Transfer Basics

• All transfers require an application in Enroll Austin. 
• Transfer applications must be submitted within the dates provided for each window. [link to dates]
• 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 are available during Round 2. 
• General transfers are limited within the enrollment capacity of a school. 
• General transfers are assigned by lottery using the Enrollment Priorities. [link] 
  • Example (just for illustration). An elementary school has a total enrollment capacity of 100 students. 80 zoned students register, which leaves 20 seats remaining. 3 children of staff apply and are admitted. 7 siblings of transfer students apply and are admitted. This leaves 10 seats. 20 in-district students and 5 out of district students apply for general transfer. The 20 in-district students are put into a lottery and 10 are offered a seat. The remaining 10 in-district students and the 5 out of district students are placed on a waitlist. 
• Students that apply for a general transfer will be notified by email about their status (accepted, denied, waitlisted) by the dates listed here. [link]
• Students must accept the transfer offer by the due date [link] and complete all registration requirements in Enroll Austin for the transfer to be complete.

Program Acceptance Transfers

• Some middle school and high school program applications require additional steps, which may include assessments, auditions, portfolios, essays, etc. 
• Some 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)
• Students applying for admissions-based programs during Round One will receive their results by March 13, 2026. Families must accept the offer and complete annual forms for each child by March 27, 2026 to confirm their seat.
• Please note, for admission-based programs no appeal process is available, except for Dual Language.

Transfer Exception Requests

• Families that missed the deadline to request a transfer may submit a transfer exception request. 
• Families have the ability to submit a transfer exception request if they are experiencing extenuating circumstances and need to transfer their student to a different school. 
• A request can be submitted for any of their Student’s (based on certain criteria) for their Future Year applications.
• Students seeking to submit a request to a new school within the same school year may apply for a transfer exception request and, if approved, shall be permitted to move at the beginning of the subsequent semester unless otherwise agreed upon by the sending and receiving school. 
• Families may apply for a hardship transfer exception under the following circumstances:
  • Childcare: If a family has a change in circumstance that impacts their access to necessary childcare, they may apply for a transfer exception.
  • Safety: Families with a documented safety issue at a school may apply for a transfer exception to a different school.
  • Change to Residential Address: 
    • If a family moves out of the district during the school year, they may apply for a transfer exception to remain in their current school through the end of the year. The family should make a general transfer request during the regular registration period if they would like their student to continue enrollment at that campus for the following school year. 
    • NOTE: If a family moves within the district during the school year, it is not necessary to apply for a transfer exception request. The family should make a general transfer request during the regular registration period if they would like their student to continue enrollment at that campus for the following school year. 
    • If a family moves into the District and is not able to participate in the regular registration period, the family may submit a late transfer exception request.
  • Programmatic/Academic: If a family determines that the programmatic or academic setting of their child’s current transfer school is not a good fit, they may enroll at their zoned campus or apply for a transfer exception. This transfer request may not be used to transfer into another program to which the student has not been accepted.
  • Newly Hired District Staff: Full time regular employees who are hired after the regular transfer window may apply for a transfer exception. Employment status with the District will be verified.

Transfer Waitlist Appeals 

• If a student has applied for a transfer and has been placed on a waitlist, the parent/guardian may appeal for admission. 
• Transfer waitlist appeals use the same form as Transfer Exception Requests. The appeal is decided by the Assistant Superintendent who has responsibility for the requested school. This administrator will have the authority to approve the transfer when it is in his or her judgment that such a transfer will benefit the education of the student and the campus has excess enrollment capacity for transfer.
  • For 2026-2027, the Assistant Superintendents are as follows: 
    • Jennifer Pace, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools. All elementary schools.
    • Angel Wilson, Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools. All middle schools and high schools except those listed under the Assistant Superintendent of School Improvement.
    • La Tonia Amerson, Assistant Superintendent of School Improvement. Dobie MS, Burnet MS, Paredes MS, Webb MS, Eastside ECHS, LBJ ECHS
• Appeals are submitted through Enroll Austin using the form linked under each student’s name. 
• If the assistant superintendent also denies the request, he or she will provide this information to the parent in writing. The letter will include directions and timelines as to how an appeal may be made to the Superintendent.
• If the Superintendent upholds the denial, a petition may be made to the Board in accordance with policy. A written notification will be provided to the parent and will include directions and timelines for filing such a petition. [See FNG(LOCAL), Student Rights and Responsibilities: Student and Parent Complaints, Level Three for procedures.]