Applications for the Class of 2025

are now CLOSED!

All submissions are currently being reviewed.

**Finalists will be notified of an interview**

General Information

EMERGE currently operates at all HISD high schools and recruits 10th grade students each year. Competitive applicants are economically-disadvantaged and generally the first in their family to graduate from a four-year college or university. They must have a strong academic profile that includes getting good grades in rigorous courses.

Information Sessions will be delivered at every HISD high school campus by EMERGE staff.

Application Components

Phase 1: Application (February 15th - May 15th)

Student & Family Background

Extracurricular Involvement

Short Response Questions

Personal Essays

Phase 2: Finalist Interviews (TBD)*

There will be an Orientation for new students and their families.

*Note: Not every student who applies will move on to the second phase (finalist interviews). Thousands of highly-qualified students apply for a limited number of spots with EMERGE-HISD.

Evaluation Criteria

EMERGE evaluates prospective applicants holistically. There are no minimum test scores or GPA. We look for students with:

A strong academic profile who seek challenging courses.

Drive, perseverance, curiosity, humility, and gratitude.

Extracurricular involvement and leadership potential.

Limited financial means.

A first-generation college background. This means that the student will be among the first generation in their family to attend and graduate from college.

*dates may shift

Watch a Recorded EMERGE-HISD Recruitment Session!

Nominate a student