HOUSTON, Texas – School choice season is officially underway in the Houston Independent School District, and families now have the chance to explore campuses beyond their zoned schools through the district’s annual lottery-based application process.
With the K–12 School Choice Phase I application open through February 27, 2026, HISD is hosting a series of fairs to help families navigate their options and get hands-on support with the application.
What families can expect
At each fair, parents can meet directly with district staff who guide families through the school choice process, from comparing programs to applying on-site. HISD leaders say the goal is to ensure families have access to high-quality options that fit their children’s interests, strengths and goals, whether that’s advanced academics, fine arts, STEM, Montessori, International Baccalaureate, Vanguard, Career and Technical Education, or other specialty programs.
Matthew Etchells, HISD’s Director of Choice Schools, says families don’t need to worry about tackling the application alone.
“We have a whole team of English speakers, Spanish speakers, and our multilingual department ready to help,” he said. “We’ll walk parents through the entire process. We’ll sit next to them and go step by step with laptops and the application open, all they need to do is show up.”
Key dates for the School Choice Fairs
Families can attend any of the upcoming fairs to get one-on-one support:
- Dec. 13, 2025 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men1700 Gregg St., Houston, TX 77020
- Jan. 10, 2026 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.Sharpstown High School7504 Bissonnet St., Houston, TX 77074
- Feb. 7, 2026 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.Mandarin Immersion Magnet School5445 W. Alabama St., Houston, TX 77056
- April 11, 2026 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.Madison High School13719 White Heather Dr., Houston, TX 77045
How the School Choice process works
Families can rank up to 10 schools in their application during Phase I. HISD then uses a lottery to determine seat offers. Students who don’t receive a seat are automatically placed on waitlists for any higher-ranked schools.
Phase II — the space-available phase — opens April 8, 2026, when families may apply to join waitlists at campuses with open seats.
Deadlines to remember
- Feb. 27, 2026: Application deadline
- April 8, 2026: Parent Notification Day & Phase II opens
Families are encouraged to explore schools early, attend a fair, and submit applications before the deadline.