Category Archives: Magnet/School Choice

School Choice applications for 2020-2021 available on Sept. 27

First of five school choice fairs set for Sept. 28 at Sterling HS

Parents will have the ability to begin applying to School Choice Programs for the 2020-2021 school year on Friday, Sept. 27, 2019. The district’s first school choice fair will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 28 at Sterling High School (11625 Martindale, 77048).

HISD offers a robust portfolio of magnet programs at 112 schools to best meet students’ academic needs and interests. The magnet programs within the district include:

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Arabic Immersion Magnet School relocating to former Kinder HSPVA campus

The Houston Independent School District’s Arabic Immersion Magnet School will relocate this summer to the former campus of Kinder High School for Performing and Visual Arts — a move designed to accommodate the school’s growing student population and transformation to a PK-8 campus.  

The new location, located at 4001 Stanford St., is just seven miles south of the original AIMS campus on West 28th Street in the Heights. The campus will provide a more central, neighborhood location while still maintaining proximity to the original campus. Additionally, the new building has space for the school to expand, including areas for fine arts, physical education, and a growing pre-kindergarten program. 

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Application period for school choice program transfers to end May 31

Applications for school transfers in choice programs for current HISD students will no longer be accepted after May 31, 2019.  

The online application is now available through HISD’s Office of School Choice Student Transfer page. It can be used for school transfers in choice programs such as dual language and international baccalaureate, as well as career and technical programs, and many more. 

The online application can be found here. 

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Still school shopping? Save the date for the upcoming Spring School Choice Fair

Magnet application deadline for Phase 2 is May 31 

Magnet schools and other choice programs that still have open seats will be available to discuss options with parents at the Spring School Choice Fair on Saturday, April 27. 

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at Heights High School (413 East 13th St., 77008) and will offer a glimpse of the many programs still waiting for students after the Phase 1 magnet deadline, as well as all other transfer options.

Schools with space available will have representatives at the event.  
For a complete list of magnet programs with openings, click here. Other programs such as dual language and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs will also be represented.

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Energy Institute HS named National Magnet School of Excellence


Principal Lori Lambropoulos accepts the Magnet School of America’s Waldrip Magnet School of Merit Award on Saturday, April 13 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Energy Institute High School has been named a National Magnet School of Excellence by Magnet Schools of America, the national association for magnet and theme-based schools. 

Energy Institute High School is the first school in HISD devoted to preparing students for careers in the energy field. The mission of the school is to deliver cutting-edge education and to expose students to careers in the energy field. Energy Institute’s vision is to focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while breaking the barriers of the traditional classroom. 

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Kinder HSPVA named 2019 Landmark Award finalist

The new Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts building has been named a Houston Business Journal 2019 Landmark Award finalist.

The annual awards program recognizes impressive real estate projects that make a significant impression on the Houston landscape and help sculpt the look, feel, and image of the city.

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Bond Oversight Committee tours Kinder HSPVA, hears bond program update

HISD’s Bond Oversight Committee toured the newly opened Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts on Tuesday at their quarterly meeting to review progress of the 2012 Bond Program.

HSPVA Principal Scott Allen and HISD General Manager of Facilities Design Dan Bankhead led the eight-member committee as they walked through the school’s grand entry hall, the 800-seat Denny Theater, the black box theater and the recital hall. Continue reading →

Applications for school choice program transfers now available online

HISD has launched a new online application system for school choice program transfers, enhancing the process for parents and students.

The online application is now available through HISD’s Office of School Choice . It can be used for school transfers in choice programs such as dual language and international baccalaureate, as well as career and technical programs, and many more.

The online application can be found here.

It is important to note that this application is not used for any of the district’s Magnet programs. Parents can still apply for Magnet programs through the HISD School Choice website or at www.HISDChoice.com.

The new online application will replace a paper-based system, though parents may still submit paper-based transfer forms to their school of choice. The new system is expected to add ease and accessibility to this transfer process.     Continue reading →

Students discover the sky’s the limit on DiscoverU field trip

High school students from across HISD attended a day-long field trip to Space Center Houston recently.

The trip, sponsored by Houston-based nonprofit organization DiscoverU, was the culmination of an outreach effort led by HISD’s College and Career Readiness Department that resulted in 57 eleventh-graders being admitted into NASA’s High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS) program. All students who were accepted were invited to register for the free field trip, and 51 attended.

Activities included a tour of Building 9 and Rocket Park, an astronaut talk in Space Center Theater, and a chance to explore Space Center Houston.

“Being able to a meet an astronaut was inspiring,” said Energy junior Cynthia Gomez. “They set a high goal and accomplished it.”

Students from the following high schools went on the trip: Bellaire, Carnegie, Eastwood Academy, Energy Institute, Heights, HSPVA, Madison, Mickey Leland College Prep, North Houston Early College, Northside, Sharpstown, Texas Connections Academy, Washington, and Westside. A few tenth-graders from Madison and Washington also attended.

DiscoverU’s aim was to expose students to Space Center Houston and provide an in-person introduction to the program, with the goal of encouraging and empowering HISD students to complete the five-month online course and get a chance to spend a week at Johnson Space Center next summer.

It was also an opportunity for students to meet others in the program who share their interest in aerospace engineering.

“The trip was amazing,” said Washington sophomore Jesus Reynaga. “It really gave me insight into what I want to do when I grow up.”

Chavez HS to hold magnet program showcase

Campus is accepting magnet student transfers for 2019-2020 school year

Chavez High School on Thursday will hold its annual Lobopallooza magnet program showcase event for prospective students and their parents.

The event, which will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the campus (8501 Howard Dr., 77017), coincides with the Houston Independent School District’s approaching deadline on Dec. 7 for the first round of 2019-2020 magnet school applications. Lobopalooza is an open-house event for prospective students that highlights the programs and activities that will be offered at Chavez during the 2019-2020 school year. Continue reading →