The San Francisco Unified School District board narrowed its options for replacing the citywide school enrollment lottery on Tuesday, eliminating a proposal that would have guaranteed families a seat at one of three to five schools within a smaller geographic zone. The two remaining plans would both guarantee students a place at a neighborhood school, but they differ in what families could apply for beyond that school. Under Option B, the guarantee would apply to families who submit applications on time. Those families could also apply to any school in the city. Option C would extend the neighborhood-school guarantee to late applicants, while limiting their other choices to citywide programs. Neither proposal would end school choice. The board is scheduled to vote Oct. 13 on whether to advance Option B or C, with adoption of a new policy planned for April. The debate reflects a long-running effort to replace the district’s assignment lottery, which SFUSD has been working on since 2018. Tuesday’s discussion showed that board members remain divided over how a new system could affect schools and families. Option B drew particular concern from commissioners who worried that families in the city’s southeast would continue leaving neighborhood schools for open seats elsewhere, potentially leaving those schools under-enrolled. Public commenters urged the board not to rush the decision. They warned that students could be directed to neighborhood schools that lack sufficient special education services or language-immersion programs. The board’s choice between the two plans will shape how families balance access to schools across San Francisco with the district’s goal of ensuring students have a neighborhood option. The district is expected to adopt its policy in April.