Open Enrollment is a school district policy allowing students to attend a school other than a regularly assigned school at no cost to the student.

But a Target 9 Investigation reveals that the stakes aren’t just high for the students, but for the schools as well.

In talking with state officials, school officials, and even some students and parents who have switched districts, NEWS9 found that while families are realizing better-met academic standards and conveniences, school districts reap the benefits of an incoming student through a sizable chunk of state money: about $5,700 per student.

"Some people are upset because they think local tax dollars are going with that student to another district and, if they voted for a levy in their district, they want that money to stay in their district. However, you have to take into consideration that that local district is no longer educating that student,” said John Charlton of the Ohio Department of Education.

Many districts like Toronto City Schools accept students from outside their actual district into their facilities. But school administrators are being careful about who they admit.

"I've been in several school districts around here myself. I do not favor one over the other. I think whoever you're more comfortable with is where the students and parent ought to chose," said Fred Burns, superintendent of Toronto City Schools.

Burns said the district wants students to come to Toronto for academic, athletic or extracurricular reasons.

"I'm happy I come here now. I've been coming here since preschool and I like all of the teachers. They are very nice and I've learned a lot in the past years, have a lot of great friends and I'm really excited about the new high school,” said James Dunlope, a student at Toronto.

Another student, Sam Pinkerton, said Toronto has "great sports programs, great academics. I mean it's just an all-around good school."

The families that NEWS9 spoke with were thrilled to have their choice of school in the state of Ohio.

"(It’s) fantastic because if you have options, you can pick what's best for your family. And I think this was best for our family and I have no regrets -- only positive things to say about it," said Greg Dunlope, whose family lives in Island Creek Township but sends their children to Toronto.

"I knew a little bit about ... them having open enrollment. (I) wasn't real sure at first and, you know finally in talking it over with my husband, we made the decision to have the kids come down here. So I'm glad that we do have that opportunity," said Virginia Pinkerton, whose children also attend Toronto despite being from Stratton.

While parents are trying to do what's best for their child and family, and schools obviously want the enrollment for financial gain, Burns said when a student enrolls and performs poorly, the school hurts on annual district report cards. This makes the student more of a burden than a financial gain and that student may then be denied open enrollment the next year.

That is a fine line that begs the question: Is there a recruiting competition among schools for our kids?

"Some school districts recruit students and send fliers. Our biggest thing is we want to show students by what they've seen in Toronto. If they want to come here, we want them to come. We don't recruit them," said Burns.

Click here for a breakdown of every school in the viewing area. The listing shows what schools are seeing a net influx of students and receiving the corresponding money and what districts are seeing enrollment decline.