What Are My School Choice Options?

What Are My School Choice Options?
What Is School Choice?
School choice is choosing a school for your child based on
School choice is
the qualities of the school and your child’s needs, rather
choosing a school
than on your home address. While school choice options
based on what the
vary from district to district, parents do have alternatives to
school has to offer –
the traditional neighborhood school the district assigns
not on where you live.
your child to attend. When considering other public school
options for children, parents may consider charter schools
as well as magnet schools and programs. To figure out which school is best for your child, you
should start by researching individual schools.
What Are Neighborhood Schools?
A Neighborhood School is the school that a child is assigned to based on where their family
lives. The school district sets boundaries and attendance zones for all schools in the district and
these boundaries can change often. You should call your school or the district to confirm your
neighborhood school before enrolling.
What Are Charter Schools?
A Charter School is a public school that operates separately from local school districts. They
are:
 Tuition-free and publicly funded by local, state, and federal
dollars, and can receive private donations
Learn more
 Open to any student within a specified region that wishes to
about charter
apply
schools in your
area HERE!
 Commonly required to use a lottery system to determine
Link to charter
enrollment
school section
 Entitled to greater flexibility than neighborhood schools
(example: some charters may have a longer school day or
year)
What Are Magnet Schools / Programs
(Programs and Schools of Choice)?
A Magnet School is a public school that is either run by a
school district or a group of school districts. These schools
are called magnet schools because they attract students
Find your future
Program or School of
Choice in Fort Worth
ISD on HERE! Link
here to programs and
schools of choice
section
from other areas of the district. In Fort Worth ISD, these schools and programs are called Programs and Schools of Choice. These programs and schools offer:
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Curriculum that is aligned with a particular focus area (example: Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM), performing arts, leadership, or certain career paths)
A more intensive education in their focus area than traditional public schools
Some choice programs are located within neighborhood schools, while others are “Schools of
Choice” that have their own campus. In some cases, several programs are housed together on
one campus.
What Are Private Schools?
A Private School is a school that is not supported by the
government. Private schools receive their funding from
individuals or a private organization. They usually require
students to pay tuition and complete an application process
that may include:
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Private schools aren’t
included in this book,
but you can learn
more about them at
GreatSchools.org.
Applications
Admission tests
Interviews
Financial aid applications
Private schools can have a religious affiliation or be independent. Although this guide does not
profile private schools, they are one of the available options for parents.
The Texas School Guide Process
(A Four Step Guide to Finding the Right School for Your Child)
1. Identify your neighborhood school
What school is your child zoned to based on your home address?
2. Research your neighborhood school
What is important to you and your family? Does
your neighborhood school meet your needs?
1. School Quality
2. School Programs / Assets
3. Other factors (transportation, etc.)
3. Research your options
Getting involved in your
neighborhood school
Programs and Schools
of Choice
Charter Schools
Transfer Options
4. Take action
Find the option that works best for you and your family and take action!
Step 1: Identify your neighborhood school
To find your neighborhood school you can visit Fort
Worth ISD’s website to use their SchoolSite Locator!
Here is what you will need:
 Address
 City
 Zip code
Simply enter your address at
http://apps.schoolsitelocator.
com/?districtcode=72947
to find your Fort Worth ISD
neighborhood school!
Once you have found your neighborhood school, don’t forget to call them to confirm prior to
enrollment!
Step 2: Research your neighborhood school
Once you know what your child’s neighborhood school is, you still have to decide if it will meet
his or her needs.
Does my
child’s
neighborhood
school meet
our needs?
What is
important to
me and my
family?
There are a few things you can do to find out if your neighborhood school is right for you. You
can look at: 1. School Quality, 2. School Programs / Assets, and 3. Other things that
might be important, like transportation options.
School Quality
Visit your school’s profile page to see how they ranked in
Don’t forget to check out
CHILDREN AT RISK’s 2014 Annual Public School Rankings.
your school’s score on the
“Growth Index” to see if
Schools are ranked comparatively to other schools
they’re improving!
across the entire state and keep in mind that “A”, “B”
and “C” schools are all good options for student success!
