Application Process

Online applications to magnet schools will be available online beginning November 1, 2023 through January 31, 2024. Students may select up to two magnet schools.

Students must meet GPA and test score eligibility in order to be qualified to apply to a magnet program. Students applying to a magnet program must meet the following eligibility:

Minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) in core subjects (Reading/Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies)
Minimum Measurement of Academic Progress (MAP) or other norm referenced test score minimum

GPA ELIGIBILITY

75% Grade point average in core subjects (Reading/Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies)

Exception: For all Talented & Gifted schools and Townview Science and Engineering, 80% grade point average in in core subjects (Reading/Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies) See the Magnet Schools page for a list of schools

STANDARDIZED TEST ELIGIBILITY

40th Percentile on Spring 2021 STAAR in Reading AND Math OR Local 40th Percentile on upcoming 2021 Beginning-of-Year MAP Reading AND Math

Exception: For all Talented & Gifted schools and Townview Science and Engineering, 70th Percentile on Spring 2022 STAAR in Reading AND Math OR Local 70th Percentile on upcoming 2022 Beginning-of-Year MAP Reading AND Math (See the Magnet Schools page for a list of schools)

Note: Students who do not have Dallas ISD test scores can provide norm-referenced test scores. Click here to view a list of approved tests. If your test is not listed, please contact the applying school for approval of test.

Click here for Magnet Eligibility by School

MAGNET ASSESSMENT

Applicants who meet the minimum GPA and test score requirements are eligible to move forward to the on-campus assessment process. The assessment will be scheduled online once eligibility has been met and all other required documents have been submitted online.

Magnet Campuses will conduct in-person assessments during this year's choice application season that begins November 8, 2021 and runs through January 31, 2022. Campuses should follow all District policies in ensuring safety for all while conducting on-campus assessments.

Click here for Magnet Assessments by School

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

Copy of student’s most recent report card (for all students applying to grades 2nd - 12th)
Dallas ISD MAP Scores or any Norm referenced test scores (for all students applying to grades 2nd - 12th)
Any existing IEP and/or 504 plan accommodation, if applicable
Proof of residency (only current electric, gas, water bill or lease/mortgage will be accepted) If you are living with another family, or cannot provide either of the above listed items the following may be provided:
- Signed letter stating family is living with another family and
- Student Residency Questionnaire (click English or Spanish to access the form) and Utility bill (gas, electric, water) belonging to the person you are living with dated within the past 60 days (Proof of address will also be required at the time of acceptance, enrollment, and throughout the school year)

*If the situation is temporary, once you have moved, you must provide proof of residency for the new home.

SELECTION PROCESS

The number of seats available for each magnet program will be identified before the application process begins. Seats will be awarded based on the following formula:

30% of the seats are awarded districtwide by rank-ordering of applicants based on overall criteria score without consideration of feeder pattern or sibling status
70% of the seats are awarded within the comprehensive high school feeder patterns (adjusted proportionally for student population) by rank-ordering of applicants based on overall criteria score; subject to sibling rule or preference

Sibling Rule & Sibling Preference shall only be applied to an applicant who meets the criteria with a sibling who attends the same Vanguard, magnet Montessori, or Academy program and who will continue to attend that school the next school year. Siblings are defined as brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, step-brother, or step-sister living, in the same household.

Sibling rule shall be applied to the prekindergarten-grade 8 Montessori programs (for more information on sibling rule click here)
Sibling preference shall be applied to the Vanguard programs for grades 4-5, and grades 6-8 for Academies (for more information on sibling preference click here)

Qualified applicants who are not selected due to limited space will be placed on a rank-ordered waiting list. The wait list will remain active until the end of Dallas ISD's first grading period and student vacancies will be filled until that time.

Dallas ISD Policy EHBJ (LOCAL): For each magnet program, all qualified in-district students shall be served before any out-of-district student may gain admission into that magnet program. Proof of residence must be submitted each year.

Falsifying information on the Magnet application will invalidate the application, and the student's application will be excluded from the selection process. The Dallas Independent School District reserves the right to change a student's enrollment status, placement and/or programming upon receipt of additional information.