Why not use a lotery? I don't see why any public district shouldn't be available to any state resident. What would be the rationale for any preference to residents or district workers?
Any other policy serves only to preserve the inequality of the education offered between districts.
They're funded locally, not by the state (in most states). There's just as much of an argument for a national lottery as a state lottery, if you want people outside the funding area to have an even shot of coming in.
Any other policy serves only to preserve the inequality of the education offered between districts.