To learn more about the School Rankings methodology click here. [JN1]
You can also look at the 2014-2015 Public Education Grant List to see if the Texas Education
Agency rated your school as underperforming. In some cases, you can use a transfer option
based on a school’s PEG status.
Finally, don’t forget to look for the different organizations that are working in your school. This
can indicate that the community is investing in innovative programming to help your school!
School Programs / Assets
Academic achievement isn’t the only important thing about your child’s school. Your student
might be really interested in art, or maybe music. If your child is in high school, you probably
want him or her to have access to a college counselor.
CHILDREN AT RISK surveyed all of the schools in the district, as well as charter schools, to find
out what programs they offer. If a school offers the following programs, it will be included on
their profile: if their profile has these icons:
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Elementary Schools
Art Classes
Music Classes
Pre-K (Full Day)
Pre-K (Half Day)
Before School Program
After School Program
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Middle Schools
Art Classes
Music Classes
Before School Program
After School Program
Sports/Athletics
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High Schools
Art Classes
Music Classes
AP, IB, College/Dual Credit College Counseling
Sports/Athletics
You can also look to see if your school offers a magnet program. Click here [JN2]to learn more
about the program!
What else is important?
What else is important to you and your family? Is it transportation options? What about school
climate, or resources for students with special needs? Whatever it is, you have the right to ask
questions and find the resources you need for your child.
Transportation Options in Fort Worth ISD
Transportation can be a very important factor in finding the right school. You may have a
conflicting work schedule or morning appointments that
prevent you from driving your child to school yourself.
Whatever the case, knowing your options is the first step
to solving your transportation issues!
In Fort Worth ISD, students are eligible to ride the bus if
they live within district boundaries and:
 Live two or more miles away from their neighborhood school, or the program or school
of choice if they have been accepted, or
 Are a special education student between the
Transportation Department
ages of 3 and 21, who has disabilities that
(817) 815-7910
prevent them from using regular
Open: Monday – Friday
transportation
5:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Visit texasprojectfirst.org/FAQTransportation.html to
learn more about what transportation is available for students with special needs. If you have
any questions, do not hesitate to call the main Transportation Department.
School Climate
One of the biggest concerns for many parents is their
child’s school climate. This includes the relationships
between students and teachers, general school
atmosphere, front office staff interactions,
prevalence of bullying on a campus, safety
precautions, and many other things.
Research identifies four main
categories of school climate:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Safety
Teaching and learning
Interpersonal relationships
Institutional environment
When you visit schools there are specific things you
can look for that may help you learn more about the climate.
 Office staff (school secretary, office manager, etc.) are friendly and helpful to visitors and
other parents
 Office staff (school secretary, office manager, etc.)
are friendly, encouraging, consoling and other
Visit the National School
appropriate interactions with students who might be
Climate Center at
in the office
http://www.schoolclimat
e.org/ to learn more!
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Teachers are assisting and interacting positively with students in the hallways
Teachers are assisting and interacting positively in their natural classroom environments
Students are friendly with one another
The school has an aspirational environment, such as posters on the walls with sayings
that encourage students to “reach for the stars”, etc.
There are safety precautions in place throughout the school, such as automatic locks or
gated entrances to the front office during the school day
There are safe and clear resources for students with emotional, mental and physical
disabilities, such as unobstructed ramps for wheelchair access
You can also ask specific questions that help you learn more about the school climate. These
can be asked over the phone or during an in person tour.
 How does the school provide parents information on their child’s behavior?
 Are there regular ways to communicate positive feedback?
 If you contact the school, how long does it usually take to get a response?
 What is the school’s policy on bullying?
 Are there any official policies in place that require parents to be notified of instances of
bullying in their students classroom?
 What policies are in place to reduce or stop drugs from being shared on school grounds?
 How does the school promote social and emotional development?
 What resources and trainings are available to teachers and staff to help them learn how
to promote social and emotional student development?
 Are parents encouraged to have conversations with their teachers and school
administrators if their children are struggling in school?
 How does the school encourage emotional and physical development for students with
special needs?
 Are parents given information about Special Education and 504 Assessments in a timely
manner?
