PARENT ACTION GUIDES What Are My School Choice Options?

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                                        ACTION GUIDES

                                        What Are My
                                        School Choice
                                        Options?

TEXAS SCHOOL GUIDE: Empowering Families to Succeed in Public Education   CHILDREN AT RISK   5
What Are My School Choice Options?
    What Are My School Choice Options?
    What Is School Choice?
    School choice is choosing a school for your child based on the qualities of the school and
    your child’s needs, rather than on your home address. While school choice options vary from
                                                                                                            School choice is choosing a
    district to district, parents do have alternatives to traditional neighborhood schools. When            school based on what
    considering other public school options, parents may consider charter schools as well as
    magnet schools and programs. To figure out which school is best for your child, you should              the school has to offer –
    research individual schools.
                                                                                                            not on where you live.
    What Are Neighborhood Schools?
    A Neighborhood School is the school that a child is assigned to based on where their family lives. The
    school district sets boundaries and attendance zones for all schools in the district and these boundaries
    can change often. You should call your school or the district to confirm your neighborhood school before
    enrolling.

    What Are Charter Schools?
    A Charter School is a public school that operates separately from local school districts. They are:
    • Tuition-free and publicly funded by local, state, and federal dollars, and can receive private donations
    • Open to any student within a specified region that wishes to apply
    • Commonly required to use a lottery system to determine enrollment
                                                                                                        Learn more about charter schools
    • Entitled to greater flexibility than neighborhood schools (example: some charters may
                                                                                                        in your area on PAGE 17!
      have a longer school day or year)

    What Are Magnet Schools/Programs (Programs and Schools of Choice)?
    A Magnet School is a public school that is either run by a school district or a group of school districts.
    These schools are called magnet schools because they attract students from other areas of the district.
    In Fort Worth ISD, these schools and programs are called Programs and Schools of Choice. These
    programs and schools offer:
    • Curriculum that is aligned with a particular focus area (examples: Science Technology Engineering
      Mathematics (STEM), performing arts, leadership, or certain career paths)
    • A more intensive education in their focus area than traditional public schools
    Some choice programs are located within neighborhood schools, while others are
    “Schools of Choice” that have their own campus. In some cases, several programs                          Find your future Program or
    are housed together on one campus.                                                                       School of Choice in Fort Worth
                                                                                                             ISD on PAGE 14!
    What Are Private Schools?
    A Private School is a school that is not supported by the government. Private schools receive their funding
    from individuals or a private organization. They usually require students to pay tuition and complete an
    application process that may include:
    • Applications
    • Admission tests
    • Interviews
    • Financial aid applications                                                                     Private schools aren’t included in this
                                                                                                           book, but you can learn more about
    Private schools can have a religious affiliation or be independent. Although this guide                them at www.GreatSchools.org.
    does not profile private schools, they are one of the available options for parents.

6   TEXAS SCHOOL GUIDE: Empowering Families to Succeed in Public Education   CHILDREN AT RISK
What Are My School Choice Options?
THE TEXAS SCHOOL GUIDE PROCESS
A Four Step Guide to Finding the Right School for Your Child

       Identify Your         What school is
       Neighborhood          your child zoned
                             to based on your
       School                home address?

2
        Research          What is important
        Your              to you and your family?
                                                     1. School Quality
                                                                            2. School                   3. Other factors
        Neighborhood      Does your neighborhood                            Programs/Assets             (transportation, etc.)
        School            school meet your needs?

3       Research
        Your
        Options
                           1. Getting involved
                           in your neighbor-
                           hood school
                                                     2. Programs and
                                                     Schools of Choice      3. Charter Schools          4. Transfer Options

4
                             Find the option that
         Take Action         works best for you
                             and your family and
                             take action!

STEP 1             Identify Your Neighborhood School                                             Simply enter your address at
                                                                                                 www.apps.schoolsitelocator.com/
To find your neighborhood school you can visit Fort Worth ISD’s website to                       ?districtcode=72947 to find your
use their SchoolSite Locator! Here is what you will need:                                        Fort Worth ISD neighborhood school!
• Address
• City
• Zip code

Once you have found your neighborhood school, don’t forget to call them to confirm prior to enrollment!

STEP 2             Research Your Neighborhood School
Once you know what your child’s neighborhood                  Does the                                                             What is
                                                            neighborhood
school is, you still have to decide if it will meet his or school meet our                                                       important to
                                                                                                                                  me and my
her needs. There are a few things you can do to find           needs?                                                              family?
out if your neighborhood school is right for you. You
can look at:
1. School Quality
2. School Programs /Assets
3. Other things that might be important, like transportation options

School Quality
Visit your school’s profile page to see how it ranked in CHILDREN AT RISK’s 2014 Annual Public School
Rankings. Schools are ranked comparatively to other schools across the entire state and keep in mind that “A”, “B”
and “C” schools are all good options for student success! You can look up schools alphabetically on page . To learn
more about the School Rankings methodology visit page 104.

