Transfer Basics

• All transfers require an application in Enroll Austin. 
• Transfer applications must be submitted within the dates provided for each window.
• The types of transfers are general transfers, program acceptance transfers, children of staff transfers, and sibling transfers. 
• Out of district families are welcome to apply for transfer to a school within Austin ISD. The following middle school and high school programs do not allow out-of -district students to apply: Lively, Kealing, Lamar Fine Arts Academy, LASA, Ann Richards Young Women's Leadership Academy and McCallum. See Austin ISD Board of Trustees policy FDA (REGULATION)
• Children of staff and sibling transfers are prioritized and will be granted unless the superintendent declares a campus is over capacity prior to the opening of Round 2. This is not under consideration for 2026-27. All staff and sibling transfers will be approved for 2026-27.
  • Children of staff are defined as the children, step children, or established guardianships and staff is defined as regular full time benefits eligible employees of Austin ISD. 
  • Siblings are defined as full siblings, step siblings, or guardianships sharing a household. In order to qualify for a sibling transfer, the older sibling must attend the same campus as the younger sibling when the transfer is granted. For example: if the older sibling is entering 5th grade, a kinder sibling would be eligible for a sibling transfer to that campus. If the older sibling is entering 6th grade, the kinder sibling would not be eligible for a sibling transfer to the elementary school that the older sibling is departing. 
• Once a transfer has been granted, it will continue through the highest grade level of that school, as long as the student remains in good standing.
• Transfers do not continue across grade bands. Students who complete the highest grade at a school have a higher priority to the next grade band within the feeder pattern of the school they completed, but must apply and have a new transfer granted, dependent on capacity. 

General transfers

• General transfers open February 16, 2026
• General transfers are limited within the enrollment capacity of a school. 
• General transfers are assigned by lottery using the Enrollment Priorities.