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Middle School Applications 2019 - 2020

Middle School Applications 2019 - 2020. 4 th Grade Parents. Your child’s final 4th grade report card and STAAR scores will be used as part of the non-Vanguard Matrix. You have been invited tonight for information purposes only! (Fourth graders should not be applying to Middle School).

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Middle School Applications 2019 - 2020

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  1. Middle School Applications2019 - 2020

  2. 4th Grade Parents Your child’s final 4th grade report card and STAAR scores will be used as part of the non-Vanguard Matrix. You have been invited tonight for information purposes only! (Fourth graders should not be applying to Middle School).

  3. 5th Grade Parents • This is the year to apply for Middle School!

  4. Purpose: • Explain Magnet Opportunities. • Explain THR’s Middle School expectations. • Discuss the online application and HISD’s Magnet Opportunities.

  5. Magnet Opportunities • Even if you believe you want your child to return to THR for Middle School, you should still investigate other options (which is good practice for high school applications).

  6. Magnet vs. Vanguard • A Magnet School specializes in something: fine arts, languages, medicine, STEM (science, technology, engineering, math), Vanguard, and so forth. • A Vanguard Magnet School specializes in accelerated curriculum for GT students.

  7. Magnet Options HISD has 33 middle school magnets. Only 5 of them are Vanguard magnets, but all schools are required (by TX state law) to provide services for GT identified students. By now, your child has developed some interests, you should allow them to investigate their options.

  8. How to Investigate • Discuss interests with your child. • Find magnets that match the interests and investigate their websites. • Narrow down 2 or 3 to go visit with your child. Take a short list of questions that will help you determine if there are any “deal breakers” to choosing that school.

  9. What Then? • Ultimately, you should make the decision about where you apply; however, it is very important that your child has their preferences heard and considered. • If THR is one of the schools in which you are interested, you have to apply here too!

  10. What is Middle School Like at THR?

  11. Rigorous and Accelerated • Pre-AP • Block Schedule • Between 1 and 3 hours of homework, nightly • Project based work in multiple classes • “Late Work” penalized • 75% average required in core classes • Organization and Time Management skills required for success!

  12. THR’s Magnet • As a Vanguard Magnet, we specialize in GT students. Our magnet classes are the Pre-AP core classes (math, science, social studies, English, and reading). • Students can take AP (Advanced Placement) classes in high school; Pre-AP classes in middle school prepare them for college level work in high school.

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

  14. Magnet Open Houses: • 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

  15. Tours: • Every Thursday from October 5 to December 7(except Thanksgiving Week) • K – 8 schools will have tours at 9 AM • 6th through 12th schools will have tours at 1 PM • Regular 6th through 8th Middle Schools will have tours at 1 PM

  16. Tours, Part II: • HISD students attending tours at 9 AM will receive an unexcused absence. • Be judicious about what tours your student attends! Have them narrow it down to a top 2 or 3 schools to go visit.

  17. THR: • If you want your student to attend THR for Middle School, you *must* apply in the online application system. • Current THR fifth graders with applications in the system will be moved to accept; however, ranking still applies (more on that in a few minutes … )

  18. The Online Application

  19. 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 because of duplication, and you will not be allowed to apply. (Only the Office of School Choice can unlock you).

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

  21. 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.

  22. 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.

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

  24. Siblings • Attending Program – brothers or sisters that are already enrolled in the magnet school to which you are applying (and will be at the school at the same time as the applicant). • Applying to Program – brothers or sisters that are not enrolled, but are applying to the same magnet school.

  25. Testing / Auditions • If the program to which you are applying requires testing or 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.

  26. 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.

  27. How Many? • You can apply to up to 5 Magnet Schools. • You can mix-and-match between Vanguard and non-Vanguard Schools, but 5 is the maximum. • Fifth Grade Parents, if you want the opportunity for your student to attend Middle School at THR, you must apply to THR online!

  28. Apply to THR?! • Yes! • If you do not apply online, or submit a paper application, your child will not be considered for a Middle School space at THR. • If your application is late, you will not be considered for a Middle School space at THR.

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

  30. Documentation • If your child has attended an HISD school for both 4th and 5th grades, you should not have to supply any documentation with your HISD Middle School application(s).

  31. Ranks • The order of schools on your Dashboard is the ranks for those schools (they will be numbered, but you have to have at least two applications to see ranks). • If you want to change the order, you can drag and drop schools to where you want them. • You have until midnight, December 8, 2017 to change the order of your school rankings.

  32. THR and Ranks • Provided your child is in good academic standing, if THR is rank 1 in the online application system, they will be returning to THR next year as a Middle School student. • You need to determine if THR is really a “best fit” for your child. It is *perfectly fine* if you choose to rank other schools higher than THR. • The most important thing is that you do what you believe is best and right for your child!

  33. 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.”

  34. Example: • 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.

  35. Ranks Are Important!! Be ABSOLUTELY sure that you have your ranks in the order you want by midnight, December 8, 2017. The system will default to the highest accept. At notification, your choices are to accept the offer, or decline (and go to your neighborhood school).

  36. More Rank Information: . Click on the “Vanguard Magnet” tab

  37. Let Me Be Clear … You MUST apply to T. H. Rogers before the December 8 deadline … You are only guaranteed a space at T. H. Rogers for Middle School **IF** T. H. Rogers is your Rank 1 school.

  38. Notifications

  39. 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.

  40. March 23 – April 6 • You have a 2 week window in which to accept or decline the space offered. • Reminder: The online system defaults to the highest ranked accept.

  41. 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.

  42. Reminders • You should absolutely apply to T. H. Rogers through the online system if you want to be considered for THR’s Middle School. • You can apply to 5 schools maximum.

  43. Best wishes to all fifth graders! Thank you for your time!

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