diff --git a/Gemfile.lock b/Gemfile.lock
index 5f754041a..2b8327168 100644
--- a/Gemfile.lock
+++ b/Gemfile.lock
@@ -558,6 +558,7 @@ GEM
 PLATFORMS
   aarch64-linux
   arm64-darwin-24
+  arm64-darwin-25
   x86_64-linux
 
 DEPENDENCIES
diff --git a/app/jobs/school_import_job.rb b/app/jobs/school_import_job.rb
index 85a54823e..19e4aee1b 100644
--- a/app/jobs/school_import_job.rb
+++ b/app/jobs/school_import_job.rb
@@ -128,7 +128,10 @@ def build_school_params(school_data)
       creator_agree_authority: true,
       creator_agree_terms_and_conditions: true,
       creator_agree_responsible_safeguarding: true,
-      user_origin: 'experience_cs'
+      user_origin: 'experience_cs',
+      district_name: school_data[:district_name],
+      district_nces_id: school_data[:district_nces_id],
+      school_roll_number: school_data[:school_roll_number]
     }.compact
   end
 
diff --git a/app/models/school.rb b/app/models/school.rb
index 4e9d35f60..831b9f655 100644
--- a/app/models/school.rb
+++ b/app/models/school.rb
@@ -16,12 +16,21 @@ class School < ApplicationRecord
   validates :address_line_1, presence: true
   validates :municipality, presence: true
   validates :country_code, presence: true, inclusion: { in: ISO3166::Country.codes }
-  validates :reference, uniqueness: { case_sensitive: false, allow_nil: true }, presence: false
-  validates :district_nces_id, uniqueness: { case_sensitive: false, allow_nil: true }, presence: false
+  validates :reference,
+            uniqueness: { conditions: -> { where(rejected_at: nil) }, case_sensitive: false, allow_blank: true },
+            format: { with: /\A\d{5,6}\z/, allow_nil: true, message: I18n.t('validations.school.reference') },
+            if: :united_kingdom?
+  validates :district_nces_id,
+            uniqueness: { conditions: -> { where(rejected_at: nil) }, case_sensitive: false, allow_blank: true },
+            format: { with: /\A\d{12}\z/, allow_nil: true, message: I18n.t('validations.school.district_nces_id') },
+            presence: true,
+            if: :united_states?
+  validates :district_name, presence: true, if: :united_states?
   validates :school_roll_number,
-            uniqueness: { conditions: -> { where(rejected_at: nil) }, case_sensitive: false, allow_nil: true },
-            presence: { if: :ireland? },
-            format: { with: /\A[0-9]+[A-Z]+\z/, allow_nil: true, message: I18n.t('validations.school.school_roll_number') }
+            uniqueness: { conditions: -> { where(rejected_at: nil) }, case_sensitive: false, allow_blank: true },
+            format: { with: /\A[0-9]+[A-Z]+\z/, allow_nil: true, message: I18n.t('validations.school.school_roll_number') },
+            presence: true,
+            if: :ireland?
   validates :creator_id, presence: true, uniqueness: true
   validates :creator_agree_authority, presence: true, acceptance: true
   validates :creator_agree_terms_and_conditions, presence: true, acceptance: true
@@ -129,6 +138,14 @@ def should_format_uk_postal_code?
     country_code == 'GB' && postal_code.to_s.length >= 5
   end
 
+  def united_kingdom?
+    country_code == 'GB'
+  end
+
+  def united_states?
+    country_code == 'US'
+  end
+
   def ireland?
     country_code == 'IE'
   end
diff --git a/config/locales/en.yml b/config/locales/en.yml
index 765ef5650..7811f7084 100644
--- a/config/locales/en.yml
+++ b/config/locales/en.yml
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ en:
   validations:
     school:
       website: "must be a valid URL"
+      reference: "must be 5-6 digits (e.g., 100000)"
+      district_nces_id: "must be 12 digits (e.g., 010000000001)"
       school_roll_number: "must be numbers followed by letters (e.g., 01572D)"
     invitation:
       email_address: "'%<value>s' is invalid"
diff --git a/db/migrate/20251208134354_change_reference_and_nces_id_indexes_to_partial.rb b/db/migrate/20251208134354_change_reference_and_nces_id_indexes_to_partial.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..88e2987c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrate/20251208134354_change_reference_and_nces_id_indexes_to_partial.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+class ChangeReferenceAndNcesIdIndexesToPartial < ActiveRecord::Migration[7.2]
+  def change
+    # Convert reference (UK URN) index to partial index
+    # This allows rejected schools to release their URN for reuse
+    remove_index :schools, :reference
+    add_index :schools, :reference, unique: true, where: 'rejected_at IS NULL'
+
+    # Convert district_nces_id (US NCES ID) index to partial index
+    # This allows rejected schools to release their NCES ID for reuse
+    remove_index :schools, :district_nces_id
+    add_index :schools, :district_nces_id, unique: true, where: 'rejected_at IS NULL'
+  end
+end
+
diff --git a/db/schema.rb b/db/schema.rb
index f851998e9..447f05824 100644
--- a/db/schema.rb
+++ b/db/schema.rb
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 #
 # It's strongly recommended that you check this file into your version control system.
 
