Few Columbia County pupils took advantage of a new state law allowing them to transfer to another school in the same system.

Just 29 pupils received a "permissive transfer," though more than 250 spots were available among the five schools.

Eight pupils chose to attend Harlem High School; 12 will attend Greenbrier Middle School; three will be transferred to Euchee Creek Elementary; four will go to North Columbia Elementary; and two will attend Westmont Elementary.

Signed into law in May, Georgia House Bill 251 allows parents to ask that their children be transferred to any school within the same system with the available capacity.

Initially, more slots were available at the schools capable of accepting the transfers, but those numbers dwindled as students zoned for those schools registered.

"When we did this, we were going on (enrollment) projections," Assistant Superintendent Robert Jarrell said. "The student population was just changing. It's always a moving target."

In all, seven pupils were denied a transfer because of a lack of available space at their grade level. Parents of those receiving or denied transfers were informed Wednesday. Tuesday was the deadline to apply.

The pupils granted permissive transfers may change their minds and remain at their zoned school, but those slots won't remain open for those who also had applied.

"It's always going to be a one-time opportunity," Mr. Jarrell said. "We're not going to allow that during the school year."

Today is the deadline for Harlem High students wishing to take advantage of school choice.

Harlem High failed to make adequate yearly progress for a second consecutive year because of low graduation rates, which measures the number of pupils completing high school within four years.

As defined by the federal No Child Left Behind law, Harlem High had to be placed on the "needs improvement" list, which means officials must allow students to transfer to a higher-performing school.

As of Thursday, Mr. Jarrell said, 11 students had chosen to leave Harlem to attend Grovetown High School.