                                   TEXAS SCHOOL GUIDE: Empowering Families to Succeed in Public Education              CHILDREN AT RISK         7
What Are My School Choice Options?

    You can also look at the 2014-2015 Public Education Grant List on page 16 to see if the Texas Education
    Agency rated your school as underperforming. In some cases, you can use a transfer
    option based on a school’s PEG status.                                                          Don’t forget to check out your
                                                                                                                   school’s score on the “Growth
    Finally, don’t forget to look for the different organizations that are working in your school.                 Index” to see if they’re improving!
    This can indicate that the community is investing in innovative programming to help your
    school!

    School Programs / Assets
    Academic achievement isn’t the only important thing about your child’s school. Your student might be really
    interested in art, or maybe music. If your child is in high school, you probably want him or her to have access
    to a college counselor.

    CHILDREN AT RISK surveyed all of the schools in the district, as well as charter schools, to find out what
    programs they offer. If a school offers the following programs, it will be included on their profile.

     ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS              MIDDLE SCHOOLS               HIGH SCHOOLS
     Art Classes                     Art Classes                  Art Classes                           You can also look to see if
     Music Classes                   Music Classes                Music Classes                         your school offers a program
     Pre-K (Full Day)                Before School Program        AP, IB, College/Dual Credit           or school of choice. Visit page
     Pre-K (Half Day)                After School Program         College Counseling                    13 to learn more about the
                                                                                                        program!
     Before School Program           Sports/Athletics             Sports/Athletics
     After School Program

                             What else is important to you and your family?
        What                  Is it transportation options?                                                             Transportation Department
        else is              What about school climate, or resources for                                                (817) 815-7900
                                                                                                                        Open: Monday – Friday
        important?           students with special needs?
                             Whatever it is, you have the right to ask questions and
                                                                                                                        5:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
                             find the resources you need for your child.

    Transportation Options in Fort Worth ISD
    Transportation can be a very important factor in finding the right school. You may have a conflicting work
    schedule or morning appointments that prevent you from driving your child to school yourself. Whatever the
    case, knowing your options is the first step to solving your transportation issues.

    In Fort Worth ISD, students are eligible to ride the bus if they live within district boundaries and:
    • Live two or more miles away from their neighborhood school, or the program or school of choice if they
      have been accepted, or
    • Are a special education student between the ages of 3 and 21, who has disabilities that prevent them from
      using regular transportation

    Visit www.texasprojectfirst.org/FAQTransportation.html to learn more about what transportation
    is available for students with special needs. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call the main
    Transportation Department.

8   TEXAS SCHOOL GUIDE: Empowering Families to Succeed in Public Education           CHILDREN AT RISK
What Are My School Choice Options?

School Climate
One of the biggest concerns for many parents is their child’s school
climate. This includes the relationships between students and teachers,                 Research identifies four main
general school atmosphere, front office staff interactions, prevalence of
                                                                                        categories of school climate:
bullying on a campus, safety precautions, and many other things.
                                                                                        1. Safety
When you visit schools there are specific things you can look for that
may help you learn more about the climate.
                                                                                        2. Teaching and learning
• Office staff (school secretary, office manager, etc.) are friendly and                3. Interpersonal relationships
  helpful to visitors and other parents                                                 4. Institutional environment
• Office staff (school secretary, office manager, etc.) are friendly,
  encouraging, consoling and other appropriate interactions with
  students who might be in the office
• Teachers are assisting and interacting positively with students in the hallways
• Teachers are assisting and interacting positively in their natural classroom environments
• Students are friendly with one another
• The school has an aspirational environment, such as posters on the walls with sayings that encourage
  students to “reach for the stars”, etc.
• There are safety precautions in place throughout the school, such as
  automatic locks or gated entrances to the front office during the school      Visit the National School Climate Center
                                                                                at www.schoolclimate.org/
  day
                                                                                to learn more!
• There are safe and clear resources for students with emotional,
  mental and physical disabilities, such as unobstructed ramps for
  wheelchair access

You can also ask specific questions that help you learn more about the school climate. These can be asked
over the phone or during an in person tour.
• How does the school provide parents information on their child’s behavior?
• Are there regular ways to communicate positive feedback?
• If you contact the school, how long does it usually take to get a response?
• What is the school’s policy on bullying?
• Are there any official policies in place that require parents to be notified of instances of bullying in their
  students classroom?
• What policies are in place to reduce or stop drugs from being shared on school grounds?
• How does the school promote social and emotional development?
• What resources and trainings are available to teachers and staff to help them learn how to promote
  social and emotional student development?
• Are parents encouraged to have conversations with their teachers and school administrators if their
  children are struggling in school?
• How does the school encourage emotional and physical development for students with special needs?
• Are parents given information about Special Education and 504 Assessments in a timely manner?

