Application Process:

To be considered for the Choice School lottery, an application must be completed by the required deadline. The application window opens Monday, December 2, 2019 and closes Friday, January 17, 2020. The application must be completed by the parent or guardian.

Priorities and Restrictions:

The Choice School application is open to all ECISD families with the following priorities and restrictions, including but not limited to:

• Priority to incoming siblings who reside in the same home and who will attend the same school
• Priority to ECISD full-time employees who work at the application school, regardless if the employee lives in-district or out-of-district

Application for Multiple Children:

Each child’s application is considered individually. 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 committee determine which instructional and related services are required and recommends placement for service based on the student’s IEP currently in effect. An invitation through the lottery process shall be denied if the 504 or ARD committee recommends services at a different campus.

Waitlist Information:

All schools follow the waitlist order from lottery results. The Choice School waitlist is open for all schools through December of the 2021-21 school year.

Late Applications:

Applications are considered late if they are received after the official lottery is held. Application
site will re-open on Monday, March 16th and all applicants will be placed at the bottom of the waitlist on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The ECISD School Choice lottery is processed 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 receive 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.

On the lottery day, the system processes all ‘eligible’ applications equally. Applications are coded as ‘eligible’ once parents have met all campus requirements. During the lottery, all first choice applications are run, then second choice, and then third choice. Students who are not selected will then be placed on a waitlist for their 1^st choice option only.

After the lottery, Choice Schools will accept students in Waitlist order as openings become available.

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 - An offer is made to the parent and student to attend School A
• School B (2^nd Choice): The application is cancelled so student can accept his/her first choice
• School C (3^rd Choice): The application is cancelled so student can accept his/her first choice

Scenario #2

The lottery runs and the student gets the following outcome:

• School A (1^st choice): Not Selected - The application is cancelled so student can accept his/her third choice
• School B (2^nd Choice): Not Selected - The application is cancelled so student can accept his/her third choice
• School C (3^rd Choice): Selected – An offer is made to the parent and student to attend School C

The parent/student can accept the offer to attend School C, or they can decline the offer 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 – Waitlist #67
• School B (2^nd Choice): Not Selected
• School C (3^rd Choice): Not Selected

The student was not selected for any of their options and is Waitlisted for School A only.

Intent to Return	January 2020	·  Elementary:   Current students will receive/return their letter of intent to secure current placement for the upcoming school year.
Application Window Opens	December 2, 2019	·   Elementary: On-line application available for Choice Schools at apply.ectorcountyisd.org ·   High School:   Applications can be downloaded from the school’s website at www.ectorcountyisd.org or can be picked up at each respective campus
Current Year Waitlist Dissolved	January 31, 2020	·   Elementary: Current year applications will be archived and waitlist is dissolved
Application Deadline	January 17, 2020	·   Elementary: On-line application closes at 5PM ·   High School: No deadline, applications are accepted on a first-come, first–serve basis, until all spaces are filled
Additional Requirements	January / February 2020	TESTING: (by appointment only) Elementary: ·   Cameron Magnet grades 2 - 6 applicants: February 1st ·   Hays / Reagan KINDER applicants: January 21st – 24th ·   Hays or Reagan grades 1 - 5 applicants: January 25th
Parent Orientations / Tours	Dates available on Schools of Choice webpage	PARENT ORIENTATIONS: Elementary: Alamo, Austin, Cameron, and Milam will host 30-minute informational sessions to briefly explain campus expectations and parental commitment required for their particular campus. High School: NTO, OCA, and OCTECHS each hold 4-5 8th grade student and parent meetings and orientations in October & November
Lottery	February 11, 2020	Elementary: Random computerized selection of students who applied and completed additional campus requirements High School: Students are accepted on a first-come, first serve basis
Parent Notification	February 14, 2020	Elementary: Lottery results will be emailed to parents who applied for an elementary school of school High School: Parents of students who applied for a high school of choice will receive a letter of acceptance/denial and ‘next steps’
Parent Response	February 16, 2020	Elementary: Parents of students must accept or decline their selection via their dashboard on-line. High School: Parents of students must accept or decline their selection via phone, email, or turning in signed acceptance acknowledge form provided with acceptance letter
Application Re-Opens	March 16, 2020	Elementary: On-line application re-opens to continue accepting applications for waitlist High School: Application window stays open and a waitlist begins.

Choice School Application

Application will close January 17, 2020 at 5PM

Parents who submit an application to Austin Montessori, Cameron Magnet, GP Alamo, or Milam Magnet must attend an orientation session before the student is eligible to be considered for placement via lottery for any of these Choice Schools. The last day to submit an application is January 17, 2020. All sessions are brief (30 minutes) and are designed to explain the individualized curriculum, student expectations, and the parental commitment that is required.

All sessions will begin promptly at times scheduled and doors will be closed after session begins.

AUSTIN MONTESSORI MAGNET

Orientation must be completed every year an on-line application is submitted

Incoming siblings are exempt from the mandatory orientation

Orientation Date	Time
Thursday, December 12, 2019	5:30 PM
Thursday, January 9, 2020	5:30 PM
Tuesday, January 14, 2020	5:30 PM
Thursday, January 16, 2020 (Bilingual Session)	5:30 PM
Tuesday, January 21, 2020	5:30 PM

Tour Date (Optional)	Time
Friday, January 10, 2020	9:00 AM
Friday, January 24, 2020	9:00 AM

CAMERON DUAL LANGUAGE MAGNET

Orientation must be completed every year an on-line application is submitted

Parents of incoming siblings MUST ATTEND a mandatory orientation

Orientation Date	Time
Tuesday, December 17, 2019	5:30 PM
Tuesday, January 14, 2020	5:30 PM
Thursday, January 23, 2020	5:30 PM

Tour Date (Optional)

Call (432) 456-1059 to schedule

GP ALAMO STEAM MAGNET

Orientation must be completed every year an on-line application is submitted

Incoming siblings are exempt from the mandatory orientation

Orientation Date	Time
TBD

MILAM VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS MAGNET

Orientation must be completed every year an on-line application is submitted

Parents of incoming siblings MUST ATTEND a mandatory orientation

Orientation Date	Time
Tuesday, December 10, 2019	5:30 PM
Wednesday, December 18, 2019	10:30 AM
Thursday, January 9, 2020	5:30 PM
Tuesday January 21, 2020	10:30 AM

Tour Date (Optional)	Time
Wednesday, December 18, 2019	9:30 AM
Thursday, January 21, 2020	9:30 AM

REAGAN OR HAYS ACADEMY

After submitting the application, you must take the following information to Reagan or Hays, whichever is your first choice of these two schools:

1. Printed copy of application;

2. KINDERGARTEN Applicants: Prekindergarten report card must be presented (when applicable).

3. GRADES 1 through 5 Applicants:

a. Copies of report cards, both current and all previous grades. Students must be at grade level or above (80) in all subjects, have a history of 95% attendance (no more than 10 absences), including tardies and have acceptable behavior (S and E);

b. Copies of any standardized test results, such as STAAR, IStation, or CogAT

c. Copies of any documents indicating Gifted & Talented (GT) identification

All eligible applicants are given a standardized test to measure the basic skills needed to be successful in our academic program. Applicants who score at or above the 50th percentile will be eligible to run through the lottery for our program.

NOTE: If your child has attended ECISD and need assistance with obtaining the documentation requested above or with printing the application, please call 432-456-8890 or come by the office of Student Admissions - 910 N. Lee Ave - for assistance.

Test dates: By appointment only: Kindergarten: January 21st - January 24th      Grades 1 to 5: January 25th