Resources for Students with Special Needs
Resources for students with special needs,
Dyslexia Services
including Autism and learning disabilities such as
100 N. University Drive SW-160
Dyslexia, can be a critical part of your child’s
Fort Worth, TX 76107
school experience. Fort Worth ISD has a Special
Phone: (817) 814-2490
Education Department that offers programming,
information and services to families with students
who have special education needs. The Department provides support in the delivery of all
services as determined:

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By an Admission, Review, or Dismissal (ARD) Committee
As stated in the Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals
In Fort Worth ISD, each school provides special education instructional support for students
based on their need. Instructional services can take two forms:
1. Direct to the student
2. Consultation services to the teacher
Visit Fort Worth ISD’s website to learn more about:
 All St.A.R.S. Program
 Behavior Intervention Class
 Inclusion
 Learning in Natural Communities and Teaching
to Academic Potential
 PACER Center
 Parent 2 Parent
 Parent Guide to ARD Meetings
 Partners Resource Network
 Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities
 Procedural Safeguards-Rights for Parents
 Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)
 Surrogate Parent Information
 Tarrant Cares
Fort Worth ISD Link to
Special Education Services:
http://www.fwisd.org/pages/
FWISD/Departments_Progra
ms/Departments__LZ_/Special_Education
There are also many organizations and programs in the community that provide resources for
parents who have children with special needs, including:
Organization
Achievement
Center of
Texas
Association
for
Independent
Living
Callier Center
for
Communicatio
n Disorders
Locatio
n
Garland, TX
Dallas, TX
Dallas and
Richardson
(Texas)
Mission / Purpose
Provides day care, day habilitation (life skills training),
arts exploration, educational assistance and community
inclusion for children and young adults with special
needs.
Strengthens the independence of young adults with
intellectual and developmental disabilities through life
skills education, vocational guidance, community
integration and spiritual growth in a supportive living
environment.
Transforms the lives of those with communication
disorders by providing outstanding, leading-edge clinical
services, conducting meaningful and innovative basic and
applied research into new treatments and technologies,
and training the next generation of caring clinical
providers.
Phone
Link
(972) 414-7700
www.achievementcenter
oftexas.org
(214) 351-0798
www.afildfw.org
Dallas: (214) 9053000 / Richardson:
(972) 883-3630
www.utdallas.edu/callier
center
Camp Summit
Dallas, TX
Chase's Place
Child Study
Center
Citizens
Development
Center
Community
Homes for
Adults, Inc.
(CHAI)
www.chasesplace.org
Fort Worth,
TX
(817) 336-8611
www.cscfw.org
Dallas, TX
Training center and employment placement organization
for adults with intellectual, mental health and/or physical
disabilities (clients) living in Dallas and surrounding areas.
(214) 637-2911
www.citizensdevelopme
ntcenter.org/
(214) 373-8600
www.chaidallas.org
(214) 328-4309
www.dallascenter.org
(214) 828-9900
www.dallasservices.org
Dallas, TX
Dallas
Services
Dallas, TX
Evergreen Life
Services
Great Lakes
Academy
Hill School
Jo Kelly
Special
Lakes
Regional
MHMR
www.campsummittx.org
(972) 243-2676
Dallas, TX
Easter Seals
North Texas
(972) 484-8900
Supports students in discovering their abilities so that
they develop independence to their maximum potential,
allowing them to live life to the fullest.
Provides children with complex developmental and
behavioral disabilities the highest quality diagnosis,
treatment and education, helping them achieve their full
potential.
Richardson,
TX
Dallas Center,
Inc.
Decoding
Dyslexia Texas
Down
Syndrome
Guild of Dallas
Provides barrier-free outdoor experiences that promote
personal growth and foster independence for children
and adults with disabilities.
Texas
Richardson,
TX
Centers in:
North
Dallas,
South
Dallas, Fort
Worth, and
Grapevine
Dallas, Fort
Worth,
Sherman,
Texarkana,
and
Longview
(Texas)
Provides programs and services to enable adults with
Cognitive Disabilities to live full, rich lives in a safe
environment and to meaningfully participate in the
community.
A non-profit, non-denominational, early intervention &
training center for infants, children and adults with
developmental differences serving the greater Dallas
metropolitan area.
