Application Process:

Choice Schools and programs are open to all students.  Students must submit an online application to be considered for enrollment in the school or program. The application window opens December 1, 2020 at 8AM and closes January 17, 2021. The application must be completed by the parent or guardian.

Priorities and Restrictions:

Choice Schools are open to all students with the following priorities and restrictions, including but not limited to:

• Priority to incoming siblings who reside in the same household and who will attend the same school
• Priority to ECISD full-time employees who work at the same Choice School
• Priority to families who reside within Ector County

Application for Multiple Children:

ECISD does everything possible to keep families together; however, it is possible to have one child accepted and the other child on a waitlist. 

Students with Disabilities:

For students with disabilities, the 504 or ARD committees determine which instructional and related services are required for the student and recommend placement for based on the student’s IEP currently in effect. An invitation through the lottery process shall be denied if the 504 or ARD committee recommend services not available at the assigned campus.

Waitlist Information:

Students not selected during the lottery process will be randomly placed on a waitlist for possible future placement.  All schools follow the waitlisted order with siblings being given priority at the top of the waitlist, if not selected.  The waitlist remains in place through December 2021.

Late Applications:

Applications are considered late if they are received after January 17, 2021.  Application site will re-open on March 15, 2021 and all late applicants will be placed at the bottom of the waitlist on a first-come, first-serve basis.

ECISD selects students for Choice Schools through an automated lottery system which maintains the integrity of our processes while providing transparency to our community.

There are two definitions in the process:

• Accepted List:  The lottery ran and the student was selected to fill a seat at one of their options.
• Waitlist: The lottery ran and the student was not selected to fill a seat and is therefore assigned to the waitlist. Parents can see what number their child is on the waitlist by logging into their dashboard.

During the lottery, the system processes all ‘eligible’ applications equally. Applications are coded as ‘eligible’ once parents have met all campus requirements.  At lottery, all 'eligible' first choice applications are considered and placed, if student is not selected, their 'eligible' application is placed into a lottery for their second option, and if not selected, then their third choice. Students who are not selected for any of their options will then be placed on a waitlist for their 1^st school option only.

As openings become available after lottery, Choice Schools will accept students from their waitlist.

Here are three scenarios of how the lottery works. A student applies to three schools:

• School A (1^st choice)

• School B (2^nd choice)

• School C (3^rd choice)

Scenario #1

The lottery runs and the student gets the following outcome:

• School A (1^st choice): Selected - Student is not considered for School B or C.  A seat is offered to the parent & student to attend School A.
• School B (2^nd Choice): The application is cancelled since student was selected for School A.
• School C (3^rd Choice): The application is cancelled since student was selected for School A.

Scenario #2

The lottery runs and the student gets the following outcome:

• School A (1^st choice): Not Selected - Student is placed in lottery for School B.  
• School B (2^nd Choice): Not Selected - Student is placed in lottery for School C.
• School C (3^rd Choice): Selected – A seat is offered to the parent & student to attend School C

The parent/student can accept the seat at School C, or they can decline the seat and request to be placed at the bottom of the waitlist for either School A or School B.

 

Scenario #3

The lottery runs and the student gets the following outcome:

• School A (1^st choice): Not Selected – Student is placed in lottery for School B.
• School B (2^nd Choice): Not Selected - Student is placed in lottery for School C.
• School C (3^rd Choice): Not Selected - Student is placed on the waitlist for School A.

The student was not selected for any of their options and is Waitlisted for School A only.  If parent wants to be added to waitlists for School B and/or C, they must contact our office at 432-456-8890.

Timeline

Choice School (Elementary & Middle School) Application 

Application will close January 17, 2021.

Choice high school application for New Tech Odessa, OCTECHS, & Odessa Collegiate Academy are located on their webpage.  Click on the school you are interested in attending to be redirected to the application.  Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Parents who submit an application to Austin, Cameron, GP Alamo, Hays, Milam, and Reagan must complete additional requirements prior to your student being ‘eligible’ for their campus lottery.

Additional Requirements

Ector College Prepatory Success Academy is a Choice middle school. An application can be submitted to their campus by visiting ectorcountyisd.org/choice.

New Tech Odessa, Odessa Collegiate Academy, and OCTECHS are Choice high schools.  Their application process differs from our Choice elementary and middle schools. 

What you should know:

1. Choice middle school and high schools accept applications on a first-come, first-serve basis.
2. Choice high schools have their own application available on their campus webpage.
3. You can submit an application to each of the high school programs and if accepted to more than one program, you and your child can decide which program better fits your child’s interest.

For questions on their unique programs, please contact the campus. For questions on submitting an application, please contact the campus or Student Admissions at 432-456-8890.