Resources for Students with Special Needs
Resources for students with special needs, including Autism and learning              Dyslexia Services
disabilities such as Dyslexia, can be a critical part of your child’s school
                                                                                      100 N. University Drive SW-160
                                                                                      Fort Worth, TX 76107
experience. Fort Worth ISD has a Special Education Department that
                                                                                      Phone: (817) 814-2490
offers programming, information and services to families with students
who have special education needs. The Department provides support in
the delivery of all services as determined:
• By an Admission, Review, or Dismissal (ARD) Committee
• As stated in the Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals

                              TEXAS SCHOOL GUIDE: Empowering Families to Succeed in Public Education    CHILDREN AT RISK   9
What Are My School Choice Options?

     In Fort Worth ISD, each school provides special education instructional support for students based on their
     need. Instructional services can take two forms:
     1. Direct to the student
     2. Consultation services to the teacher

     Visit Fort Worth ISD’s website to learn more about:
     • All St.A.R.S. Program                                                                                                                       Fort Worth ISD Link to Special Education
     • Behavior Intervention Class                                                                                                                 Services: http://www.fwisd.org/pages/FWISD/
     • Inclusion                                                                                                                                   Departments_Programs/
     • Learning in Natural Communities and Teaching to Academic Potential                                                                          Departments__L-Z_/Special_Education
     • PACER Center
     • Parent 2 Parent
     • Parent Guide to ARD Meetings
     • Partners Resource Network
     • Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities
     • Procedural Safeguards-Rights for Parents
     • Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)
     • Surrogate Parent Information
     • Tarrant Cares
     There are also many organizations and programs in the community that provide resources for parents who
     have children with special needs, including:

      ORGANIZATION LOCATION                                   MISSION / PURPOSE                                            PHONE                    WEBSITE
                                           Provides day care, day habilitation (life skills training), arts
       Achievement                                                                                                                              www.achievementcen-
                          Garland, TX     exploration, educational assistance and community inclusion                   (972) 414-7700
      Center of Texas                                                                                                                              teroftexas.org
                                                for children and young adults with special needs.
                                          Strengthens the independence of young adults with intellectu-
       Association for                    al and developmental disabilities through life skills education,
        Independent        Dallas, TX                                                                                   (214) 351-0798            www.afildfw.org
                                             vocational guidance, community integration and spiritual
           Living                                   growth in a supportive living environment.
                                           Transforms the lives of those with communication disorders
       Callier Center     Dallas and         by providing outstanding, leading-edge clinical services,               Dallas: (214) 905-3000
             for                                                                                                                                 www.utdallas.edu/
                          Richardson         conducting meaningful and innovative basic and applied
      Communication                                                                                                                                calliercenter
                            (Texas)        research into new treatments and technologies, and training             Richardson: (972) 883-3630
         Disorders                               the next generation of caring clinical providers.
                                             Provides barrier-free outdoor experiences that promote
       Camp Summit                                                                                                                              www.campsummittx.
                           Dallas, TX        personal growth and foster independence for children                       (972) 484-8900                 org
                                                           and adults with disabilities.
                                           Supports students in discovering their abilities so that they
       Chase’s Place     Richardson, TX    develop independence to their maximum potential, allowing                    (972) 243-2676          www.chasesplace.org
                                                         them to live life to the fullest.
                                           Provides children with complex developmental and behavioral
        Child Study      Fort Worth, TX      disabilities the highest quality diagnosis, treatment and                  (817) 336-8611             www.cscfw.org
          Center                               education, helping them achieve their full potential.
         Citizens                         Training center and employment placement organization for                                             www.citizensdevelop-
       Development         Dallas, TX         adults with intellectual, mental health and/or physical                   (214) 637-2911            mentcenter.org
          Center                           disabilities (clients) living in Dallas and surrounding areas.
        Community                            Provides programs and services to enable adults with
        Homes for          Dallas, TX      Cognitive Disabilities to live full, rich lives in a safe environment        (214) 373-8600           www.chaidallas.org
        Adults, Inc.                           and to meaningfully participate in the community.
          (CHAI)
                                          A non-profit, non-denominational, early intervention & training
       Dallas Center,      Dallas, TX      center for infants, children and adults with developmental                   (214) 328-4309          www.dallascenter.org
            Inc.                            differences serving the greater Dallas metropolitan area.

10   TEXAS SCHOOL GUIDE: Empowering Families to Succeed in Public Education                                    CHILDREN AT RISK
What Are My School Choice Options?

