Choice Program Process

Application Process: To be considered for the Choice School lottery, an online application must be completed by the required deadline. Refer to the Choice Timeline for application open and close dates/times.  There are no changes to any application once the application window is closed. The application must be completed by the parent or guardian.

Priorities and Restrictions: The Choice School application is open to all SBISD families with the following priorities and restrictions, including but not limited to:

• Priority to SBISD full-time, eligible employees who work at the application school, regardless if the employees lives in-district or out-of-district
• Priority to siblings of same school application students who are enrolled for year for which the student is applying

Application for Twins/Triplets: If you have twins or triplets and are applying to the same Choice School, you have these two options on the application:

• Option 1: One Lottery Number: Twins/triplets are considered as one application and will receive one lottery number. If that lottery number is accepted, both twins/triplets are accepted.
• Option 2: Individual Lottery Numbers: Twins/triplets are considered individual applicants and will each receive an individual lottery number. This scenario might have one twin/triplet accepted and the other twin/triplet on the waitlist.

Students with Disabilities: For students with disabilities, the 504 or ARD committee determine which instructional and related services are required and recommends placement for services based on the student’s IEP currently in effect. An invitation through the lottery process shall be denied if the 504 or ARD committee recommends services at a different school.

Waitlist Information: All schools follow the waitlist order from the certified lottery results. The Choice School waitlist is open for all schools through the first three weeks of the school year.

Late Applications:  Applications are considered late after the official lottery is certified. All late applicants are moved to the bottom of the waitlist for each school, regardless of any priorities.

View Timelines & Deadlines for Choice Late Application dates.

The SBISD School Choice lottery is processed through an automated lottery system which maintains the integrity of our processes while providing transparency for our community. The lottery process is certified through our district’s public accountant who is present during the lottery.

There are two definitions in the process:

• Seated list - The lottery ran and the student received a spot (or a "seat”) at a school.
• Waitlist  - The lottery ran and a student did not receive a "seat” and is therefore assigned a numbered Waitlist. Parents can see the Waitlist number for each school.

On the lottery day, the system processes all applications equally. This lottery process processes until all "seats" are filled. The system then creates a numbered Waitlist for students whom did not receive a seat” at a school.

After the lottery, all schools accept students in Waitlist order.

Here are two scenarios of how the lottery works.

A student applies to three schools:

• Blue School (1st Choice)
• Yellow School (2nd Choice)
• Green School (3rd Choice)

Scenario #1

The lottery runs and the student gets the following outcome:

• Blue School (1st Choice) - Offer (meaning the student receives an invitation for this school)
• Yellow School (2nd Choice) - This application is cancelled so student can accept his/her first choice.
• Green School (3rd Choice)  - This application is cancelled.

Scenario #2

The lottery runs and the student gets the following outcome:

• Blue School (1st Choice) - Waitlist number 101
• Yellow School (2nd Choice) - Waitlist number 23
• Green School (3rd Choice)  - Offer (meaning the student receives an invitation for this school)

The student stays on the Waitlist for the Blue and Yellow Schools - through the first three weeks of the new school year. The student can accept an offer to the Green School and still stay on the Waitlist for the Blue and Yellow Schools.

If you have twins or triplets and are applying to the same Choice School, you have these two options on the application:

Option 1: One lottery number: Twins/triplets are considered as one application and will receive one lottery number. If that lottery number is accepted, both twins/triplets are accepted.

Option 2: Individual lottery numbers: Twins/triplets are considered individual applicants and will each receive an individual lottery number. This scenario might have one twin/triplet accepted and the other twin/triplet on the Waitlist.