Fulton County families can now apply to send their children to North Springs High School through the district's annual transfer process, with a Dec. 18 deadline.

The Sandy Springs school is the only high school in the Fulton County School System that combines a STEAM Magnet program with an Accelerated Career Diploma (ACD), according to a post on the school's official X account on Oct. 21.

The Change of School Assignment (COSA) application window opened Oct. 20 and closes Dec. 18, according to the Fulton County Schools website. Applications submitted outside that window will not be accepted, and families who miss it must wait until the next school year.

Families may list up to three schools in priority order. If applications exceed available seats, a lottery determines placement. Parents or guardians must provide their own transportation to the accepting school, and students' attendance, grades and behavior are reviewed every nine weeks.

Students interested in the STEAM or ACD magnet programs face a two-step process. COSA approval comes first. A separate application to the magnet program happens at the school after the transfer is granted.

What the ACD program offers

The Accelerated Career Diploma program at North Springs, at 7447 Roswell Road, partners with Gwinnett Technical College and lets students choose from three career pathways, Appen Media reported in October 2025. Students can earn a high school diploma, free college credits and two professional certifications in fields such as cybersecurity, healthcare, welding and HVAC.

Rising ninth and tenth graders from all Fulton County attendance zones are eligible. The district provides transportation from students' home schools to North Springs and from the high school to Gwinnett Tech.

Kevin Rogers, then the assistant principal and program coordinator, said in the Appen Media report that the program gives students "real-world skills and credentials that set them apart."

North Springs also offers 26 Advanced Placement classes and more than 60 extracurricular activities, according to Appen Media. The school was pursuing official STEAM Certification from the Georgia Department of Education as of that report.

Upcoming parent meeting

An ACD Parent Information Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 4, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the North Springs Auditorium, according to the school's X account. Parents of prospective ninth graders and current tenth- and eleventh-grade ACD applicants are encouraged to attend.

The program is also open to students outside Fulton County, who may apply and pay tuition.

The COSA application is available at fultonschools.org through Dec. 18.