INDEX
School Choice Options
Overview
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HISD offers a variety of programs to attract students to campuses other than their "home" or "zoned" schools, such as Magnet/Vanguard, alternative/charter schools, International Baccalaureate, Montessori, early college high schools, Career and Technical Education, JROTC, after-school, virtual school, prekindergarten, and Project GRAD.
When a school of choice has space available and accepts a student from outside its attendance zone, HISD requires that the parents agree to keep the student at the chosen school for the entire school year. Check for transportation availability with each program/school.
Parents may also apply to a school other than the “zoned” campus for other types of transfers, such as impassable geographic barriers, majority-to-minority, space-available, out-of-district, violent-crime victim, unsafe school, adequate yearly progress, and public education grant. Details on these types of transfers are available at right. Questions may be directed to Student Transfer at 713-556-6734.
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| NOTE: Under University Interscholastic League (UIL) eligibility rules, students who have an option to attend more than one high school within a school district, rather than being assigned to a school according to attendance zones, are eligible for varsity athletic competition at the school they first select. If students subsequently change to another school within that school district, they are not eligible for varsity athletic competition until they have been in and regularly attended that school for at least the previous calendar year. |
Student Transfer Forms
The student transfer program includes Magnet Program Transfers, Majority-to-Minority Transfers, Special Transfers, Space-Available Transfers, Public Education Grants, Out-of-District Employee (average daily attendance) Transfers, and Out-of-District Transfers. Tuition rates may apply.
You may download the student transfer forms from their department site. The HISD Federal and State Compliance department handles all transfer requests.
If you need additional information, you may also call the Student Transfer Department at 713-556-6734.
Charter Schools
Description
HISD operates five types of charter schools: whole-campus, program (school-within-a-school), cooperative, internal, community-based, and external-campus. Each charter school has an innovative focus that addresses a particular education concept and/or student population. All charter schools are accountable under the Texas Education Agency accountability system.
Number of Schools Eligible for Programs
23
Grade Levels Served
Prekindergarten through 12
Selection Criteria
- HISD residency
- Available space and grades
- Other criteria specific to the charter
Selection Process
- Submission of transfer application to charter school
- Acceptance of eligible students into the charter after all appropriate criteria are met
- Completed application processed by charter school
- Parents notified by mail
- One-year commitment
Acceptance Timeline
February—Ongoing
Transportation
HISD does not provide transportation. Students are responsible for their own transportation to the school of choice.
Telephone
HISD Charter School Dept.: 713-807-5181
Magnet Program Transfers
Description
The Magnet program offers HISD resident students choices from among a number of specialized educational programs. Each provides both strong academic studies and a specialty enrichment program. Specialties are varied enough to meet the needs, interests, and talents of students.
Grade Levels Served
Kindergarten through grade 12 (Montessori accepts ages 3 and 4) Tuition rates may apply.*
Selection Criteria
- Acceptable conduct and attendance
- Available space*
- Other criteria specific to the program
- One-year commitment
Selection Process
- Submission of transfer application to Magnet program
- Completion of other requirements
- Completed application processed by Magnet program
- Parents notified by mail by Magnet program
- Accepted students enrolled in Magnet program
Acceptance Timeline
Timeline dates are available on the Magnet Web Site.
Transportation
Transportation is provided to Magnet students in accordance with HISD Transportation Department guidelines. Additional information is available at the Magnet school location.
Telephone
HISD Magnet Office: 713-556-6947
*IMPORTANT NOTE:
No out-of-district transfers will be accepted into secondary "Separate and Unique School" (SUS) Magnet programs or other specialty schools on campuses that do not have an attendance zone. In extenuating circumstances, the superintendent of schools may approve out-of-district transfers to SUS Magnet programs. When these exceptions are granted, tuition will be charged.
Children of nonresident employees will not be required to pay tuition if their application to attend a SUS Magnet programs is approved by the superintendent of schools.
Majority-to-Minority Transfers
Description
The Majority-to-Minority transfer is a voluntary transfer offered to a student who wishes to transfer from his or her zoned school, where his or her ethnicity is in the majority, to a school where his or her ethnicity is in the minority.
Number of Schools Eligible for Programs
The Student Transfer Department maintains an annual list of schools eligible for Majority-to-Minority transfers.
Grade Levels Served
Kindergarten through grade 12
Selection Criteria
- Submission of transfer application to the Student Transfer Department (principal’s signature not required)
- Transfers processed for lottery selection
- Lottery drawing held
- Parents notified by mail
- One-year commitment
Acceptance Timeline
February through March—Majority-to-Minority transfer applications accepted
First week of April—Lottery drawing (no Majority-to-Minority transfers accepted after lottery process)
Second week of April—Notification letters mailed to parents
Third week of April—Majority-to-Minority rosters mailed to principals
Transportation
HISD provides transportation for students who live more than two miles from the school.
Telephone
HISD Transfer Dept.: 713-556-6734
Special Transfers
Description
HISD grants special transfers to certain students for the following reasons:
- Special courses or programs (Honors, International Baccalaureate, JROTC, Career and Technical Education, Alternative, Pregnant Education Program)
- Impassable geographic barriers and obstructions
- Unsafe schools
- Average year progress
- Certain hardship situations (violent-crime victim, homeless)
(Special Education Transfers: Special Education Dept.: 713-556-7025)
Number of Schools Eligible for Programs
The Student Transfer Department maintains an annual list of schools with eligible special transfers.