Committed to providing affordable, inclusive and unique
pre-school learning opportunities and low vision services
to all individuals in our culturally and economically
diverse community.
Grassroots movement to raise dyslexia awareness,
empower families to support their children, and inform
policy-makers on best practices to identify, remediate
and support students with dyslexia in Texas schools.
Provides accurate and current information, resources,
and support for people with Down syndrome, their
families and the community.
Spreads help, hope & answers, creating opportunities
that advance the independence of individuals with
disabilities and other special needs.
Fort Worth,
TX
Offers a wide range of community-based services for
individuals with intellectual and developmental
disabilities, designed to not only meet basic needs, but
also teach life skills and help each individual reach his or
her own personal potential.
Provides students with average to above-average
intelligence, diagnosed with various Learning Differences,
Asperger’s Syndrome, ADD or ADHD, a stimulating
environment and favorable atmosphere which affords
each student opportunities to develop.
Provides students who learn differently and are of
average to above average intelligence a student-centered
educational environment that focuses on intellectual
development, while supporting social, emotional, and
physical well-being.
Provides for the needs and education of students with
multiple disabilities and medical fragility that they may
develop to their fullest potential.
Various
Locations
Serves the communities of 15 counties in Northeast Texas
with Mental Health, Mental Disability and Recovery
Services.
Plano, TX
Fort Worth
and
Grapevine
(Texas)
www.decodingdyslexiatx.
org
www.downsyndromedall
as.org
(214) 267-1374
North Dallas: (972)
394-8900 / South
Dallas: (214) 3723300 / Fort Worth:
(817) 332-7171 /
Grapevine: (817)
424-9797
www.easterseals.com/no
rthtexas
North Central
Texas: (972) 3864834
www.evergreenls.org
972-517-7498 x 103
www.greatlakesacademy.
com
Fort Worth: (817)
923-9482 /
Grapevine: (817)
310-0876
www.hillschool.org
(817) 815-5900
jokelly.fwisd.org/pages/J
oKelly
(972) 524-4159
www.lrmhmrc.org
Metrocare
Services
Dallas, TX
Metrocrest
Community
Services
Carrollton,
TX
My
Possibilities
Plano, TX
Provides critically needed assistance to the intellectually
disabled, mental illness treatment and early childhood
intervention for developmentally delayed infants and
their families.
Dedicated to helping people with mental illness,
developmental disabilities, and severe emotional
problems live healthier lives.
Provides quality services to Individuals with
Developmental Disabilities and other related disabilities
by supporting them in Day Habilitation, Vocational and
Community Services of their choice.
The first full day, full year continuing education program
in Collin County for disabled Texans who have “aged out”
of secondary education.
Notre Dame
School
Dallas, TX
Educates students with intellectual disabilities and
facilitates their integration into society.
LifePath
Systems
McKinney,
TX
Partners
Resources
Network
Dallas, TX
A non-profit agency that operates the Texas statewide
network of Parent Training and Information Centers.
Aims to provide the most effective, function-centered
therapies to children, and promote the most therapistfriendly Pediatric Home Health Care Company in the
Dallas Metroplex.
Texas
Advocates for and serves people with intellectual and
developmental disabilities and their families,
encompassing all ages and all spectrums from autism,
Down syndrome, Fragile X and various other
developmental disabilities.
Texas
Sage Care
Therapy
The Arc
The Shelton
School
Dallas, TX
THERAPY
2000
Dallas, TX
Serves students with learning differences, including
dyslexia and related disorders.
Delivers high quality individualized home care
rehabilitation services to the children in Texas, including
occupational, physical, and speech therapy services to
children (birth-21) with special needs, including
disabilities, developmental delays and autism spectrum
disorders.
