Polly Bove, a FUHSD deputy superintendent, said close to 300 students have been "disenrolled" from the district's high schools as of early April. The number is significantly higher than the expected 100. She also said up to 100 students had quietly left on their own.

The district launched its strict new residency verification campaign in January when it asked parents or guardians to provide three types of residency verification documents.

In part, the district initiated the new policy to meet its commitment to voters, following the passage of a parcel tax in November 2004, to crack down on falsely enrolled students. The district also made the move to save money. Last year it cost more than $8,000 to educate each student. Unlike many school districts, the Fremont Union district does not receive funding for each student enrolled. Instead, its schools are funded by property taxes.

Richard Lowenthal, a Cupertino city councilman and board president of the Fremont Union High School Foundation, welcomed the policy. He said, "It is a great idea." The foundation helps raise money for the district. "The extra students are taking money away from the schools," he said.

The school district estimates that tightening its residency requirements will save an estimated $1 million per year for every 200 students disenrolled.

Some in the community question why this is taking place during the academic year. "People have to learn such disruption is one of the consequences of cheating," Lowenthal said.

The district is attractive to students living outside its boundaries because of the high schools' strong reputations and high test scores. However, under state law, it is illegal for students to falsely enroll in a school district without a formal transfer agreement.

The school district spent February and March verifying its students' addresses to determine illegal enrollments. The district began the actual process of removing students from schools in early April. Students in grades 9-11 unable to provide proof of district residency have been asked to leave immediately.

"We took action," said Bove. "Some students were brought into the [school] office; sometimes parents had to come in." Bove said the process had gone smoothly and there had not been any scenes or confrontations. Bove also emphasized the district has worked with disenrolled students and their families to help enroll them in other districts.

At the same time, the district is continuing to verify residencies by going to the homes of students' suspectd of bias falsely enrolled. A final count of students asked to leave is expected at the end of the month.