Each school in HISD handles its own registration and enrollment. Most HISD schools open for enrollment no later than the first week of August. To find out the enrollment schedule for a specific school, telephone the school. To find out which school your child is zoned to attend, use the Find a School tool. See School Choice Options for information about transfers and Magnet/Vanguard and charter-school enrollment.

School Boundary Maps

To view individual school boundary maps, go to the Campus Attendance Zone Maps page. Type in part of the name of the school in the "Campus" field and click "Submit." All schools have a map link.

Student Transfer Department: 713-556-6734

Every school district requires identification of each student as a condition of enrollment, which must be under a student’s legal name as shown on that student’s birth certificate or other legal document. The parent or legal guardian must furnish documentation of the student’s identity, age, and residence and a copy of the student’s records within 30 days of enrollment (or 90 days if the student was born outside the U.S.). If the student does not have a Social Security number, HISD will assign a Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) number. No student may be denied enrollment solely because of failure to meet the documentation requirements. Enrollment is provisional, however, pending receipt of the required documentation and verification of eligibility.

A parent or legal guardian who resides with relatives or friends within HISD and who wishes to send a child to an HISD school must submit a statement of residence. The parent or guardian must complete the statement at the zoned school and must supply the following:

• Photo identification
• A letter from the official resident of the address at which the applicant is living, stating how long the applicant has lived at that address
• The name of the school the student attended most recently
• A copy of the official resident’s most recent bill for electricity, gas, or water; and
• If the residence is an apartment, a valid lease giving the name of the official resident. (For assistance, call the Student Transfer Department at 713-556-6734.)

If your child is entering HISD from another school district, you will also need a record of current immunizations and his or her most recent report card. The school will also request an academic transcript from your child’s previous school. More information and forms may be found on the HISD Health & Medical Services Web site.

Health and Medical Services: 713-556-7280

Preparing your child for school means more than getting the right school supplies and uniforms—parents should also update their child's immunizations. When enrolling your child in school, be sure to bring to the school a record of your child’s current immunizations signed by a doctor. Your child may be eligible to enroll provisionally if the required immunization process has begun.

For more information about required immunizations, call Health Services at 713-556-7280. More immunization information is available on the HISD Health Services website.

Some organizations offer free immunizations to eligible children through their regular healthcare providers, such as Texas Vaccinations for Children. Others offer free immunizations during specific hours on certain days of the month. For other clinic locations that offer free vaccinations (including those provided by the City of Houston), call Health and Medical Services at 713-556-7280

To view the medical requirements for attendance at an HISD school, click here to visit the Health & Medical website.

Enrollment Eligibility

Student Transfer: 713-556-6734

Children may attend HISD schools if they live within the boundaries of HISD, are between the ages of 4 and 21, and have not graduated from high school. Three-year-old children may also receive Special Education services. Nonresident students may attend if they have an approved out-of-district transfer (see "Transfers" and "School Choice Options"), as stipulated in Board Policy FDA (LOCAL). Except for prekindergarten students not qualifying under state guidelines and Magnet Separate and Unique Schools, there is no longer a tuition fee. Children of nonresident HISD employees may attend HISD schools, on a space-available and tuition-free basis, after completing the transfer application process. Nonresidents must renew the out-of-district transfer each year.

To be eligible for first grade, a child should be six years old by September 1 of a given school year. Although state law does not require students to attend kindergarten, it is excellent preparation for first grade, and parents are encouraged to enroll their children. To enter kindergarten, a child must be five years old no later than September 1 of a given school year.

Prekindergarten Programs

Full-day prekindergarten programs are available at no charge to students who meet certain criteria. Parents of students who do not meet the eligibility requirements to attend prekindergarten tuition-free may enroll their four-year-old child (child must be four years of age on or before September 1 of a given school year) in a full-day, tuition-based pre-kindergarten program at participating neighborhood schools, on a space-available basis. The state-set fee is $4,200 per year, which may be paid in 10 payments of $420.

To obtain additional information about tuition-based prekindergarten, call the Early Childhood Department at 713-556-6882, or a participating school.

Transfers

In the interest of ensuring the widest possible range of choices in education, HISD also offers parents the option of sending their child to a school other than the “home” or “zoned” campus, provided that the school of choice has sufficient space available to accept additional students.

When the school of choice 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, and parents must assume responsibility for the student’s transportation. Parents may also apply to a school other than the “zoned” campus for other types of transfers, such as Magnet/Vanguard, special transfers for courses or programs, impassable geographic barriers, space-available, out-of-district, violent-crime victim, unsafe school, adequate yearly progress, and public education grant.

Students residing outside HISD may attend HISD schools on a "space available" basis. All out-of-district transfers, including Magnet/Vanguard and HISD charter-school and contract programs, require the approval of the principal and superintendent of schools. See School Choice Options for more information about these options.

For information about available space, the application process, and eligibility for transfers, call the school in which you are interested or the Student Transfer Department at 713-556-6734.