Category Archives: Magnet/School Choice

eNews Highlight: Meet the Carnegie senior who’s applying to 23 colleges

Read why this EMERGE student is keeping her options open in this week’s edition

While most seniors are fine-tuning a short list of colleges and universities they might want to attend, one student at HISD’s Carnegie Vanguard High School is doing exactly the opposite. Learn why Olaide Sode is pushing herself to apply to almost two dozen different schools, and how the EMERGE program is helping Olaide and other economically disadvantaged students to reach for the stars in the Nov. 7, 2014, edition of eNews.

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Students building robots, writing code in district STEM programs

In the sixth grade, Clifton Middle School student DK Lacy built a robotic hand in his computer science class. In the seventh grade, he helped his classmates build a life-size robot. Three months into his eighth-grade year, he’s already worked on a class project to create a 3-D printer by disassembling three different computers. But he says his greatest creation is yet to come.

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“I love to build things, and I want to make things one day that not many people have made – a car that runs on an alternative resource like dirt or water or a smartphone for the blind to help my dad,” said DK, a student in Clifton’s magnet program for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). STEM is one of several magnet program areas to choose from on HISD’s new magnet application for the next school year.
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Thousands of parents attend School Choice Fair to learn more about neighborhood schools, magnet programs

Thousands of parents attended the HISD School Choice Fair on Saturday to learn about the district’s 100-plus magnet school programs to help them decide which programs meet their child’s needs and interests.

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The magnet application for the 2015-2016 school year is now available. The application takes about five to 10 minutes to complete, and parents may apply online or via a paper application. The magnet application will be open until Dec. 19, which is the last day to apply and be considered in the first round of the magnet application process.

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Newly designed website and catalog to help with school choice process

HISD magnet applications are now being accepted for the 2015-2016 school year, but selecting a school among so many choices may sometimes seem overwhelming.  In an effort to help parents and students navigate the process and make an informed choice, HISD has redesigned its school choice website and has created a helpful catalog.  Continue reading →

Magnet applications now being accepted for 2015-2016 school year

The HISD magnet application process is now open for the 2015-2016 school year. Parents and students interested in applying for one of HISD’s 115 magnet programs for next school year can do so online by clicking here.  Applications must be submitted no later than Dec. 19, 2014, in order to be guaranteed consideration in the first round. Continue reading →

Take a school tour during magnet awareness week November 3-7

During the week of Nov.  3, parents can take a closer look at the schools they are considering for their children as part of HISD’s annual Magnet Awareness Week. Tours will be offered at magnet schools each day this week at 1 p.m. so that families may visit the school’s campus, observe classrooms, and gain firsthand knowledge of the curriculum and programs.

Magnet Awareness Week is also a great time for parents to follow up on any questions they may have about the school and the magnet program. Be sure to check out this year’s school choice brochure for details on various magnet school programs, helpful suggestions on what to consider when evaluating various campuses, a list of questions to ask representatives of prospective schools, and a timeline of important dates in the magnet process. The brochure is available in Spanish by clicking here.  Continue reading →

HISD School Choice Open House to showcase 100-plus district offerings

The Houston Independent School District is hosting a School Choice Open House Saturday, Nov. 1 at Northwest Mall (9500 Hempstead Hwy., 77092) to highlight educational options for the 2015-2016 school year. The annual event will take place from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., and representatives from many of the district’s campuses will be on hand to answer questions and offer information about their programs.

Magnet applications for the 2015-2016 school year open online on Saturday, Nov. 1. Parents must submit those applications before Friday, Dec. 19, for guaranteed first-round consideration.     Continue reading →

Don’t overlook your neighborhood campuses when shopping for a school

Crockett ES is not a magnet school for fine arts, but its program is top-notch due in part to art teachers like Geetha Thomas, pictured here with some of her students. Parents are encouraged to check out the offerings at their neighborhood schools first, before shopping for alternatives.

It’s fall in Houston, and that means many HISD parents are already thinking about which campuses to send their children to for the 2015–2016 school year.

But while the attraction of the district’s many magnet programs is undeniable, parents are encouraged to take a closer look at the “zoned” schools located in their neighborhoods, as sometimes a hidden gem can be right around the corner.
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Parents: Start exploring your options during Magnet Awareness Week Nov. 3–7

The current school year is underway, but parents who want to send their children to campuses other than the ones to which they are zoned next fall need to start planning now.

Magnet applications for the 2015-2016 school year open online on Saturday, Nov. 1, with processing starting Monday, Nov. 3. Parents must submit those applications before Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, for guaranteed first-round consideration.

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To assist families in choosing a school, HISD will be hosting a Magnet Open House on Saturday, Nov. 1, at Northwest Mall (9500 Hempstead Hwy., 77092). The event will take place from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., and representatives from many of the district’s campuses will be on hand to answer questions and offer information about their programs. Continue reading →

Strengthening ‘academics first’ at Yates before construction begins at school

Close to 40 Yates High School parents, alumni, educators, and students attended a special community meeting Thursday to discuss strengthening academic programs at the school before construction begins on a new facility for Yates.

Yates is one of 40 schools HISD will rebuild or renovate under the district’s 2012 $1.89 billion bond program. Construction on Yates is scheduled to begin mid- to late 2015.

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At the meeting, attendees shared ideas and voiced concerns on what academic programs to expand on or include in the new building, including offering more advanced courses for students.

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