-ActiveRecord::Schema[7.2].define(version: 2025_12_04_132605) do
+ActiveRecord::Schema[7.2].define(version: 2025_12_08_134354) do
   # These are extensions that must be enabled in order to support this database
   enable_extension "pgcrypto"
   enable_extension "plpgsql"
@@ -311,8 +311,8 @@
     t.string "school_roll_number"
     t.index ["code"], name: "index_schools_on_code", unique: true
     t.index ["creator_id"], name: "index_schools_on_creator_id", unique: true
-    t.index ["district_nces_id"], name: "index_schools_on_district_nces_id", unique: true
-    t.index ["reference"], name: "index_schools_on_reference", unique: true
+    t.index ["district_nces_id"], name: "index_schools_on_district_nces_id", unique: true, where: "(rejected_at IS NULL)"
+    t.index ["reference"], name: "index_schools_on_reference", unique: true, where: "(rejected_at IS NULL)"
     t.index ["school_roll_number"], name: "index_schools_on_school_roll_number", unique: true, where: "(rejected_at IS NULL)"
   end
 
diff --git a/lib/tasks/seeds_helper.rb b/lib/tasks/seeds_helper.rb
index 2955e6590..b834b0a15 100644
--- a/lib/tasks/seeds_helper.rb
+++ b/lib/tasks/seeds_helper.rb
@@ -16,15 +16,20 @@ module SeedsHelper
   def create_school(creator_id, school_id = nil)
     School.find_or_create_by!(creator_id:, id: school_id) do |school|
       Rails.logger.info 'Seeding a school...'
+      country_code = Faker::Address.country_code
       school.name = Faker::Educator.secondary_school
       school.website = Faker::Internet.url(scheme: 'https')
       school.address_line_1 = Faker::Address.street_address
       school.municipality = Faker::Address.city
-      school.country_code = Faker::Address.country_code
+      school.country_code = country_code
       school.creator_id = creator_id
       school.creator_agree_authority = true
       school.creator_agree_terms_and_conditions = true
       school.creator_agree_to_ux_contact = true
+      # Country-specific required fields
+      school.reference = format('%06d', rand(100_000..999_999)) if country_code == 'GB'
+      school.district_nces_id = format('%012d', rand(10**12)) if country_code == 'US'
+      school.school_roll_number = "#{rand(10_000..99_999)}#{('A'..'Z').to_a.sample}" if country_code == 'IE'
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/spec/concepts/school/create_spec.rb b/spec/concepts/school/create_spec.rb
index 26a5226dc..f8375c7d9 100644
--- a/spec/concepts/school/create_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/concepts/school/create_spec.rb
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
       address_line_1: 'Address Line 1',
       municipality: 'Greater London',
       country_code: 'GB',
+      reference: '100000',
       creator_agree_authority: true,
       creator_agree_terms_and_conditions: true,
       creator_agree_to_ux_contact: true,
diff --git a/spec/factories/school.rb b/spec/factories/school.rb
index 64107ffcb..d9bdaf6b6 100644
--- a/spec/factories/school.rb
+++ b/spec/factories/school.rb
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
     address_line_1 { 'Address Line 1' }
     municipality { 'Greater London' }
     country_code { 'GB' }
+    sequence(:reference) { |n| format('%06d', 100_000 + n) }
     school_roll_number { nil }
     creator_id { SecureRandom.uuid }
     creator_agree_authority { true }
diff --git a/spec/features/admin/schools_spec.rb b/spec/features/admin/schools_spec.rb
index bde35d5ba..acba1d55c 100644
--- a/spec/features/admin/schools_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/admin/schools_spec.rb
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@
 
     describe 'when the school is in the United States and has a postal code' do
       before do
-        school.update(country_code: 'US', postal_code: '90210')
+        school.update(country_code: 'US', postal_code: '90210', district_nces_id: '010000000001', reference: nil)
         get admin_school_path(school)
       end
 
