New students enrolling for the 2026-27 school year have until April 3 to complete the centralized enrollment procedures that includes a verification checklist and a meeting with a registrar to present the documents.
That includes something new this year, which is opening the possibility for non-residents to pay tuition and also attend Jones County Schools.
Both the centralized enrollment and non-resident policies are due to the large number of residency affidavits currently being used in the Jones County School System. Using the centralized enrollment location of the Board of Education Office takes the verification burden off of the individual schools.
The address of the board office is 125 Stewart Ave. The number to call to schedule an appointment is 478-986-3032. More information is also available on the JCSS website at jones.k12.ga.us.
The enrollment checklist for residents requires proof of residency, a mortgage statement or signed lease agreement, and two recent bills that includes the resident’s name and address. Immunization records, social security cards and birth certificates for students are also required.
In a March 19 interview, School Superintendent Dr. Jessica Graves said there are currently 631 students attending Jones County Schools under residency affidavits. Going forward, residency affidavits are required to be resubmitted each year.
Residency affidavit verifications will be completed by a law enforcement officer who will personally verify if the child has a place to sleep at the residence and has personal clothing and belongings there.
Graves said anyone not allowing the residence to be verified will not be enrolled.
Students must be enrolled by their parent, guardian or legal custodian.
According to state law, Georgia schools are required to accept non-residents if there is room available and they meet the criteria. In Jones County, that includes a non-resident student contract.
Graves said tuition will be charged for non-residents in the amount of $2,500 a year. Any past discipline or attendance issue will revoke the contract. Nonresidents are required to submit critical records for the past 24 months. Those critical records consist of any disciplinary order, suspension, expulsion, criminal actions and behavioral correction plans.
She said tuition applications will be reviewed by the school choice committee. The superintendent and principal of each school has the right to revoke the tuition status of any nonresident student.
She added that JCSS has already received 27 nonresident applications.
Graves said as the mother of two children attending Jones County schools, she is even more focused on student safety. With that in mind, she said it is possible that the high number of students attending Jones County schools under residency affidavits will be significantly reduced.
Possibly losing a couple hundred students would mean a loss in state funding. The superintendent said nonresident students paying tuition could help offset that loss.
