As families plan ahead for the next school year, Garland Independent School District is reminding parents that its annual school choice window is now open, giving them the opportunity to select the campus that best fits their child’s needs.

Garland ISD operates as a district of choice, allowing parents to apply for their preferred campus rather than being limited solely by attendance boundaries. The winter school choice window opened Dec. 1 and will close Jan. 12 for students entering grades 1 through 12. Applications for the district’s magnet programs are due Jan. 20. The school choice window for students entering prekindergarten and kindergarten will be held later in the spring, from April 1 through May 1.

Parents are required to submit a school choice application if their student will be entering kindergarten, sixth grade or ninth grade, which are considered transition years, if they are requesting a campus change from their current school, or if they are applying to attend one of the district’s magnet programs. For students enrolling in Garland ISD for the first time, the school choice selection is completed as part of the enrollment process.

The application is completed through the district’s Skyward Family Access platform. According to the district’s website, the “Choice of School” program is designed to allow families to customize their student’s educational experience by selecting a campus that aligns with academic interests, specialized programs or support services. Additional information about the process and individual campuses is available at garlandisd.net.

When reviewing applications, the district considers several factors, including campus capacity, teacher-to-student ratios, proximity to the selected school and any court-ordered ethnicity ratios. Despite those considerations, Garland ISD reports that 96% of families receive their first-choice campus. Students who plan to remain at their current school receive priority and are not required to submit a school choice form unless they fall into one of the required categories.

Bus transportation eligibility varies based on several factors. Eligibility depends on a student’s home address and whether it falls within the school’s designated transportation zone, as well as the transportation eligibility areas established for each campus. Students accepted into magnet programs may qualify for transportation through additional zones. Grade level is also a determining factor, as prekindergarten students do not receive bus transportation.

Transportation maps are available online and may also be picked up at individual Garland ISD campuses, the Harris Hill Administration Building or the Manuel and Maria Valle Student Services Center.

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