not provided for students who are attending a school on the basis of Open Enrollment, including students with disabilities, since it was the choice of the parent to have their student attend a school other than the high school of residence.  Students attending a school on the basis of Guaranteed Enrollment and for whom the IEP team has determined special education transportation is necessary, will be provided transportation services.
• Administrative Exception - Parents may request that their student be transferred to a different high school in the Grossmont District on the basis of a significant hardship. The first step is to contact the GUHSD Student Stupport Services Office at 619-644-8012. School transportation is not provided for students on administrative exception, including students with disabilities, since it was the choice of the parent to have their student attend a school other than the high school of residence. 
• IEP Team Recommendation - Although most students with disabilities can be served at their high school of residence through a wide range of special education and related services, the student's Grossmont District individualized education program (IEP) team may recommend a program at a different school site for a student that requires highly specialized and intensive services beyond those available at the student's school of residence. If the IEP team recommends a special education program at a school site other than the student's school of residence, school bus transportation is provided.
• Sibling Rule - If a student with disabilities has been accepted to a school via School Choice or Administrative Exception, his/her siblings are automatically allowed to attend the school, also. If the IEP team has recommended a program at a school that is not the student's school of residence and the parent has accepted the IEP team's recommendation, then the sibling rule does not apply. 

Case Manager

• The school psychologist assigned to the student's high school of residence is usually the person who will be the case manager during the transition process. 
• The case manager is the primary contact person for parents and middle school staff during the transition to high school process.  Click below for a list of GUHSD School Psychologists and SE Department Chairs.

               English      Spanish      Arabic

• Exceptions to the rule of the school psychologist at the student's high school of residence being the case manager include: 

> Students accepted to a different school on the basis of School Choice, Administrative Exception, or Sibling Rule (see above). In these cases the school psychologist at the high school of choice becomes the case manager.

> Students who attend a nonpublic school (NPS). For students currently attending a nonpublic school (NPS), contact the Grossmont District NPS Case Manager at (619)644-8111.