(972) 562-0190
www.lifepathsystems.org
(214) 743-1200
www.metrocareservices.
org
(972) 323-1220
www.metrocrestcs.org
(469) 241-9100
www.mypossibilities.org
(214) 720-3911
Region 9 & 11:
(817) 988-7717 /
Region 10: (214)
425-3056
(214) 295-5374
The Arc of Collin,
Dallas and Rockwall
Counties: (214)
634-9810 / The Arc
of Greater Tarrant
County, Inc.: (817)
877-1474
www.notredameschool.o
rg
www.partnerstx.org
www.sagecaretherapy.co
m
www.thearc.org
(972) 774-1772
www.shelton.org
(214) 467-9787
www.t2000.com
Step 3: Research your options
One of the most important things you can do when searching for a school is visiting! Here is a
list of questions to ask, as well as some key things to look out for:

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Questions to Ask When Visiting a School
What is the school’s mission? The mission statement is usually a summary statement of
the school’s values and purpose.
What is the school’s approach to safety and discipline?
How does the school monitor student progress?
What strategies do teachers use to teach students with limited English proficiency?
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What strategies do teachers use to help students catch up if they
are performing below grade level?
What services are available to students with special needs
or learning disabilities, such as Dyslexia?
How do students get to school? Is bus transportation
available?
Are free or reduced-price meals offered?
What extracurricular opportunities are available for students?
How do fine arts fit into the curriculum?
What rules and systems are most important in classrooms?
Are there opportunities for parents to get involved?
What is the typical class size? What is the maximum class size?
If a child is excelling academically, are there advanced courses or enrichment programs?
How is technology used to support teaching and learning?
What are the school’s greatest accomplishments?
What are the school’s greatest challenges?
How do teachers communicate with parents?
Are parent-teacher conferences scheduled regularly throughout the year?
What is the student attrition rate? The student attrition rate represents the numbers of
students dropping out.
What is the teacher attrition rate? The student attrition rate represents the number of
teachers leaving the school.
Things to Look For When Visiting a School
Do teachers interact with their students in a positive manner?
Do classrooms look cheerful?
Are parents given open access to classrooms to observe and participate on a reasonable
basis, including those for children with special needs?
Are the students well-behaved as they transition in the hallways and play outside?
Do the school’s administrators interact positively with students, teachers, and parents?
Are the classrooms, hallways, restrooms, and outside areas of the school clean and well
maintained?
Do you notice easy to access accommodations for students with physical disabilities?
Are students adequately supervised by school personnel?
Do students engage with each other in a positive way?
Are the teachers keeping students engaged and thinking critically?
Once you have decided to research your school options, there are many different avenues you
can explore. These options are listed in further detail below.
Get involved in your neighborhood school
If you are not satisfied with your neighborhood school, you can
start by simply getting involved in your school to make the
changes your student needs from within. For example, if you
feel like your child’s neighborhood school doesn’t provide an
academically rigorous environment, start by asking questions.
As a parent at that school you have the right to find out why it is
on the Public Education Grant List, or why it scored a D or an F
in the CHILDREN AT RISK Rankings.
Find out how you can
involved in your child’s
education by reading
the Parent Involvement
Action Guide! Link to
parent involvement
action guide
You can start by scheduling a meeting with a school administrator, or the principal. If you don’t
get the answers you need you can always reach out to your School Board Representative. Find
out more about how to do this in the Parent Involvement Action Guide[JN3].
Programs and Schools of Choice
Fort Worth ISD offers programs and schools of choice for students who are interested in careeroriented or specialized curriculum, as well as regular academic
subjects. These are the three main categories of choice:
1. Programs of Choice
2. Schools of Choice
3. Gold Seal Programs of Choice
Programs of Choice are offered at various middle and
elementary schools across the District. They offer a variety
of learning experiences, including a focus on certain
subjects, such as science, math, art, foreign language and communication.
Fort Worth ISD Schools of Choice primarily serve
students in a nontraditional setting, such as a
Montessori school. These schools are stand-alone
school that can span elementary, middle and high
school grade levels.
