Frequently Asked Questions

Choose Dallas ISD is a new online system that Dallas families will use to locate, apply to, and enroll in all Dallas ISD schools.  There are two main components to Choose Dallas ISD:

• School Finder – use this tool to locate schools near your home or work, search for schools or programs that are of academic interest to your family, or simply find out more information about all the various public school offerings Dallas has to offer.
• Choose Dallas ISD Enrollment System – this is the system parents will use to submit an application for their student to attend a “choice” school. Here, you may also monitor the status of your student’s application, accept or decline enrollment offers, and register for the upcoming school year.

Both sites above may be easily accessed by visiting www.dallasisd.org/choosedallasisd

Every family who intends to enroll their student in a Dallas ISD school will use this system. Families who have a student who would like to attend a school other than their zoned school or current school may use the system to apply to one or more schools. Beginning in April, all families will use the system to register their child(ren) for the upcoming school year.

You may use the link in the Choose Dallas ISD site to create an account or access an existing one to register your student(s) at their current school(s).

If your transition-grade student plans to attend their zoned Dallas ISD school in 2025-2026, then no action is necessary from you. Your student will automatically be enrolled in their next-level zoned school and you will receive information about the registration process in the spring of 2025.

If your transition-grade student would like to attend a school other than their next-level zoned school, you will need to submit a Choose Dallas ISD application. The application can be accessed by visiting www.dallasisd.org/choosedallasisd

Students entering grades K-12 may apply to their school(s) of choice beginning in November. Applications for the initial application window will not be accepted after 11:59 PM, January 31. All applications submitted during the initial window will be considered equitably in each school’s lottery, so there is no benefit to submitting your application earlier rather than later.

Schools that do not fill their available seats after the initial application window may accept more K-12 applications through the Choose Dallas ISD system beginning in March. Applications received in this second application window will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Students entering PreK as 3 year olds and PreK as 4 year olds may apply to a few select magnet and transformation schools during the initial application window. If your PreK student is offered a seat and the seat is accepted at a magnet or transformation school, you will then need to register the student beginning in early April.

Students entering PreK at zoned, neighborhood school or at a PreK Partner Site will also need to submit a PreK application beginning in early April.

If your student would like to apply to a magnet program, you will need to submit a Choose Dallas ISD application by the January 31 deadline. You may apply to up to five schools but no more than two magnet programs and will be required to upload the following documents prior to submitting the application: most recent report card, most recent test scores, and proof of address. After submitting your application, the school will be in touch with you to schedule an interview or audition if your student qualifies.

Magnet programs that do not fill as a result of the initial application window may accept more applications via the Choose Dallas ISD system beginning in March.

Yes. After submitting your student’s application, a staff member from the magnet school will be in touch with you to schedule an interview or audition if your student qualifies.

If your student would like to apply to a P-TECH/Early College program, you will need to submit a Choose Dallas ISD application by the January 31 deadline. Your student will be required to provide three short-answer writing responses within the online application, but no other documents will be required at the time of application submission. After submitting your application, the school will be in touch with you to schedule an interview.

Yes.  After submitting your student’s application, a staff member from the P-TECH/Early College will be in touch with you to schedule an interview.

If your student would like to apply to a transformation school, you will need to submit a Choose Dallas ISD application by the January 31 deadline. Prior to submitting your online application, you will be required to upload one document showing proof of address.

OTI schools that do not fill as a result of the initial application window may accept more applications via the Choose Dallas ISD system beginning in March.

If your student is entering grades K-12 and would like to apply to a neighborhood school other than the one you are zoned to, you will need to submit a Choose Dallas ISD application, ideally by the Jan. 31 deadline. You will not be required to upload any documents at the time of application submission.

Neighborhood schools that do not fill as a result of the initial application window may accept more applications via the Choose Dallas ISD system beginning in March.

Students entering PreK3 or PreK4 should access the Choose Dallas ISD system beginning in early April to register at any neighborhood school, including their attendance zoned school. PreK seats will fill on a first-come, first-served basis based on eligibility and space availability.

