Explained
Highlands Elementary—a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate Primary Year Program—opened in August, as previously reported by Community Impact. For the school’s inaugural year, 2025-26, 50 students per grade level—first through fifth grade—were accepted at the campus for a total of 250 students.
What parents should know
If families do not live within Highlands Elementary’s attendance boundaries, but their child will be in first grade in the 2026-27 school year, they can apply for transfer consideration here. The applications will be considered by an NCISD committee, according to the district’s website.
According to NCISD, parents or guardians should remember the following before applying:
- The district will not provide transportation for students attending Highlands Elementary outside of the attendance boundaries, even for children of NCISD employees.
- Parents hoping to apply for multiple children should submit all of their names on one application.
- NCISD will not accept more students than the school’s capacity, which may change based on enrollment of students living within the school’s attendance boundaries.
- Parents will have seven days to accept their child’s enrollment after they’re notified of acceptance.
Students who live within Highlands Elementary’s attendance zone do not need to submit a transfer application, according to NCISD’s website. A lottery system will be used to consider these students for enrollment if:
- They have an attendance rate of 90% or higher and four or fewer unexcused absences last school year
- They have no discipline incidents on record for the prior school year
- They completed their most recent school year at a school accredited by the Texas Education Agency
- The student and parent are committed to active participation in the school’s programs
Students who are attending Highlands Elementary in the 2025-26 school year do not need to reapply, according to NCISD’s website.
Transfer applications for Highlands Elementary opened Dec. 15.
