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Weekly campus tours also planned; applications accepted Sept. 30 through Dec. 9
The Houston Independent School District Office of School Choice will host five School Choice Fairs and offer weekly campus tours at all magnet campuses throughout the fall semester for families to meet with magnet representatives and learn about the 2017-2018 application process, which begins Sept. 30.
Families will be able to attend a fair to learn more about the district’s 119 Magnet programs, which specialize in areas such as fine arts, language studies, college and career readiness and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math).
The School Choice Fairs will help families become better informed of their school choices before the Dec. 9 deadline that qualifies students to be entered into the Phase I lottery. Families may begin submitting their applications on Sept. 30. Parents will receive notification of their application results by 4 p.m. on March 23, 2017.
School Choice Fairs
- Sept. 17, 9 a.m. to noon — Westbury High School, 11911 Chimney Rock, 77035
- Oct. 1, 9 a.m. to noon — Chavez High School, 8501 Howard, 77017
- Oct. 22, 9 a.m. to noon — Heights High School, East 13th Street, 77008
- Nov. 5, 9 a.m. to noon — Austin High School, 1700 Dumble, 77023
- Dec. 3, 9 a.m. to noon — Sterling High School, 11625 Martindale Road, 77048
Weekly tours also will be offered at every magnet campus on Thursdays beginning Oct. 6 through Dec. 8. Elementary and K-8 schools will welcome parents beginning at 9 a.m. Middle and high schools will begin their tours at 1 p.m.
There have been several alterations made to the magnet application process this year to help families make more informed school selections for the next year. The updates include more open houses and an earlier application period.
The alterations are designed to give parents more opportunities to visit schools and make their school decision earlier. Under the magnet application system, parents may apply to up to five magnet programs and must rank them in order of preference. Secondary fine arts programs qualify students through auditions. Vanguard programs qualify students through G/T testing. For magnet programs with more qualified in-district applications received during Phase I (Sept. 30 through Dec. 9) than space available, applicants will be entered into lotteries.
The 2017-2018 HISD magnet application will be available online starting Sept. 30 and paper applications can be picked up at all magnet campuses.
For more information about the magnet application process, HISD school choice tours and fairs, visit HoustonISD.org/SchoolChoice or call the Office of School Choice at 713-556-6947.