ORGANIZATION LOCATION                                 MISSION / PURPOSE                                          PHONE                    WEBSITE
                                     Committed to providing affordable, inclusive and unique pre-
Dallas Services                                                                                                                        www.dallasservices.
                     Dallas, TX     school learning opportunities and low vision services to all indi-        (214) 828-9900                  org
                                     viduals in our culturally and economically diverse community.
                                     Grassroots movement to raise dyslexia awareness, empower                                                www.
  Decoding                          families to support their children, and inform policy-makers on
                       Texas                                                                                    Not Available          decodingdyslexiatx.
Dyslexia Texas                      best practices to identify, remediate and support students with                                           org
                                                       dyslexia in Texas schools.
                                     Provides accurate and current information, resources, and
Down Syndrome Richardson, TX                                                                                                           www.downsyndrom-
                                     support for people with Down syndrome, their families and                (214) 267-1374
 Guild of Dallas                                                                                                                          edallas.org
                                                          the community.
                     Centers in:                                                                         North Dallas: (972) 394-8900
                    North Dallas,    Spreads help, hope & answers, creating opportunities that
 Easter Seals                                                                                            South Dallas: (214) 372-3300 www.easterseals.com/
                   South Dallas,    advance the independence of individuals with disabilities and
 North Texas                                                                                              Fort Worth: (817) 332-7171       northtexas
                     Fort Worth,                       other special needs.                               Grapevine: (817) 424-9797
                   and Grapevine
                      Dallas,            Offers a wide range of community-based services for
                    Fort Worth,      individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities,                 North
Evergreen Life       Sherman,        designed to not only meet basic needs, but also teach life                Central Texas:         www.evergreenls.org
   Services         Texarkana,
                                    skills and help each individual reach his or her own personal             (972) 386-4834
                   and Longview                                 potential.
                      (Texas)
                                     Provides students with average to above-average intelligence,
                                        diagnosed with various Learning Differences, Asperger’s                                               www.
  Great Lakes        Plano, TX         Syndrome, ADD or ADHD, a stimulating environment and                 972-517-7498 x 103         greatlakesacademy.
   Academy                                 favorable atmosphere which affords each student                                                     com
                                                       opportunities to develop.
                                      Provides students who learn differently and are of average
                     Fort Worth                                                                          Fort Worth: (817) 923-9482
                                    to above average intelligence a student-centered educational
  Hill School      and Grapevine                                                                                                       www.hillschool.org
                                     environment that focuses on intellectual development, while         Grapevine: (817) 310-0876
                      (Texas)           supporting social, emotional, and physical well-being.
Jo Kelly Special                       Provides for the needs and education of students with                                          www.jokelly.fwisd.org/
   Education       Fort Worth, TX      multiple disabilities and medical fragility that they may              (817) 815-5900             pages/JoKelly
    School                                         develop to their fullest potential.
Lakes Regional        Various        Serves the communities of 15 counties in Northeast Texas                 (972) 524-4159            www.lrmhmrc.org
    MHMR             Locations      with Mental Health, Mental Disability and Recovery Services.
                                       Provides critically needed assistance to the intellectually
   LifePath                                                                                                                           www.lifepathsystems.
                   McKinney, TX      disabled, mental illness treatment and early childhood inter-            (972) 562-0190
   Systems                                                                                                                                     org
                                    vention for developmentally delayed infants and their families.
                                           Dedicated to helping people with mental illness,
  Metrocare                                                                                                                            www.metrocareser-
                     Dallas, TX       developmental disabilities, and severe emotional problems               (214) 743-1200
  Services                                                                                                                                 vices.org
                                                         live healthier lives.
                                       Provides quality services to individuals with developmental
  Metrocrest                          disabilities and other related disabilities by supporting them
  Community        Carrollton, TX                                                                             (972) 323-1220          www.metrocrestcs.org
                                    in day habilitation, vocational and community services of their
   Services                                                       choice.
                                     The first full day, full year continuing education program in
My Possibilities                                                                                                                      www.mypossibilities.
                     Plano, TX        Collin County for disabled Texans who have “aged out” of                (469) 241-9100                org
                                                          secondary education.
  Notre Dame                        Educates students with intellectual disabilities and facilitates                                    www.notredames-
                     Dallas, TX                                                                               (214) 720-3911
    School                                         their integration into society.                                                         chool.org
                                                                                                              Region 9 & 11:
   Partners                             A non-profit agency that operates the Texas statewide                 (817) 988-7717
  Resources            Texas                                                                                                           www.partnerstx.org
                                         network of Parent Training and Information Centers.                    Region 10:
   Network                                                                                                    (214) 425-3056
                                        Aims to provide the most effective, function-centered
  Sage Care                                                                                                                                  www.
                     Dallas, TX     therapies to children, and promote the most therapist-friendly            (214) 295-5374
   Therapy                                                                                                                            sagecaretherapy.com
                                     pediatric home health care company in the Dallas Metroplex.

                                        TEXAS SCHOOL GUIDE: Empowering Families to Succeed in Public Education                                CHILDREN AT RISK   11
What Are My School Choice Options?

      ORGANIZATION LOCATION                           MISSION / PURPOSE                                         PHONE                      LINK
                                                                                                       The Arc of Collin, Dallas and
                                         Advocates for and serves people with intellectual and             Rockwall Counties:
         The Arc                     developmental disabilities and their families, encompassing all
                         Texas                                                                               (214) 634-9810            www.thearc.org
                                    ages and all spectrums from autism, Down syndrome, Fragile X         The Arc of Greater Tarrant
                                             and various other developmental disabilities.             County, Inc.: (817) 877-1474
        The Shelton                 Serves students with learning differences, including dyslexia
                       Dallas, TX                                                                            (972) 774-1772            www.shelton.org
          School                                       and related disorders.
                                    Delivers high quality individualized home care rehabilitation
                                     services to the children in Texas, including occupational,
      THERAPY 2000     Dallas, TX   physical, and speech therapy services to children (birth-21)             (214) 467-9787            www.t2000.com
                                      with special needs, including disabilities, developmental
                                               delays and autism spectrum disorders.

