Effingham County Schools uses an online application process to complete registration for new students. Please take note of the information on this page, as it will allow you to quickly and accurately complete the process.
If you do not have access to a computer for the online application process, we have computers/laptops set up to use for online applications at the Central Registration Center. Please email/call CRC so that an appointment can be made to have a computer/laptop ready for you. Please arrive 30 minutes early if your appointment is for you to complete your online application AND provide all required documents. Add more time if you are registering more than one child.
You may also choose to stop by the Central Registration Center during business hours to drop off required documents, if you are not able to upload them. While this process does not typically take long if you have already submitted an online application, we recommend that you still email/call CRC to make an appointment ahead of time. This allows us to know how many families to expect, in order to better serve you. We will have attendants on hand if you need assistance.
Important notice about using devices:
While many have experienced good results using their cell phones or tablets when completing online applications, using one of these devices is not recommended for security and compatibility reasons. Some users have reported being able to enter information, but it either did not save or would not finish when the “Submit” button was pressed. A desktop computer or laptop using the most recent version of Google Chrome or Firefox is highly recommended for the best results. Please call 754.2530 or email registration@effingham.k12.ga.us for more information.
Use the article links below to become familiar with the online registration application process.
There are resources available to our community that would allow you to complete your application online. The library will allow you to use the computer for an hour, which is plenty of time to fill out the application.
If you currently have a child in school, reach out to the media center in your child's school to see if there is a time you can come by to use one of the lab computers.
If you have friends and family who own a laptop or desktop, ask if you could use it to complete your application.
Check your junk mail folder. Because our application emails are generated by the system, some email providers may mark the message as spam. The email should start with "Welcome to Effingham County Schools...".
If you still cannot find the email, send an email to registration@effingham.k12.ga.us with the parent first and last name that was used to start the application and the date that the app was started. A new email can be sent to the email address that you used to start the application.
If the email address you used seems to be having problems, you can start a new application with a different email address.
First, make sure that your application was submitted. After clicking the "Submit" button, you should have received an email confirming that your application has been submitted. If you did not receive this email, try to go back and check your application to see if you get to the submit screen. Check your email after submitting to make sure you received the message.
Registrations take anywhere from 3-5 days, depending on the time of year. If you are sure your application has been submitted but you have not heard anything, keep an eye on your email. Our registrars often send questions and notices through email as part of the registration process. If it has been longer than 3-5 days, call or email Central Registration for an update.
...and you cannot submit your application, you can fill out your application on the day of your appointment. To make your appointment, email registration@effingham.k12.ga.us and someone will be in touch to schedule your appointment and make arrangements so that a laptop will be made available to you.
It is important that you arrive to your appointment in enough time to fill out your application. Be sure to arrive at least 30 minutes early and have all your required documents. If your application is not submitted when your appointment time arrives, your appointment may need to be rescheduled.
Central Registration is moving to virtual registrations until further notice. We encourage parents to upload documents as a way to maintain safety and social distance. If you are unable to upload your documents, please contact Central Registration at registration@effingham.k12.ga.us or 912.754.2530. Thank you for your cooperation and patience!
We highly encourage you to use caution and practice online safety when choosing an upload method. Please check all images/PDFs before uploading to ensure that the information is not blurry and can be easily read.
Once you have digitized all your documents, you can upload directly to the application.
Desktop/Laptop Methods
Webcam - Although the the result can be lower-quality compared to a digital camera or phone, it is possible to use a webcam to scan documents and save them to your laptop/desktop computer. Open your camera's software to locate the "screenshot" or "capture image" button to take a photo of your document. Hold the camera or document very still and use plenty of light in order to get a clear picture.
Desktop scanner - If you have access to one, a desktop scanner will produce great results. Be sure to use medium quality since high resolution can cause the file size to be too large for uploading. If the file is too large, the application will not accept the file.
Digital camera/webcam - Any modern digital camera should be sufficient to take photos of documents. If you are using one of these, keep the following in mind:
Make sure the document fits within the entire frame. This allows small details like dates to be easily recognized.
If using the flash becomes a problem, hold the camera or document very still while taking the photo. You can place the document on a table in a sunlit room and hold the camera steady while taking the photo.
Smartphone Apps
While you can use smartphone or tablet apps to scan documents, the online registration system has been known to have issues with device uploads. The following apps are suggested for taking photos, but you may experience trouble uploading from the same device. You may have to save your files to another location so that they can be accessed and uploaded from a desktop or laptop. If you can access links to the documents in your app, then you can send those links to your registrar.
Adobe Scan - Once scanned, this app allows you to save the file or share the file using a link. You can send these links to your registrar. You may need to create an account for link sharing.