diff --git a/spec/features/school/creating_a_school_spec.rb b/spec/features/school/creating_a_school_spec.rb
index fd51863ed..aafa2f388 100644
--- a/spec/features/school/creating_a_school_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/school/creating_a_school_spec.rb
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
         address_line_1: 'Address Line 1',
         municipality: 'Greater London',
         country_code: 'GB',
+        reference: '100000',
         creator_agree_authority: true,
         creator_agree_terms_and_conditions: true,
         creator_agree_to_ux_contact: true,
diff --git a/spec/jobs/school_import_job_spec.rb b/spec/jobs/school_import_job_spec.rb
index a66e073af..a783da2ba 100644
--- a/spec/jobs/school_import_job_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/jobs/school_import_job_spec.rb
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@
           address_line_1: '123 Main St',
           municipality: 'Springfield',
           country_code: 'US',
-          owner_email: 'owner1@example.com'
+          owner_email: 'owner1@example.com',
+          district_nces_id: '010000000001'
         },
         {
           name: 'Test School 2',
diff --git a/spec/models/school_spec.rb b/spec/models/school_spec.rb
index 93ec09018..374d83634 100644
--- a/spec/models/school_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/school_spec.rb
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
   let(:student) { create(:student, school:) }
   let(:teacher) { create(:teacher, school:) }
   let(:school) { create(:school, creator_id: SecureRandom.uuid) }
+  let!(:us_school) { create(:school, country_code: 'US', district_name: 'Some District', district_nces_id: '010000000001', creator_id: SecureRandom.uuid) }
+  let!(:ireland_school) { create(:school, country_code: 'IE', school_roll_number: '01572D', creator_id: SecureRandom.uuid) }
 
   describe 'associations' do
     it 'has many classes' do
@@ -132,21 +134,131 @@
       expect(school).to be_valid
     end
 
-    it 'does not require a reference' do
-      create(:school, id: SecureRandom.uuid, reference: nil)
+    it 'does not require a reference for non-UK schools' do
+      school.country_code = 'DE'
+      school.reference = nil
+      expect(school).to be_valid
+    end
 
+    it 'does not requires reference for UK schools' do
+      school.country_code = 'GB'
       school.reference = nil
       expect(school).to be_valid
     end
 
     it 'requires references to be unique if provided' do
+      school.reference = '100000'
+      school.save!
+
+      duplicate_school = build(:school, reference: '100000')
+      expect(duplicate_school).not_to be_valid
+    end
+
+    it 'accepts a valid reference format (5-6 digits)' do
+      school.reference = '100000'
+      expect(school).to be_valid
+    end
+
+    it 'accepts a 5-digit reference' do
+      school.reference = '20000'
+      expect(school).to be_valid
+    end
+
+    it 'rejects a reference with non-digit characters' do
       school.reference = 'URN-123'
+      expect(school).not_to be_valid
+      expect(school.errors[:reference]).to include('must be 5-6 digits (e.g., 100000)')
+    end
+
+    it 'rejects a reference with too few digits' do
+      school.reference = '1234'
+      expect(school).not_to be_valid
+      expect(school.errors[:reference]).to include('must be 5-6 digits (e.g., 100000)')
+    end
+
+    it 'rejects a reference with too many digits' do
+      school.reference = '1234567'
+      expect(school).not_to be_valid
+      expect(school.errors[:reference]).to include('must be 5-6 digits (e.g., 100000)')
+    end
+
+    it 'allows reference reuse when original school is rejected' do
+      school.reference = '100000'
       school.save!
+      school.reject
+
+      new_school = build(:school, reference: '100000')
+      expect(new_school).to be_valid
+      expect { new_school.save! }.not_to raise_error
+    end
+
+    it 'does not require a district_nces_id for UK schools' do
+      school.country_code = 'GB'
+      school.district_nces_id = nil
+      expect(school).to be_valid
+    end
+
+    it 'does not require a district_nces_id for CA schools' do
+      school.country_code = 'CA'
+      school.district_name = 'Some District'
+      school.district_nces_id = nil
+      expect(school).to be_valid
+    end
+
+    it 'requires district_nces_id for US schools' do
+      us_school.district_nces_id = nil
+      expect(us_school).not_to be_valid
+      expect(us_school.errors[:district_nces_id]).to include("can't be blank")
+    end
+
+    it 'requires district_name for US schools' do
+      us_school.district_name = nil
+      expect(us_school).not_to be_valid
+      expect(us_school.errors[:district_name]).to include("can't be blank")
+    end
+
+    it 'does not require district_name for non-US schools' do
+      school.district_name = nil
+      expect(school).to be_valid
+    end
 
-      duplicate_school = build(:school, reference: 'urn-123')
+    it 'does not require district_name for CA schools' do
+      school.country_code = 'CA'
+      school.district_name = nil
+      expect(school).to be_valid
+    end
+
+    it 'requires district_nces_id to be unique if provided' do
+      duplicate_school = build(:school, country_code: 'US', district_nces_id: '010000000001')
       expect(duplicate_school).not_to be_valid
     end
 
