We may just be starting the 2014 -2015 school year, but NOW is the time to plan for where your child will attend NEXT YEAR!
It is nearly a year in advance that Houston ISD starts the application process for the next school year. In just 2 months, applications will become available for the 2015-2016 school year. It will be just 4 months until they are due and the most sought after schools will be full.
The applications are not yet up, and the dates have not yet been announced, but so you can feel confident selecting your child’s school, below is an introduction to the process.
Each student has a school they are zoned to and you can find yours by here, Find A School. If you are happy with your zoned school, your job is easy.
Kids are automatically accepted into their zoned schools and you will just need to register before the school year.
If, however, you would like the opportunity for your child to attend a school you are not zoned to, you will have apply for a magnet transfer.
Each magnet school has a specialized theme that is incorporated into their classes and curriculum, like fine arts, dual language or gifted and talented. For more information on magnet school programs, click here. Note that some schools are 100% magnet, and everyone has applied to be there, and some are part zoned students and part magnet students.
For most magnet schools, you just apply and are part of the lottery. For the gifted and talented programs, called the Vanguard program, you will apply, your child will then need to qualify with a test and qualified kids will be part of the lottery.
If you get a spot at a magnet school, it is not guaranteed that your other children will also get a spot. In the past, 25% of the open spots have been reserved for siblings, but if you are not selected in this sibling lottery, you will be added to the general lottery. Also, if your oldest child attends a Vanguard School, your younger child will also need to qualify, and then get in through the lottery. So, with magnet schools, there is always the risk that you could have 2 kids at 2 different schools and both will need to be dropped off by 7:45am and picked up at 3:00pm… making the routine a little stressful!
Still, magnet schools offer great opportunities that may not be available at your zoned school.
You will be able to apply to multiple schools and see what happens. If you ultimately decide to go to your zoned school, you can do it.
So start to think about next year and which schools you might like to visit. Think about what is important to you, like dual language, location, after school programs, arts, music or vanguard, and get ready to apply in November!
HISD will soon publish their guidelines and applications for the 2015-2016 year, and I hope this gets you prepared for the school selection process! Be watching this page for updates when they are available!
Contributed by Jill of BigKidSmallCity
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