Google Drive Scan - If you use Google drive, you can scan your documents to a folder and share that folder with your registrar using that person's email address.
Our Central Registration staff has spent countless hours organizing the information in this application so that it is as easy to work with as possible. These help articles do not cover every piece of information that needs to be entered, but they do provide notes for areas that need special attention. When you are in the application, be sure to carefully read the information inside the grey boxes as they will contain guidance that is specific to the set of questions for that area.
Preparation & Application Tips
Important notice about using devices:
While many have experienced good results using their cell phones or tablets when completing online applications, using one of these devices is not recommended for security and compatibility reasons. Some users have reported being able to enter information, but it either did not save or would not finish when the “Submit” button was pressed. A desktop computer or laptop using the most recent version of Firefox or Internet Explorer is highly recommended for best results. The Central Registration Center has laptops to use for online applications provided that you arrive to your appointment 20-30 minutes early. Please call 754.2530 or email registration@effingham.k12.ga.us for more information.
Information to gather for completing the application:
Parent/Guardian information, including parents not residing in the primary household
Household information:
Residential and mailing addresses, home and cell phone numbers
Names of additional household members (children not yet in school)
Student information:
Social security number (waivers available if applicable)
Status of services received such as IEP, Gifted, 540 plan, etc.
Disciplinary information such as suspensions and time spent in an alternative school
Previous school(s) attended
Emergency Contacts
Health services information such as allergies and medical conditions
You will receive an email with your application number and a link at the bottom. The link will take you to your application. Save this email in case you need to refer to your application number or go back to your saved application.
After clicking the link in your email, enter the information as required. Be sure to click the red "Submit" to ensure that your application is finished.
Navigating the Application
This image shows the titles that you can click to navigate to sections already completed.
You can click the section titles at the top to go back to sections that have already been started or completed. Sections in green have all the necessary information while sections in red have questions that must be addressed before the application can be submitted. You must reach the “Completed” section and click the red “Submit” button at the end of the process. Your application is not submitted until you take this step.
Use the “Next” button after entering information and answering questions to move from one area to another. You can manually save your information at any time.
Uploading Required Documents - Optional
Uploading the required documents will help ensure that your appointment goes by as quickly and easily as possible. While it is not required, parents have the opportunity to upload documents (birth certificate, proof of residency, etc) so that our registrars can verify whether or not the document can be accepted, however; you must bring these documents with you to your registration appointment. We will not accept digital uploads of documents as proof of their validity. Be prepared to have these with you when arriving at your appointment.
Saving the Application
Be sure to save your information often by using the Save/Continue button at the bottom. If you do not use the save option, your work will be lost if the power or internet connection is lost. When you save your application, you can come back to it at a later date by going back to the email you received that contains your application link. If you cannot locate this email, please send an email to registration@effingham.k12.ga.us with the first name and last name used for the application. During business hours, the email will be resent as soon as possible.
Finishing Incomplete Sections
When accessing a section in red to finish entering information, you may find that a person’s name is highlighted in yellow. Click the “Edit/Review” button and you will be taken to the area that needs attention. Look for the red tags that show when required information has not been entered.
In the screenshot above, the student highlighted in yellow is missing information.
After clicking the student’s name, the application takes you to the area that needs attention. Click “Next” to go through each area to see if more information needs to be entered for this person or section. When you are finished, click “Save/Continue” at the bottom and ensure that this student’s name is no longer highlighted in yellow. If so, you may need to review your information again.
Red tags indicate missing information.
You will not be able to submit your application until all necessary information has been entered into the system. The system will notify you when required fields have not been addressed. Your application is not submitted until you click the red “Submit” button at the end of the process.
Submitting Your Application
After all information has been entered for the final registering student, click the “Save/Continue” button to reach the submit page. Your application will not be complete until you have clicked the red “Submit” button.
As a parent of a current Effingham County Schools student, submitting on online application for your new student is easy! You will need your Parent Portal to get started. You will still need to gather the required documents and bring them to your appointment.
If you need to retrieve your login information, use the "Forgot..." buttons underneath the login area. Be sure to use the recovery email address that was chosen when your account was created.
During the school year, you can contact the school for assistance with your account. Call Central Registration during breaks or holidays.
Look in the left-side panel list of options and scroll until you see More. Click this option then choose Online Registration in the main screen.
In the new window that appears, choose Begin Registration.
If you need assistance with your Parent Portal account, please visit this page for support options.
Even though you already have students registered in our county, you must still make an appointment to complete the registration process. Standard required documents - such as current proof of residency - must be brought to your appointment.