Look for the 2015-2016
Choices Catalog when it
becomes available. You can
usually find it online at:
http://www.fwisd.org/pages/
FWISD/Departments_Progra
ms/Departments__AK_/Choices
Gold Seal Programs of Choice are available at every Fort Worth ISD high school and prepare
high school students for work after graduation, as well as specialized coursework. The programs
include, but are not limited to:
 Licensures and certifications
 Dual college credit
 Internship opportunities
 Real world application experiences
 Many other offerings
The Application Process
End of October
– November
December
February
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Presentations made to 5th and 8th grade students about the
programs and application process
Applications become available online and in schools
The Choices Expo is held
Information sessions hosted at individual schools
Applications Due
Submit applications online or to the Advanced, Accelerated
& Innovative Learning Department located in the Fort Worth
ISD administration building at 100 N. University Dr., Suite
NE226, Fort Worth, TX 76107.
Do not submit applications to individual schools.
Acceptance letters sent to students
Source: www.fwisd.org/pages/FWISD/Departments_Programs/Departments__AK_/Choices/Application___Selection (2013-2014 School Year)
Most programs only require the application, which can be submitted online or by paper. Some
schools require additional requirements. You can submit a paper application or apply online
during the application period at:
http://www.fwisd.org/pages/FWISD/Departments_Programs/Departments__A-K_/Choices
Here are some important things to remember:
 Any student who is interested in a Program of Choice or School of Choice must submit
an application, even if the program or school is at the home school campus.
 Students may apply to up to three programs,
ranked on the application in order of
Find out more about Fort
preference.
Worth ISD’s Programs and
 Transportation is provided to Fort Worth ISD
Schools of Choice online at:
students if they choose a program or school
http://www.fwisd.org/pages/
FWISD/Departments_Progra
ms/Departments__AK_/Choices

that is not available at their neighborhood school.
Admission is based on a computer-generated random selection process.
Students will be given the following priority order during the selection process:
1. Students living in the school’s attendance zone
2. Siblings of resident students who are currently enrolled in the school’s Program of
Choice
3. Children of resident District employees
4. Students living in the District but outside of the
attendance zone
5. Children of non-resident District employees
6. Students living outside of the District
Below is a list of Schools and Programs of Choice in
Fort Worth ISD. Please note that on the school
profiles, the CHILDREN AT RISK Letter Grade is
associated with the entire school, not
specifically the choice program.
SCHOOL
Alice Carlson Applied Learning
Center
Amon CarterRiverside High
School
Applied Learning
Academy
Arlington Heights
High School
Burton Hill Elementary
Como Elementary
Como Montessori
Daggett Montessori
Diamond HillJarvis High
School
Dunbar Middle
School
Eastern Hills
High School
GRADE
LEVEL
AREA OF FOCUS
REQUIRED ASSESSMENTS
K - 05
Applied Learning and Enrichment Programs
Application only
09 - 12
Eagle Scholars; Information Technology; Medicine
Application only
06 - 08
09 - 12
Applied Learning and Enrichment Programs
Creative Arts; College Credit; Agriculture & Horticulture; Marketing
Application only
Application only
EE - 05
Spanish Immersion
Application only
PK - 05
Music
Application only
PK - 08
Montessori
Application only
KG - 08
Montessori
Application only
09 - 12
Building Trades & Design; Early College
Application, most recent report card, interview
06 - 08
Math, Science, and Communication
Application only
09 - 12
Fire Science Technology; Law Enforcement & Legal Services; Teacher Academy & Early Childhood
Application only
PAGE
NUMBER/S
Green B. Trimble
Technical High
School
Handley
J.P. Elder Middle
School
Leonard Middle
School
Morningside Elementary
Morningside Middle School
North Side High
School
06 - 08
Culinary Arts; Health Science Technology; Retail Entrepreneurship; Welding
& Metal Art
Environmental Science and Technology
06 - 08
Science and Art
Application only
06 - 08
International Baccalaureate
Application only
PK - 05
Science, Math and Technology; Spanish Immersion
Application only
06 - 08
International Studies
Application only
09 - 12
09 - 12
Oscar Dean Wyatt
High School
09 - 12
Paul Laurence
Dunbar High
School
09 - 12
Polytechnic High
School
09 - 12
R.L. Paschal High
School
Riverside Applied
Learning Center
South Hills High
School
PK - 05
Southwest High
School
09 - 12
Texas Academy of
Biomedical Sciences
W.C. Stripling
Middle School
Wedgwood 6 /
Wedgewood
09 - 12
