1. High School Application Process 2018 - 2019

2. For non-Vanguard Magnet applications:
7th Grade Parents
For non-Vanguard Magnet applications:
7th grade report card - core class grades
IOWA
STAAR Scores
You have been invited tonight for information purposes. (Seventh graders should not be applying to High School).

3. 8th Grade Parents
Your child is already qualified as GT. The only Vanguard Magnet High School is Carnegie.
All other high school Magnet schools are non-Vanguard. (Though they all offer Pre-AP / AP classes for GT students).
This is the year to apply for High School!

4. Purpose for tonight: Explain the non-Vanguard Matrix.
Discuss the online application and HISD’s Magnet Opportunities.

5. To Be Clear …
Your child does not have to re-qualify as GT for services in High School. (DO NOT sign up for CogAT / Iowa testing!!!)
You can apply to Carnegie and your child will go straight into Carnegie’s lottery, because your child is already GT.

6. To Be Clear, Part II …
For all other Magnet High Schools, a matrix will need to be completed to determine qualification for their Magnet program.

7. Warning!
The Matrix could change!

8. 3 scores are calculated on the non-Vanguard Matrix:
7th Grade Core Class Grades (math, English, science, and social studies)
7th Grade STAAR Reading/Math Scores
7th Grade IOWA scores
Considerations: Low SES and LEP

9. Magnet Matrix Calculator
The Magnet Matrix Calculator is on the online High School application.
It is designed to calculate whether a student is qualified for inclusion in the lottery (for that program).
You will select the grade level or program to which you are applying.
You enter grades for core classes only!
Enter STAAR Scores for Reading.
Enter STAAR Scores for Math.
Enter score for IOWA/Logramos (you’ll have to enter for both Reading and Math).
Special Considerations: check box only if your student is LEP (Limited English Proficiency) or is on free and reduced lunch.

10. When you submit …
A list of non-Vanguard high schools to which your child qualifies will “pop up.”
If you apply to schools to which your child is not qualified, you will not be considered for their programs.

11. Important Note:
High School Magnet Programs can lower the qualifying score.
There will be a list on the Office of School Choice website that names the school and the score required.

12. Report Card and STAAR Information:
The seventh grade report card was given to students on the last day of school last year.
STAAR information was mailed home this summer.
If you need either, contact Ms. Turpin or Ms. Valdez in our Vanguard Office to request them.

13. Reminder:
The Matrix could change!

14. Information Opportunities
You should check out all of your magnet options!

15. HISD School of Choice Fair Dates and Times:
September 30, 9a.m.-12p.m. Milby HS
October 14, 9a.m.-12p.m. Westbury HS
November 4, 9a.m.-12p.m. Sterling HS
December 2, 9a.m.-12p.m. Key MS

16. Tours for Secondary Schools:
Every Thursday from October 5 to December 7 (except Thanksgiving week)
Tours begin at 1 PM

17. Tours, Part II:
Be judicious about what tours your student attends! Have them help you narrow it down to a top 2 or 3 schools to go visit.

18. How do you investigate?
Discuss with your child what interests they want to pursue.
Research which schools offers those interests and check out their websites.
Have your student weigh in on which programs they are most interested.

19. Words of Wisdom: If the website is … lacking … that may be a red flag.
If you call or and the coordinator doesn’t get back to you in a reasonable timeframe … red flag.
If the program has some kind of open house or event that applicants are invited to – that is a good sign.

20. Competition Understanding what you’re up against …
Last year over th graders applied to magnet schools.
The number of applications generated by those 7000 was over 24,000.

21. The Hard Truths:
Most parents apply to 3 to 5 schools. To increase your child’s chances, you should apply to 5 schools.
If you apply late, you probably will not get into the school you most desire.

22. The Online Application

23. Already Have an Account?
Use it!
If you create a new account and try to enter a student that is already in the system, the system will lock you out and not allow you to apply. (Only the Office of School Choice can unlock you).
If you can’t remember your password, click the I don’t remember my password button and proceed as directed.

24. Don’t Have an Account?
Applications are located at:
Choose an and password to create an account into the online system.
Pick an that you actually check!

25. To Start an Application
In the “Search Programs” box, type in the name of the school in which you are interested. OR
You may also search through the listing of schools.

26. 1 Application Per School
You must fill out an application for each school to which you wish to apply.
The first application takes 20 to 30 minutes.
All subsequent applications take about 1 minute.

27. Hot Spots Transportation: say yes!
HISD Employee – only if you work for Houston Independent School District.

28. Siblings
Click attending (only if you have another student already enrolled in the program to which you are applying, and they will be attending at the same school at the same time).
Click applying (if you have another student that is not enrolled, but you are applying to the same magnet school).

29. Auditions
If the program to which you are applying requires an audition, you will be prompted in the application to pick a day and time.
One advantage of applying early is that you have a better chance to secure the date and time you want.

30. Teacher Recommendations
No HISD school requires a teacher recommendation from your student. Please do not clog up the teacher’s s with requests.
If you are applying to private schools, the teacher recommendation needs to be turned in to Dr. Matthews (the middle school counselor) with a stamped, addressed envelope.

31. Submitted, In Processing
If, at the time you apply, under the school name, it says anything other than “Submitted, In Processing,” you have not actually submitted your application.

32. Paper Applications?
Paper Applications must be submitted to HISD Headquarters at the Hattie Mae White building.
If you have an and computer access, the online system is TONS better than paper applications!

33. Documentation
If your child has attended an HISD school for both 7th and 8th grades, you should not have to supply any documentation with your HISD High School application(s).

34. Ranks
The order of schools on your Dashboard is the ranks for those schools (they will be numbered once you have applied to more than one school). If you only apply to one school you will not see ranks.
You have until midnight, December 8, 2017 to change the order of your school rankings.

35. Ranks Are Important
The order of schools on your Dashboard will determine what happens *after* the lotteries have been ran.
The system will default to your highest accept.
All schools ranked below your highest accept will “disappear.”

36. What Happens in Lottery:
Example:
Rank
Programs Applied To:
What Happens in Lottery:
What Parents See:
Rank 1
School A
Waitlisted
Rank 2
School B
Not Qualified
Rank 3
School C
Accepted
Rank 4
School D
**Dropped**
Rank 5
School E
If you are called off the waitlist at a higher ranked school, you will have 72 hours after your notification to accept or decline the newly offered space.

37. What You See: Your choices on March 22, 2018 are:
Rank
Programs Applied To:
What Parents See:
Rank 1
School A
Waitlisted
Rank 2
School B
Not Qualified
Rank 3
School C
Accepted
Your choices on March 22, 2018 are:
Accept the seat at School C.
Decline the seat at school C.

38. More Rank Information:
If you want more information on ranking you can visit our website.
The information can be found under Vanguard Magnet.

39. Notification

40. March 22, 2018
You will receive notification of what happened in the lottery.
If you apply online, this information will be on your Dashboard.
If you apply via paper, this information will be sent to you by U.S. Mail.

41. March 23 – April 6
You have a 2 week window in which to accept or decline the space offered.

42. After the Initial 2 Weeks:
If you are waitlisted at a higher ranked school, and your child is called off the waitlist, HISD allows up to 72 hours from notification for the parent to decide to keep their current space, or accept the new one.

43. Reminders You can apply to 5 schools, and you should.
Deadline for applications is Friday, December 8, 2017 at midnight.

44. Best wishes to all our eighth graders!
Thank you for your time!