     STEP 3             Research Your Options
     One of the most important things you can do when searching for a school is visiting! Here is a list of questions
     to ask, as well as some key things to look for:

                                                                                                                                       ?
     Questions to Ask When Visiting a School
     • What is the school’s mission? The mission statement is usually a summary
       statement of the school’s values and purpose.
     • What is the school’s approach to safety and discipline?
     • How does the school monitor student progress?
     • What strategies do teachers use to teach students with limited English proficiency?
     • What strategies do teachers use to help students catch up if they are performing below
       grade level?
     • What services are available to students with special needs or learning disabilities, such as Dyslexia?
     • How do students get to school? Is bus transportation available?
     • Are free or reduced-price meals offered?
     • What extracurricular opportunities are available for students?
     • How do fine arts fit into the curriculum?
     • What rules and systems are most important in classrooms?
     • Are there opportunities for parents to get involved?
     • What is the typical class size? What is the maximum class size?
     • If a child is excelling academically, are there advanced courses or enrichment programs?
     • How is technology used to support teaching and learning?
     • What are the school’s greatest accomplishments?
     • What are the school’s greatest challenges?
     • How do teachers communicate with parents?
     • Are parent-teacher conferences scheduled regularly throughout the year?
     • What is the student attrition rate? The student attrition rate represents the numbers of students dropping
       out.
     • What is the teacher attrition rate? The teacher attrition rate represents the number of teachers leaving the
       school.

     Things to Look For When Visiting a School
     • Do teachers interact with their students in a positive manner?
     • Do classrooms look cheerful?
     • Are parents given open access to classrooms to observe and participate on a reasonable basis, including
       those for children with special needs?
     • Are the students well-behaved as they transition in the hallways and play outside?

12   TEXAS SCHOOL GUIDE: Empowering Families to Succeed in Public Education                       CHILDREN AT RISK
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• Do the school’s administrators interact positively with students, teachers, and parents?
• Are the classrooms, hallways, restrooms, and outside areas of the school clean and well maintained?
• Do you notice easy to access accommodations for students with physical disabilities?
• Are students adequately supervised by school personnel?
• Do students engage with each other in a positive way?
• Are the teachers keeping students engaged and thinking critically?
Once you have decided to research your school options, there are many different avenues you can explore. These
options are listed in further detail below.

Get involved in your neighborhood school
If you are not satisfied with your neighborhood school, you can start by simply getting involved in your school to
make the changes your student needs from within. For example, if you feel like your child’s neighborhood school
doesn’t provide an academically rigorous environment, start by asking questions.
As a parent at that school you have the right to find out why it is on the
Public Education Grant List, or why it scored a D or an F in the CHILDREN         Find out how you can involved in
AT RISK Rankings.                                                                 your child’s education by reading
                                                                                                                                  the Parent Involvement Action
You can start by scheduling a meeting with a school administrator, or the                                                         Guide on page 19!
principal. If you don’t get the answers you need you can always reach out to
your School Board Representative. Find out more about how to do this in
the Parent Involvement Action Guide on page 19.

Programs and Schools of Choice
Fort Worth ISD offers programs and schools of choice for students who are interested in career-oriented or
specialized curriculum, as well as regular academic subjects. These are the three main categories of choice:
1. Programs of Choice
2. Schools of Choice
3. Gold Seal Programs of Choice
Programs of Choice are offered at middle and elementary schools across the District. They offer a variety of
learning experiences, including a focus on certain subjects, such as science, math, art, foreign language and
communication.
Fort Worth ISD Schools of Choice primarily serve students in a nontraditional setting, such as a Montessori
school. These schools are stand-alone school that can span elementary,
middle and high school grade levels.                                           Look for the 2015-2016 Choices Catalog
Gold Seal Programs of Choice are available at every Fort Worth ISD high                                                          when it becomes available. You can
school and prepare high school students for work after graduation, as well                                                       usually find it online at: www.fwisd.org/
                                                                                                                                 pages/FWISD/Departments_Programs/
as specialized coursework. The programs include, but are not limited to:
                                                                                                                                 Departments__A-K_/Choices
• Licensures and certifications
 THE APPLICATION PROCESS
                                 Presentations made to 5th and 8th grade students about the programs and application process
 END OF OCTOBER –                Applications become available online and in schools
 NOVEMBER                        The Choices Expo is held
                                 Information sessions hosted at individual schools
                                 Applications Due
                                 Submit applications online or to the Advanced, Accelerated & Innovative Learning Department located in the Fort Worth ISD
 DECEMBER                        administration building at 100 N. University Dr., Suite NE226, Fort Worth, TX 76107.
                                 Do not submit applications to individual schools.
 FEBRUARY                        Acceptance letters sent to students
Source: www.fwisd.org/pages/FWISD/Departments_Programs/Departments__   A-K_/Choices/Application___Selection (2013-2014 School Year)