09 - 12
Culinary, Hospitality & Event Management; Medical Professions
Automotive & Construction; Nursing,
Medical Billing & Coding; Pharmacy
Technician
Aviation Technology; Business Technology; Engineering and Urban Development
Media Production & Communications;
Culinary Arts; Engineering & Automation; Teaching & Learning
Engineering; Graphic Design; Scholars
Program
Applied Learning and Enrichment Programs
Culinary Arts; Digital Graphics & Gaming
Broadcast Journalism & Media Technology; Fine Arts; Southwest Engineering Academy
Application, most recent report card, essay
Application only
Application only
Application only
Application only
Application only
Application only
Application only
Application only
Application only
09 - 09
Early College; Biomedical Sciences
Application, most recent report card, interview
06 - 08
Biomedical Sciences Preparatory
Application only
th
06 - 08
Western Hills
High School
09 - 12
William James
Middle School
06 - 08
Broadcast Journalism; Pre-Engineering
in Petroleum Technology
Business Management; Audio/Video
Production; International Baccalaureate; STEM, Teaching and Learning
College Readiness
Young Men's
Leadership Academy
06 - 08
Leadership
Young Women's
Leadership Academy
06 - 12
Math, Science, Technology; Leadership
Skills
Application only
Application only
Application only
Application, most recent report card, handwritten essay, teacher
recommendations
Application, most recent report card, handwritten essay, teacher
recommendations
World Languages
Institute
06 - 07
Intensive Language Study; Rigorous
Academic Opportunities
Not Available
Transfer Options in Fort Worth ISD
Although a student’s neighborhood school is determined by their home address, in Fort Worth
ISD students can apply for transfer requests to other schools that better match their needs or
interests if they meet the requirements listed
below. All transfer requests are subject to
Do you have any questions
about transfer options? Call:
availability and application deadlines. You should
contact the district directly to learn about the most
(817) 814-2311
current deadlines.
It is also important to note that the transfer options listed in this section do not refer to the
program and schools of choice options, which are listed in a previous section. The two main
ways to transfer from one school to another school in Fort Worth ISD are:
1. Open Transfers: Initiated because of student/family
needs
2. Public Education Grant (PEG) School Transfers:
Initiated because of the school’s performance
Remember, students
who transfer from one
school to another
school do not become
part of the new
school’s feeder pattern.
Open Transfers
An open transfer needs to be submitted within the deadline
established by Fort Worth ISD. All transfers in Fort Worth ISD
are subject to approval and space availability. Students who transfer from one school to another
school do not become part of the new school’s feeder pattern. This will impact students when
they are transitioning from elementary to middle school or middle school to high school
because students will return to their neighborhood school after 5th or 8th grade. The typical
transfer window for elementary and secondary school transfers is the first three weeks of
March.
Transfer Process
1. Student must be
enrolled in their home
school before
submitting a transfer
request.
2. Parent contacts
receiving school to
Transfer Priority
1. A sibling of a resident
student currently
enrolled at the
requested school.
2. A child of a resident
District Employee
3. A resident of the
Transfer Guidelines
1. Once the transfer is made outside of a
student's attendance area, the school to
which the student is reassigned shall
become the student's secondary "home
school."
2. A transfer, once made, shall remain in
effect as long as the student is in the
make transfer request
District, but residing
same school.
and to determine if
outside the attendance 3. A prekindergarten transfer shall be
space is available.
area of the requested
granted for one year only. A kindergarten
3. Receiving Principal
school
transfer shall remain in effect through
accepts/denies request 4. A nonresident student,
grade 5.
transfer.
subject to tuition
4. A student shall have the right at all times
4. If transfer is accepted,
to return to his or her primary "home
the receiving Principal
school" upon application and
signs the transfer form.
notification to both principals.
The parent takes the
5. A student who transfers or is reassigned
signed transfer form to
and desires to participate in athletics
the home school for
shall be subject to the regulation listed
approval and
in the District athletic handbook. A
withdrawal of the
student-parent transfer agreement
student.
waiver shall be required in each
instance.
6. Transfer may affect other student
activities (including academic honors).