Grade Levels Served
Kindergarten through grade 12
Selection Criteria
- Programs not available at home school
- Available space
- Program qualifications met
- HISD residency
- One-year commitment
Selection Process
- Submission of application to appropriate coordinator
- Signature of receiving principal is required
- Receipt and processing of applications by the Transfer Department
- Parents notified by mail
Acceptance Timeline
March—Ongoing
- Transfers processed
- Notification letters mailed to parents within two weeks of receipt of application beginning the first week of April
Transportation
HISD transportation is provided to students only on routes with available space at existing stops.
Telephone
HISD Transfer Dept.: 713-556-6734
Space-Available Transfers
Description
Space-available transfers give students the option of transferring to any school in HISD, as long as there is available space in the specified grade levels at the campus of choice, after all other types of transfers have been accepted.
Number of Schools Eligible for Programs
All schools with available space will be open to transfers. A separate list of schools with space will be provided on an annual basis.
Grade Levels Served
Kindergarten through grade 12
Selection Criteria
- Interest in attending a specific school with available space
- HISD residency
- One-year commitment
Selection Process
- Transfer applicant granted the transfer if the school has available space in the grade level requested (principal’s signature required)
- Students selected by lottery when a school has more applications than available spaces
Acceptance Timeline
March—Ongoing Transfers processed and notification letters mailed to parents within two weeks of receipt of application beginning the first week of April
Transportation
HISD does not provide transportation. Students are responsible for their own transportation to the school of choice.
Telephone
HISD Transfer Dept.: 713-556-6734
Public Education Grants (PEG)
Description
Students who are enrolled in schools that have been rated as low-performing by the Texas Education Agency in any of the last three years, or in which more than half of the students failed the TAAS/TAKS for two of any three consecutive years, may transfer to another school or another district of their choice.
Number of Schools Eligible for Programs
Schools rated as acceptable or exemplary by the Texas Education Agency of where more than 50 percent of the school’s students passed the TAAS/TAKS in two of the last three years
Grade Levels Served
Kindergarten through grade 12
Selection Criteria
- Interest in attending a school not rated as low-performing
- Space available in the school to which the transfer is requested
- First space priorities to HISD students
- Priority for at-risk students
- Programs that student wants at the school
- The district may not use criteria that discriminate on the basis of a student's race, ethnicity, academic achievement, athletic abilities, language proficiency, sex, or socioeconomic status.
- One-year commitment
Selection Process
- By February 1, parents of eligible students will be notified by HISD
- Submission of transfer application to the Student Transfer Department (receiving principal's signature is not required)
- Processing of transfers on the basis of available space
- Notification of parents by mail
Acceptance Timeline
First week of February—Ongoing
- Applications accepted in the Student Transfer Department
- Notification letters mailed to parents within two weeks of receipt of application beginning the first week of April
Transportation
HISD does not provide transportation to the new campus or district. Travel arrangements to the new school are the responsibility of the parents.
Telephone
HISD Student Transfer Department: 713-556-6734
Out-of-District Employees
Description
Any child of a non-resident HISD employee eligible to attend public school at the beginning of the school year may be transferred from his/her district of residence to any other Texas district that the transfer of average daily attendance (ADA) for the distribution of state funds meets with Texas Education Agency provisions.
PLEASE NOTE: No out-of-district transfers will be accepted into secondary "Separate and Unique School" (SUS) Magnet programs, early college high schools, or other specialty schools on campuses that do not have an attendance zone. In extenuating circumstances, the superintendent of schools may approve out-of-district transfers to these programs.
Children of HISD employees who reside outside the boundaries of HISD may be permitted to attend HISD schools tuition-free. Tuition rates may apply for students not eligible for ADA funding.
Number of Schools Eligible for Programs
Public schools of Texas
Grade Levels Served
Kindergarten through grade 12
Selection Criteria
- Policy of Board of Education of HISD: Tuition rates may apply for students not eligible for ADA funding
- Written agreement to the transfer by both the receiving district and the person with legal control of the child
- Available space and no qualified HISD resident was denied admission for the current year
- One-year commitment
Selection Process
- Transfer application submitted to the Student Transfer Department (receiving principal’s signature required)
- Forms approved by the Texas Education Agency filed with receiving district
- Parent notified by mail
Acceptance Timeline
First Week of February–Ongoing Transfers for the following school year may be approved beginning the first Monday of June, provided no qualified HISD resident was denied admission for the current year.
Transportation
HISD transportation is provided to students only on routes with available space at existing stops.
Telephone
HISD Transfer Dept.: 713-556-6734
Out-of-District Transfers
Description
Any child eligible to attend public school at the beginning of the school year may be transferred from his/her district of residence to any other Texas district that the transfer of average daily attendance (ADA) for the distribution of state funds meets with Texas Education Agency provisions. Tuition rates may apply.
PLEASE NOTE: No out-of-district transfers will be accepted into secondary "Separate and Unique School" (SUS) Magnet programs or other specialty schools on campuses that do not have an attendance zone. In extenuating circumstances, the superintendent of schools may approve out-of-district transfers to these programs. When these exceptions are granted, tuition will be charged.
Number of Schools Eligible for Programs
Public schools of Texas
Grade Levels Served
Kindergarten through grade 12
Selection Process
- Transfer application submitted to the Student Transfer Department (receiving principal’s signature required)
- Forms approved by the Texas Education Agency filed with receiving district
- Parent notified by mail
Acceptance Timeline
First Week of February–Ongoing Transfers for the following school year may be approved beginning the first Monday in June, provided no qualified HISD resident was denied admission for the current year.
Transportation
HISD does not provide transportation. Students are responsible for their own transportation to the school of choice.
Telephone
HISD Transfer Dept.: 713-556-6734
Choose Your School