                                                TEXAS SCHOOL GUIDE: Empowering Families to Succeed in Public Education                               CHILDREN AT RISK        13
What Are My School Choice Options?
     • Dual college credit
     • Internship opportunities
     • Real world application experiences

     Most programs only require the application, which can be submitted online or by paper. Some schools require
     additional requirements. You can submit a paper application or apply online during the application period at:
     www.fwisd.org/pages/FWISD/Departments_Programs/Departments__A-K_/Choices

     Here are some important things to remember:
     • Any student who is interested in a Program of Choice or School of Choice must submit an application, even
       if the program or school is at the home school campus.
     • Students may apply to up to three programs, ranked on the application in order of preference.
     • Transportation is provided to Fort Worth ISD students if they choose a program or school that is not
       available at their neighborhood school.
     • Admission is based on a computer-generated random selection process.
                                                                                                                                     Find out more about Fort Worth
     Students will be given the following priority order during the selection process:                                               ISD’s Programs and Schools of Choice
     1. Students living in the school’s attendance zone                                                                              online at: www.fwisd.org/pages/FWISD/
     2. Siblings of resident students who are currently enrolled in the school’s Program of Choice                                   Departments_Programs/
     3. Children of resident District employees                                                                                      Departments__A-K_/Choices
     4. Students living in the District but outside of the attendance zone
     5. Children of non-resident District employees
     6. Students living outside of the District

     Below is a list of Schools and Programs of Choice in Fort Worth ISD. Please note that on the school profiles, the
     CHILDREN AT RISK Letter Grade is associated with the entire school, not specifically the choice program.

              SCHOOL               GRADE                         AREA OF FOCUS                                    REQUIRED                  PAGE
                                   LEVEL                                                                        ASSESSMENTS                  #
         Alice Carlson Applied     K - 05            Applied Learning and Enrichment Programs                     Application only            45
            Learning Center
        Amon Carter-Riverside      09 - 12        Eagle Scholars; Information Technology; Medicine                Application only            96
            High School
      Applied Learning Academy     06 - 08           Applied Learning and Enrichment Programs                     Application only            80
          Arlington Heights                    Creative Arts; College Credit; Agriculture & Horticulture;
                                   09 - 12                                                                        Application only            96
             High School                                               Marketing
        Burton Hill Elementary     EE - 05                        Spanish Immersion                               Application only            47
          Como Elementary          PK - 05                              Music                                     Application only           50
          Como Montessori          PK - 08                            Montessori                                  Application only          50,80
         Daggett Montessori        KG - 08                            Montessori                                  Application only           51,81
         Diamond Hill-Jarvis                                                                                     Application, most
                                   09 - 12             Building Trades & Design; Early College                                               96
            High School                                                                                     recent report card, interview
        Dunbar Middle School       06 - 08               Math, Science, and Communication                         Application only            81
                                             Fire Science Technology; Law Enforcement & Legal Services;
       Eastern Hills High School   09 - 12                                                                        Application only            97
                                                         Teacher Academy & Early Childhood
          Green B. Trimble                           Culinary Arts; Health Science Technology;                Application, most recent
                                   09 - 12                                                                                                    97
        Technical High School                       Retail Entrepreneurship; Welding & Metal Art                report card, essay
        Handley Middle School      06 - 08             Environmental Science and Technology                       Application only           83
       J.P. Elder Middle School    06 - 08                         Science and Art                                Application only           83
        Leonard Middle School      06 - 08                   International Baccalaureate                          Application only           84
       Morningside Elementary      PK - 05       Science, Math and Technology; Spanish Immersion                  Application only           62
      Morningside Middle School    06 - 08                       International Studies                            Application only            85
                                                     Culinary, Hospitality & Event Management;
        North Side High School     09 - 12                                                                        Application only           98
                                                                Medical Professions

14   TEXAS SCHOOL GUIDE: Empowering Families to Succeed in Public Education                     CHILDREN AT RISK
What Are My School Choice Options?

