Admission Process

HISD School Choice lottery notifications are now being released, and we want to share important information for families.

Application Updates 

Families should log into the HISD School Choice Application portal (schoolchoice.houstonisd.org → “Apply Now/Login”) to view the most up-to-date information including:

• Current seat offers
• Waitlist status and position number
• Overall application status (eligible/ineligible)
• Steps to accept pending seat offers

Lottery Notifications

• Seat offer emails began going out on April 8, 2026, and will continue in waves.
  • For seat offers sent on April 8, families have 2 weeks to accept (deadline: April 21).
  • For any seat offers sent after April 8, families will have 5 calendar days to accept their offer.
• Only families who are offered a seat will receive an email notification.
• Notifications are released in waves, so not all families will receive updates at the same time.
• If you did not receive an email, you may still be on a waitlist or pending further updates.

How to Accept Seat Offers
Families must log into the HISD School Choice Application portal to accept their seat:

1. Go to schoolchoice.houstonisd.org
2. Click “Apply Now/Login” (top right)
3. Complete the required steps and click “Accept”

Important Note for Families Applying to Multiple Schools

• Families may accept a seat offer at any school on their list.
• If you accept a seat, you will remain on the waitlist for any schools ranked higher on your application.

Remember, the HISD School Choice Application portal (schoolchoice.houstonisd.org → “Apply Now/Login”) will always have the most current information about your application, including waitlist positions and seat offers.

Please continue to monitor your HISD School Choice Application portal closely for updates.

 Information about the Waitlist

The waitlist moves as students chose other schools or decline seat offers (this looks different every year). In the past we have pulled as little as 50 students from the waitlist and as much as 200+ students from the waitlist. Because of this, we cannot guarantee when or if your waitlist number will be called. Staying in a positive mindset during this time is key, so be sure to recognize the silver lining of being placed on a waitlist. Being placed on the waitlist means you still have a chance of getting offered a seat at DeBakey HSHP. Make sure to login to the HISD School Choice Application portal to view your waitlist position number.

📍 Enrollment Requirements

• Only students who reside within the Houston Independent School District attendance boundaries are eligible to enroll in and attend HISD public high schools, including DeBakey High School for Health Professions.

How to Apply and More Information 

To be eligible for DeBakey High School for Health Professions, current 8th grade students must have a minimum matrix score of an 80. 
Interested students can complete an online application through the HISD School Choice portal starting December 9th

 click here to apply now

The application window opens December 9, 2025 and closes February 27, 2026.
Please note, submitting your application early does not impact your chances of receiving a seat offer. 

📌 For general information about enrolling your child into their zoned HISD school, visit the updated HISD Enrollment page.

🌐 For more detailed information about the Office of School Choice and HISD Magnet programs, you can also refer to:  School Choice page

Important Application Dates & Deadlines

• HISD Magnet Application Deadline: February 27

• Applications may be edited or updated until February 27, even if already submitted.

• The Phase 1 application window for incoming 9th graders applying for the 2026–2027 academic year is:
  December 9, 2025 – February 27, 2026

• Submitting an application early does not provide an advantage.
  All eligible Phase 1 applications submitted within the application window are reviewed equally.

📧 Communication & Contact Information

• Please double-check the email address entered in the HISD application portal.

• If a school email address was used, update it to a personal email address, as this will be the primary method of communication.

• Application-related communication may continue through August 2026.

⭐ Admissions Priority

Admissions priority is extended to applicants who:

• Will have a sibling concurrently enrolled at DeBakey High School for Health Professions

• Reside within Houston ISD boundaries at the time of application

💬 Questions?

For tour-related questions, please contact 

Anita Jafferali, Magnet Coordinator :
 ajaffera@houstonisd.org
 713-741-2410