Frequently Asked Questions

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, legacy school or at a PreK Partner Site will also need to submit a PreK registration 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 February 28, 2026, 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 March 30, 2026.

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 30, 2026. 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 30, 2026. 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 you have any questions or need help with enrollment, our Dallas ISD ONE Centers are here to help. The centers are a one stop shop for campus enrollment information including, campus selection, student transfers, school lottery/waitlist information and much more. Click on the ONE Centers link below for locations and hours of operation.

ONE Centers

You can also call (972) 925-5560 for general enrollment questions. For questions or help with pre-k enrollment, please call (214) 932-7735.