HOUSTON – The Houston Independent School District (HISD) has opened its annual school choice application for families looking to explore hundreds of neighborhood and specialty schools and select the best one that fits their children’s needs.
Recommended Videos
Because it is an open-enrollment district of choice, HISD allows students to apply to schools beyond their zoned campuses and to access specialized academic programs across the district.
“School Choice is about ensuring families have access to high-quality options that align with their children’s interests, strengths, and goals,” said Kelsey Lippitz, Executive Director of School Choice. “Whether a family is looking for career-focused learning, advanced academics, fine arts, or a unique instructional approach, HISD oƯers an extraordinary range of opportunities, all accessible through one application.”
Through the program, families can apply to a variety of schools and programs, including Career and Technical Education (CTE), fine arts, International Baccalaureate (IB), Montessori, STEM, Vanguard, and more.
Here are the steps in the process:
Phase I: Lottery
During Phase I, families rank up to 10 school choices and submit an application. HISD uses a lottery process to determine seat oƯers. Students who do not receive a seat are automatically placed on waitlists for any higher-ranked schools.
Phase II: Space Available
Phase II opens on April 8, 2026, following Parent Notification Day. During this phase, families may submit applications to be added to existing waitlists if space becomes available
Dates to remember:
December 9, 2025: HISD K-12 School Choice Phase 1 application opens
February 27, 2026: Application deadline; all rankings and required documents must be submitted
April 8, 2026: Parent Notification Day; Phase II opens
Families are encouraged to explore school options early, attend information sessions, and submit applications before the February 27 deadline.
Families can also learn more about School Choice options on Saturday, December 13, at the HISD School Choice Fair from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men.
For more information, click here.
For the K-12 application for the 2026-2027 school year, click here.