         SCHOOL              GRADE                           AREA OF FOCUS                                    REQUIRED                   PAGE
                             LEVEL                                                                          ASSESSMENTS                   #
     Oscar Dean Wyatt                                 Automotive & Construction; Nursing,
                             09 - 12                                                                          Application only            98
        High School                              Medical Billing & Coding; Pharmacy Technician
   Paul Laurence Dunbar                            Aviation Technology; Business Technology;
                             09 - 12                                                                          Application only            98
        High School                                   Engineering and Urban Development
                                              Media Production & Communications; Culinary Arts;
  Polytechnic High School    09 - 12                                                                          Application only            99
                                               Engineering & Automation; Teaching & Learning
  R.L. Paschal High School   09 - 12             Engineering; Graphic Design; Scholars Program                Application only            99
     Riverside Applied       PK - 05               Applied Learning and Enrichment Programs                   Application only            65
     Learning Center
  South Hills High School    09 - 12                Culinary Arts; Digital Graphics & Gaming                  Application only            99

  Southwest High School                       Broadcast Journalism & Media Technology; Fine Arts;
                             09 - 12                                                                          Application only           100
                                                       South-west Engineering Academy
     Texas Academy of                                                                                     Application, most recent
                             09 - 09                   Early College; Biomedical Sciences                                                100
    Biomedical Sciences                                                                                    report card, interview
       W.C. Stripling        06 - 08                    Biomedical Sciences Preparatory                       Application only            88
       Middle School
      Wedgwood 6th/                                          Broadcast Journalism;
                             06 - 08                                                                          Application only            89
       Wedgewood                                    Pre-Engineering in Petroleum Technology

 Western Hills High School                       Business Management; Audio/Video Production;
                             09 - 12                                                                          Application only            100
                                            International Baccalaureate; STEM, Teaching and Learning
      William James          06 - 08                           College Readiness                              Application only            89
      Middle School
                                                                                                          Application, most recent
       Young Men’s           06 - 08                              Leadership                           report card, handwritten essay,    90
    Leadership Academy                                                                                   teacher reccommendations
                                                                                                          Application, most recent
      Young Women’s          06 - 12              Math, Science, Technology; Leadership Skills         report card, handwritten essay,   101
    Leadership Academy                                                                                   teacher reccommendations
 World Languages Institute   06 - 07       Intensive Language Study; Rigorous Academic Opportunities            Not Available             15

Transfer Options in Fort Worth ISD
Although a student’s neighborhood school is determined by their home address,
in Fort Worth ISD students can apply for transfer requests to other schools that                               Do you have any questions
better match their needs or interests if they meet the requirements listed below.                              about transfer options?
All transfer requests are subject to availability and application deadlines. You                               Call: (817) 814-2311
should contact the district directly to learn about the most current deadlines.

It is also important to note that the transfer options listed in this section do not refer to the program and
schools of choice options, which are listed in a previous section. The two main ways to transfer from one
school to another school in Fort Worth ISD are:
1. Open Transfers: Initiated because of student/family needs
2. Public Education Grant (PEG) School Transfers: Initiated because of                                         Remember, students who
   the school’s performance                                                                                    transfer from one school
Open Transfers                                                                                                 to another school do not
An open transfer needs to be submitted within the deadline established by                                      become part of the new
Fort Worth ISD. All transfers in Fort Worth ISD are subject to approval and                                    school’s feeder pattern.
space availability. Students who transfer from one school to another school
do not become part of the new school’s feeder pattern. This will impact
students when they are transitioning from elementary to middle school or middle school to high school
because students will return to their neighborhood school after 5th or 8th grade. The typical transfer window
for elementary and secondary school transfers is the first three weeks of March.

                                       TEXAS SCHOOL GUIDE: Empowering Families to Succeed in Public Education                        CHILDREN AT RISK   15
What Are My School Choice Options?

                                                                                                                                                         4. If transfer is accepted, the
        Transfer                              1. Student must be enrolled           2. Parent contacts
                                                                                       receiving school to                                                  receiving Principal signs the
                                                 in their home school before                                            3. Receiving Principal              transfer form. The parent takes
        Process                                  submitting a transfer                 make transfer request               accepts/denies                   the signed transfer form to the
                                                                                       and to determine if                 request transfer.                home school for approval and
                                                 request.
                                                                                       space is available.                                                  withdrawal of the student.

        Transfer                              1. A sibling of a resident
                                                 student currently enrolled at
                                                                                      2. A child of a resident
                                                                                                                        3. A resident of the District,
                                                                                                                           but residing outside the           4. A nonresident student,

        Priority                                 the requested school.
                                                                                         District Employee                 attendance area of the
                                                                                                                           requested school
                                                                                                                                                                 subject to tuition

                                            1. Once the transfer is made outside             2. A transfer, once              3. A prekindergarten transfer
        Transfer                               of a student’s attendance area, the
                                               school to which the student is reas-
                                                                                                made, shall remain
                                                                                                in effect as long as
                                                                                                                                 shall be granted for one
                                                                                                                                 year only. A kindergarten
        Guidelines                             signed shall become the student’s
                                               secondary “home school.”
                                                                                                the student is in the
                                                                                                same school.
                                                                                                                                 transfer shall remain in
                                                                                                                                 effect through grade 5.

                                  4. A student shall have the right at all         5. A student who transfers or is reassigned and desires to             6. Transfer may affect
                                     times to return to his or her primary            participate in athletics shall be subject to the regulation             other student activities
                                     “home school” upon application and               listed in the District athletic handbook. A student-parent              (including academic
                                     notification to both principals.                 transfer agreement waiver shall be required in each                     honors).
                                                                                      instance.