+    it 'accepts a valid district_nces_id format (12 digits)' do
+      us_school.district_nces_id = '010000000001'
+      expect(us_school).to be_valid
+    end
+
+    it 'rejects a district_nces_id with non-digit characters' do
+      us_school.district_nces_id = '01000000000A'
+      expect(us_school).not_to be_valid
+      expect(us_school.errors[:district_nces_id]).to include('must be 12 digits (e.g., 010000000001)')
+    end
+
+    it 'rejects a district_nces_id with wrong length' do
+      us_school.district_nces_id = '12345678901'
+      expect(us_school).not_to be_valid
+      expect(us_school.errors[:district_nces_id]).to include('must be 12 digits (e.g., 010000000001)')
+    end
+
+    it 'allows district_nces_id reuse when original school is rejected' do
+      us_school.district_nces_id = '010000000001'
+      us_school.reject
+
+      new_school = build(:school, district_nces_id: '010000000001')
+      expect(new_school).to be_valid
+      expect { new_school.save! }.not_to raise_error
+    end
+
     it 'does not require a school_roll_number for non-Ireland schools' do
       school.country_code = 'GB'
       school.school_roll_number = nil
@@ -154,46 +266,42 @@
     end
 
     it 'requires school_roll_number for Ireland schools' do
-      school.country_code = 'IE'
-      school.school_roll_number = nil
-      expect(school).not_to be_valid
-      expect(school.errors[:school_roll_number]).to include("can't be blank")
+      ireland_school.school_roll_number = nil
+      expect(ireland_school).not_to be_valid
+      expect(ireland_school.errors[:school_roll_number]).to include("can't be blank")
     end
 
     it 'requires school_roll_number to be unique if provided' do
-      school.school_roll_number = '01572D'
-      school.save!
-
-      duplicate_school = build(:school, school_roll_number: '01572d')
+      duplicate_school = build(:school, school_roll_number: '01572D', country_code: 'IE')
       expect(duplicate_school).not_to be_valid
     end
 
     it 'accepts a valid alphanumeric school_roll_number' do
-      school.school_roll_number = '01572D'
-      expect(school).to be_valid
+      ireland_school.school_roll_number = '01572D'
+      expect(ireland_school).to be_valid
     end
 
     it 'accepts a school_roll_number with one or more letters' do
-      school.school_roll_number = '12345ABC'
-      expect(school).to be_valid
+      ireland_school.school_roll_number = '12345ABC'
+      expect(ireland_school).to be_valid
     end
 
     it 'rejects a school_roll_number with only numbers' do
-      school.school_roll_number = '01572'
-      expect(school).not_to be_valid
-      expect(school.errors[:school_roll_number]).to include('must be numbers followed by letters (e.g., 01572D)')
+      ireland_school.school_roll_number = '01572'
+      expect(ireland_school).not_to be_valid
+      expect(ireland_school.errors[:school_roll_number]).to include('must be numbers followed by letters (e.g., 01572D)')
     end
 
     it 'rejects a school_roll_number with only letters' do
-      school.school_roll_number = 'ABCDE'
-      expect(school).not_to be_valid
-      expect(school.errors[:school_roll_number]).to include('must be numbers followed by letters (e.g., 01572D)')
+      ireland_school.school_roll_number = 'ABCDE'
+      expect(ireland_school).not_to be_valid
+      expect(ireland_school.errors[:school_roll_number]).to include('must be numbers followed by letters (e.g., 01572D)')
     end
 
     it 'rejects a school_roll_number with special characters' do
-      school.school_roll_number = '01572-D'
-      expect(school).not_to be_valid
-      expect(school.errors[:school_roll_number]).to include('must be numbers followed by letters (e.g., 01572D)')
+      ireland_school.school_roll_number = '01572-D'
+      expect(ireland_school).not_to be_valid
+      expect(ireland_school.errors[:school_roll_number]).to include('must be numbers followed by letters (e.g., 01572D)')
     end
 
     it 'normalizes blank school_roll_number to nil' do
@@ -209,11 +317,9 @@
     end
 
     it 'allows school_roll_number reuse when original school is rejected' do
-      school.school_roll_number = '01572D'
-      school.save!
-      school.reject
+      ireland_school.reject
 
-      new_school = build(:school, school_roll_number: '01572D')
+      new_school = build(:school, school_roll_number: '01572D', country_code: 'IE')
       expect(new_school).to be_valid
       expect { new_school.save! }.not_to raise_error
     end