If your student would like to apply to one of Dallas ISD’s two-way dual language programs, you will need to submit a Choose Dallas ISD application by the January 31 deadline. You will not be required to upload any documents at the time you submit the application.

Two-way dual language programs that do not fill as a result of the initial application window may accept more applications via the Choose Dallas ISD system beginning in March.

Students entering grades PreK-12 may select up to five school/program options, including up to two magnet programs, when submitting a Choose Dallas ISD application.

PreK neighborhood applicants will be asked to select 2 or 3 schools.

Yes. You will be asked to rank your school selections in order of preference. The numeric ranks you assign to each of your school choices will be very important, as this information will help Dallas ISD Enrollment staff determine which offer your student will receive.

All families who submit their application by the Jan. 31 deadline will be notified via email by March 1, of their student’s application status(es).

Parents, who wish to apply in Round 2 of the school choice application process may do so beginning mid-March.

Please note: Offers made to waitlisted Round 1 Applicants will follow the Round 2 timeline below

Each applicant will receive no more than one (1) enrollment offer. If your student’s offer is to their No.1 choice school, then their applications to all lesser-preferred schools will be automatically withdrawn. If your student’s acceptance offer is not to their No. 1 choice school, then their applications to all lesser-preferred schools will be automatically withdrawn and they will be waitlisted at any school that was more-preferred than the one they received.

If space is not available at any of the schools to which your student applies, they will not receive an acceptance offer but will be waitlisted at each of their selections. If this happens, your student will automatically be enrolled at your zoned or current school.

Some schools or programs may have waitlists in one or more grades, depending on space availability. When/if space becomes available, staff at the school may send acceptance offers to waitlisted students.  Dallas ISD staff will strictly adhere to the order in which students appear on the waitlist when making offers. Waitlists do not “roll” from one year to another.

Each applicant will receive no more than one (1) acceptance offer.  If your student’s acceptance offer is to their #1 choice school, then their applications to all lesser-preferred schools will be automatically withdrawn. If your student’s acceptance offer is not to their #1 choice school, then their applications to all lesser-preferred schools will be automatically withdrawn and they will be waitlisted at any school that was more-preferred than the one they received.

If space is not available at any of the schools to which your student applies, they will not receive an acceptance offer but will be waitlisted at each of their selections.  If this happens, your student will automatically be enrolled at your zoned or current school.

Round 1 Applicants (Applied by January 31)

Once you have received your student’s acceptance offer, you will be required to either accept or decline the offer using the Choose Dallas ISD system. You will have 10 business days to accept or decline the offer.  If you do not accept your offer during the 10-day window, your student’s offer will be automatically withdrawn so the school can backfill the spot with another student from the waitlist. Please note: offers made to waitlisted Round 1 applicants will follow the round 2 timeline below. 

Round 2 Applicants (Applied in or after March)

Once you have received your student’s acceptance offer, you will be required to either accept or decline the offer using the Choose Dallas ISD system. You will have 5 business days to accept or decline the offer.  If you do not accept your offer during the 5-day window, your student’s offer will be automatically withdrawn so the school can backfill the spot with another student from the waitlist.

While some Dallas ISD schools fill with applicants from the initial application window, many do not. You may submit a Round 2 application for your student beginning March 24, 2025. Round 2 applicants will be either added to existing waitlists or offered acceptance on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you change your mind after Jan. 31, you may submit a Round 2 application for your student beginning March 24, 2025. Round 2 applicants will be either added to existing waitlists or offered acceptance on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications submitted during the initial application window that have been withdrawn (either by the parent or by the Choose Dallas ISD assignment process) will not be reinstated, so you may need to re-apply to a school that you originally ranked lower than the school your student received.

Yes. Students with individualized education plans (IEPs) or 504 plans will be considered equitably with their general education peers. 

If your student already attends a Dallas ISD school, reach out to the enrollment staff at your current school first. You may also contact the Choose Dallas ISD team at (972) 925-5560 or email us at choosedallasisd@dallasisd.org.