     Source: www.fwisd.org/pages/FWISD/Parents/School_Information/Transferring_Student

     PEG Transfers
     Your student is eligible to transfer if he or she is attending a Public Education Grant (PEG) designated school.
     PEG schools are low-performing schools where:
     • Students had passing rates on TAKS/STAAR that were less than or equal to 50% in any two of                    It is a state law
       the preceding three years (2011, 2012 and 2013), or                                                       that students attending
                                                                                                                PEG schools be given the
     • The school was rated Academically Unacceptable in 2011, or Improvement Required in 2013                                                                                           opportunity to transfer to
                                                                                                                                                                                            a non-PEG school.
     Every year, the state provides a list of PEG-designated schools to districts, and districts must notify
     the parents of students in these schools by February 1st. To locate a list of PEG designated schools                                                                                 Don’t be afraid to ask
     and learn more about this program, visit the Texas Education Agency’s website at                                                                                                       questions about
                                                                                                                                                                                               this option!
     www.ritter.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/peg_faq.html.

                                      2014–2015 FORT WORTH ISD PEG SCHOOLS
                     AM Patel El                                 Greenbriar El                               Meacham Middle                                   T A Sims El
                 Atwood Mcdonald El                             Handley Middle                               Meadowbrook El                               Van Zandt-Guinn El
                 Christene C Moss El                             James Middle                               Meadowbrook Middle                             Versia Williams El
                     De Zavala El                               John T White El                               Monnig Middle                              Wedgwood 6th Grade
                      Dunbar HS                                  Kirkpatrick El                             Morningside Middle                              West Handley El
                    Dunbar Middle                               Leonard Middle                                O D Wyatt HS                                  Western Hills El
                   Eastern Hills El                            Maude I Logan El                                 Oaklawn El                                 Western Hills HS
                   Eastern Hill HS                             Maudrie Walton El                              Polytechnic HS                                  Woodway El
                  Forest Oak Middle                             McLean Middle                                  S S Dillow El
                 Glencrest 6th Grade                               McRae El                                 Sunrise-McMillan El

16   TEXAS SCHOOL GUIDE: Empowering Families to Succeed in Public Education                                             CHILDREN AT RISK
What Are My School Choice Options?

Charter Schools in the Fort Worth Area
Charter schools can be good options for student success. Remember, these schools are not a part of Fort
Worth ISD, but they are still public schools. Most charter schools operate on a lottery system. This means
that the school uses a random selection process to pick its students. It might also be helpful to know:
• These schools require some kind of application
• Many applications can be submitted online, but the process depends on each school
• You should check with each school to see if they require additional information like supplemental
  documents or an interview/audition
• If your child is on a charter school’s waiting list, it may help to follow up with the school to let the school
  know that you are still interested if space becomes available

Charter schools must also adhere to the same Special Education and ADA law guidelines for children with
special education needs as traditional public schools. If you have any questions about this do not hesitate to
ask your school’s administrators.

We have included a short list of charter schools in the area to help you get started, but make sure to visit each
of the school’s websites to learn more about current deadlines and application procedures.

        SCHOOL           GRADE LEVEL             APPLICATION             ADMISSIONS MODEL             PHONE                WEBSITE
                                                   PERIOD                                            NUMBER
   Chapel Hill Academy                             January 20 -                                                      www.lenapopehome.org/
                             PK - 05                                     Open enrollment/lottery   (817) 255-2500
                                                    February 27                                                       chapel-hill-academy
    East Fort Worth                                January 1 -
                             PK - 05                                     Open enrollment/lottery   (817) 496-3003        www.efwma.org
   Montessori Academy                              February 28
                                              Opens the first Week of
   Fort Worth Academy        K - 12            January and typically            Selective          (817) 924-1482         www.fwafa.org
        of Fine Arts                            runs 8 – 10 weeks
                                                                                                   (817) 263-0700     www.hsafortworth.org
                                                                                                   Harmony Science     (Harmony Science
                                                                                                      Academy              Academy)
    Harmony Schools      Varies by campus     Rolling until March 15th   Open enrollment/lottery
                                                                                                   (817) 386-5505      www.hsifortworth.org
                                                                                                   Harmony School      (Harmony School of
                                                                                                     of Innovation         Innovation)
    Pinnacle Academy                                                                                                 www.honorsacademy.org/
                              K - 08              Contact school         Open enrollment/lottery   (817) 735-8527
       of Fine Arts                                                                                                        pinnacle/
         Uplift                                                                                       Varies by
                         Varies by campus         Contact school         Open enrollment/lottery                     www.uplifteducation.org
    Education Schools                                                                                  campus

STEP 4                Take action!
There are so many options when it comes to school choice in Fort Worth
ISD, but only you know what is right for you and your family. Once you
have made a decision, whether that is a program or school of choice, a
charter school, or just getting involved in your neighborhood school –
be confident in that choice and act on it!

                                       TEXAS SCHOOL GUIDE: Empowering Families to Succeed in Public Education                 CHILDREN AT RISK   17
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