Source: http://www.fwisd.org/pages/FWISD/Parents/School_Information/Transferring_Student
PEG Transfers
Your student is eligible to transfer if he or she is
It is a state law that
attending a Public Education Grant (PEG)
students attending PEG
designated school. PEG schools are low-performing
schools be given the
schools where:
opportunity to transfer to a
 Students had passing rates on TAKS/STAAR
non-PEG school.
that were less than or equal to 50% in any two
of the preceding three years (2011, 2012 and
Don’t be afraid to ask
2013), or
questions about this option!
 The school was rated Academically
Unacceptable in 2011, or Improvement Required in 2013
Every year, the state provides a list of PEG-designated schools to districts, and districts must
notify the parents of students in these schools by February 1st. To locate a list of PEG
designated schools and learn more about this program, visit the Texas Education Agency’s
website at ritter.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/peg_faq.html.
2014 – 2015 FORT WORTH ISD PEG SCHOOLS
AM Patel El
Atwood Mcdonald El
Christene C Moss
De Zavala El
Dunbar HS
Dunbar Middle
Eastern Hills El
Eastern Hill HS
Forest Oak Middle
Glencrest 6th Grade
Greenbriar El
Handley Middle
James Middle
John T White El
Kirkpatrick El
Leonard Middle
Maude I Logan El
Maudrie Walton El
McLean Middle
McRae El
Meacham Middle
Meadowbrook El
Meadowbrook Middle
Monnig Middle
Morningside Middle
O D Wyatt HS
Oaklawn El
Polytechnic HS
S S Dillow El
Sunrise-McMillan El
T A Sims El
Van Zandt-Guinn El
Versia Williams El
Wedgwood 6th Grade
West Handley El
Western Hills El
Western Hills HS
Woodway El
Charter Schools in the Fort Worth Area
Charter schools can be good options for student success.
Remember, these schools are not a part of Fort Worth ISD,
but they are still public schools. Most charter schools
operate on a lottery system. This means that the school
uses a random selection process to pick its students. It
might also be helpful to know:
 These schools require some kind of application
 Many applications can be submitted online, but the
process depends on each school
 You should check with each school to see if they
require additional information like supplemental
documents or an interview/audition
 If your child is on a charter school’s waiting list, it
may help to follow up with the school to let the
school know that you are still interested if space becomes available
Charter schools must also adhere to the same Special Education and ADA law guidelines for
children with special education needs as traditional public schools. If you have any questions
about this do not hesitate to ask your school’s administrators.
We have included a short list of charter schools in the area to help you get started, but make
sure to visit each of the school’s websites to learn more about current deadlines and application
procedures.
SCHOOL
GRADE
LEVEL
APPLICATION
PERIOD
ADMISSIONS
MODEL
PHONE NUMBER
WEBSITE
Chapel Hill
Academy
PK - 05
January 20 - February 27
Open enrollment/lottery
(817) 255-2500
www.lenapopehome
.org/chapel-hillacademy
East Fort
Worth Montessori Academy
PK - 05
January 1 - February 28
Open enrollment/lottery
(817) 496-3003
www.efwma.org
K - 12
Opens the first
Week of January
and typically
runs 8 – 10
weeks
Selective
(817) 924-1482
www.fwafa.org
Fort Worth
Academy of
Fine Arts
Harmony
Schools
Varies by
campus
Rolling until
March 15th
Open enrollment/lottery
(817) 263-0700
Harmony Science
Academy
www.hsafortworth.o
rg (Harmony Science
Academy)
(817) 386-5505
Harmony School
of Innovation
www.hsifortworth.o
rg (Harmony School
of Innovation)
Pinnacle
Academy of
Fine Arts
K - 08
Contact school
Open enrollment/lottery
(817) 735-8527
www.honorsacadem
y.org/pinnacle/
Uplift Education Schools
Varies by
campus
Contact school
Open enrollment/lottery
Varies by campus
www.uplifteducation
.org
Step 4: Take action!
There are so many options when it comes to school choice in Fort Worth ISD, but only you know
what is right for you and your family. Once you have made a decision, whether that is a program
or school of choice, a charter school, or just getting involved in your neighborhood school – be
confident in that choice and act on it!