HISD posts December 6 and December 8, 2026 as opening dates in two sections of its website. Both agree that the first phase of K-12 applications will close on February 12, 2027.
Published November 6, 2026.
The HISD School Choice 2027-2028 program will allow families to apply for admission to magnet schools, specialized programs, and campuses different from those assigned by home within the Houston Independent School District (HISD).
The process for students from kindergarten through 12th grade will have two phases. During the first, a lottery will determine the allocation of available seats among eligible students, taking into account each program’s admission priorities.
Each student may select up to ten schools or programs and rank them according to their preferences. Submitting an application does not guarantee a place.
HISD designates December 6 and December 8 as opening dates
HISD maintains two different dates for the start of K-12 applications for the 2027-2028 school year.
The School Choice FAQ section sets December 6, 2026, while the main K-12 calendar indicates December 8, 2026.
As of November 6, both dates remained published on the district’s pages. HISD had not clarified there which should be considered definitive.
Families will be able to use the School Choice portal once the call for 2027-2028 is activated. The district sets February 12, 2027 as the deadline to participate in the first phase.
The first phase will close on February 12, 2027
The HISD calendar sets the following dates for kindergarten through 12th-grade applications:
- February 12, 2027: close of applications for the first phase.
- March 17, 2027: lottery results published and second phase opened.
- March 23, 2027: last day to accept offers issued on March 17.
- Subsequent offers: must be accepted within five calendar days of their issuance.
HISD clarifies that submitting the application ahead of other families, within the first phase period, does not increase the likelihood of obtaining a place. However, the student’s eligibility and admission priorities can influence the allocation.
How to apply for HISD School Choice
The process will be conducted through the HISD application portal. Families should select the 2027-2028 school year when it is enabled.
- Create an account or sign in. Families who participated in previous years can use their existing account.
- Complete one application per student. The form requires the student’s information.
- Add schools or programs. In the student’s profile, the “Take Action” option allows you to select and modify the alternatives.
- Rank up to ten preferences. The first option should correspond to the school or program of greatest interest.
- Check the admission requirements. Some programs require assessments, grades, prior experience, or auditions.
- Submit the application and keep the confirmation. HISD will send an email after submission.
First-phase applications can be modified while the period remains open. After February 12, 2027, the district will not allow changes to options submitted during that phase.
New HISD students must complete their documents before the closing
Applicants not currently enrolled in HISD must submit the required documents no later than February 12, 2027 to complete their participation in the first phase.
According to the district, students who were enrolled in HISD throughout the 2025-2026 cycle typically do not need to re-submit documents at this stage.
Documents can be uploaded through the “Next Steps” section of the portal. HISD also allows requesting assistance by email or delivering copies to its School Choice office, located in the Hattie Mae White Building, 4400 W. 18th St., Houston, TX 77092.
The order of the ten schools determines the wait lists
The order of preference has consequences after the lottery. HISD will attempt to assign the student to the highest-priority program for which they meet the requirements and for which a seat is available.
For example, if a student receives an offer for their third option, they will remain on the wait list for options one and two, but will no longer participate in the allocation for options four through ten.
If the family is still interested in any of those lower-priority options, they must submit a new application during the second phase.
HISD also clarifies that using all ten options available does not hurt the chances of obtaining a place in a specific school.
Submitting an application does not eliminate the student’s current school placement. The student loses that place for the next cycle only if the family accepts a new assignment.
Out-of-HISD students may participate with restrictions
School Choice allows students residing outside the HISD boundaries to apply for admission to certain kindergarten through 12th-grade programs. However, applicants living within the district have priority in the first-phase lottery.
Additionally, some options, such as certain International Baccalaureate programs, Dual Language, and Career and Technical Education programs, are not available to external applicants.
The application is also required for students seeking a school different from the one assigned by home, for 6th through 12th graders who want to participate in a magnet program, and for students moving from preschool to kindergarten who want to attend a different campus.
Fifth-grade students at Baker, Garden Oaks, Pilgrim, and Wharton who wish to remain at those campuses for sixth grade must reapply for admission. The same rule applies to eighth-grade students at Long Academy who wish to continue there in ninth grade.
Vanguard, Montessori, and arts programs have additional requirements
Participating schools do not necessarily use the same admission criteria.
Vanguard magnet programs require Gifted and Talented (G/T) identification in all assessment areas. Carnegie Vanguard High School also requires a minimum score of 80 on the corresponding academic matrix.
In Montessori programs, students entering from third through 12th grade must have prior experience with that educational method.
Certain arts programs require auditions, while some high school options use grades and exam results as part of the academic evaluation.
HISD’s eligibility criteria establish the specific conditions for each type of program.
Related: HISD Gifted and Talented 2026: dates and results of the evaluations.
The second phase will begin on March 17, 2027
HISD will open a second phase for students who did not participate in the first period, new families to the district, and additional applications to programs with available spaces.
Unlike the initial lottery, new offers will depend on vacancies and arrival order, respecting the wait lists from the first phase.
Students already on a wait list do not need to reapply for admission to the same school to preserve their position.
The district states that, for current students or those returning to HISD, the second phase and wait lists will end one week before the start of classes. Applications from new district students may continue to remain open to serve families moving into the area.
Pre-K applications will open on January 19, 2027
The preschool calendar is different from the K-12 process.
The first phase of Pre-K applications for 2027-2028 will open on January 19, 2027 and close on April 15, 2027.
Eligibility documents can be uploaded starting April 1 and must be submitted by April 19. Lottery notifications are scheduled for May 4, 2027.
HISD does not offer its Pre-K programs to families residing outside the district’s attendance boundaries.
HISD will offer in-person assistance on December 12 at Waltrip High School
The next School Choice fair will be held on Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., at Waltrip High School, located at 1900 W. 34th St., Houston, TX 77018.
There will be information about magnet programs, parent sessions, and computers to receive assistance with the applications.
HISD’s fair calendar also includes events on January 23, February 6, April 3, and May 15, 2027.
The School Choice department receives inquiries via the email address [email protected]. For K-12 first-phase applications, the confirmed closing deadline is February 12, 2027.
