Open Enrollment

Families Residing Inside of RISD Boundaries - View Transfer Process

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Join Richardson ISD

Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, Richardson ISD will accept applications from non-district resident families to attend RISD schools. If you are a family residing inside of RISD boundaries, please view the transfer process page. 

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Overview

Inter-district transfers – Families Residing Outside of RISD Boundaries

Open Enrollment Requirements

Provide all requested documentation

Application Process

Learn how to submit your application

Transfer Eligibility Criteria

The District has a rubric that will be used to evaluate each open enrollment application

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions

Revocation

Reasons For Revoking A Transfer

Contact Us

Send us an email for further assistance or questions about Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment

Inter-district transfers – Families Residing Outside of RISD Boundaries

RISD is focused on every student, every teacher, every leader, every day.   Through the Open Enrollment process, we can share that focus and our North Star Goal by inviting new families to join our community. As a result, RISD will be able to optimize our class sizes, and continue to offer a diverse range of programs and greater opportunities for all our students to grow.

Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, Richardson ISD will accept applications from non-district resident families to attend RISD schools. Students entering Kindergarten through 12th grade are welcome to apply during a dedicated application window.

Applications for the 2025-26 school year are open April 17 through midnight, May 17, with decisions coming in early July.

Please note, Open Enrollment would be contingent upon transfer students meeting ongoing expectations in academics, attendance, and discipline.

View Open Enrollment Requirements

what we need

Open Enrollment Requirements

Provide all requested documentation
List of requested documents include:
  • Proof of residency
  • Attendance record from current school, if applicable
  • Current report card from current school, if applicable, OR high school transcript for high school students.
  • STAAR testing results, if applicable
  • Discipline record from current school, if applicable
Any falsifications, misrepresentations or omission of the required documents may disqualify an application.
Complete the 2025-2026 enrollment and registration process.
Meet eligibility requirements
Sign a written transfer agreement
Students will not have a confirmed seat at the approved campus until all these steps are completed.
Capacity: All transfers are limited based on available space, instructional staffing capacity, and programmatic capacity. No transfer will be accepted if any capacity is exceeded.
Priority: Approval is on a first-come, first-served basis, determined by the timestamp of the completed submission.
Eligibility: Each student must meet transfer eligibility criteria. Sibling transfer requests are reviewed independently; approval for one sibling does not ensure approval for others.
View Application Process

How it works

Application Process

Enroll: Complete Richardson ISD’s online enrollment system.
Apply Online: Complete the Open Enrollment Transfer application and submit all required documents.

Review and Notification: The transfer application will be reviewed by the District. You will receive notification regarding the decision once the review is complete.

Accept/Decline: Once the email is sent, you will have two weeks to accept or decline your approved campus and grade level.
Revocation: Violations of the transfer agreement may result in immediate revocation, and ineligibility for future transfer applications.

Transportation Not Provided

RISD does not provide transportation to and from school for students who are approved for Open Enrollment Transfers.

Open Enrollment Transfer Eligibility Criteria

The District has a rubric that will be used to evaluate each open enrollment application. The rubric includes the following criteria.
To view the complete rubric, please click here.

Academics

Satisfactory grades in all subjects

Behavior

No expulsions or alternative education placement in the prior academic years, in addition to no in school or out of school suspensions

Attendance

90% or better

Capacity

Building capacity, current enrollment, growth projections, grade-level enrollment, and staff allocations

Factors considered for Open Enrollment applications include, but are not limited to: building capacity, current program or campus enrollment, growth projections, grade-level enrollment, teacher allocations, and professional staff allocations.

Eligibility Screening Rubric

Criteria3 Points 2 Points1 Point0 Points-1 Point
Attendance percentage95-100%90-94%80 - 89%70-79%60-69
Math grade90-10080-8970-7960-6950-59
Reading/Language Arts grade90-10080-8970-7960-6950-59
Science grade90-10080-8970-7960-6950-59
Social Studies grade90-10080-8970-7960-6950-59
STAAR Test Results (required for students above grades 3-8)Masters Grade LevelMeets Grade LevelApproaches Grade LevelDoes Not Meet Grade Level-
Discipline incidents*01-23≥ 4 not eligible for consideration-
Online enrollment is complete:
Only complete enrollment shall be considered eligible for consideration.
Progress toward graduation completion:
Students grade 9-12 who have been retained in high school will not be eligible for consideration.
Discipline incidents*
 Students with suspensions/expulsions or DAEP/JJAEP placements will not be considered eligible
Students with discipline referrals equal to or greater than 4 incidents will not be considered eligible.

Transportation

Parents/guardians are responsible for transportation for approved transfers. Timely and safe transportation is mandatory; violations may result in revocation.

University Interscholastic League (UIL) and Extracurricular Activities Considerations

A student may not transfer within RISD or to RISD from another school district for the sole purpose of participation in extracurricular activities.
Athletics: Transfer students are not eligible for varsity athletic participation, per UIL regulations, for one year from the date the student begins at the new school. Transfer students will be eligible for sub-varsity athletics provided the transfer is not for athletic purposes and UIL Previous Athletic Participation Form is signed by both schools approving the transfer. Transfers must be completed prior to the start of practice for the sport in question. If the transfer takes place after the start of the season, the athlete may be placed in the off-season.
Academic/Performing Arts Programs: To be eligible for other extracurricular activities, transfer students must be enrolled and attending the transfer school 15 calendar days prior to the application deadline for tryouts or election.
Other: Eligibility for activities not regulated by the UIL will be determined by the RISD guidelines for the specific program and/or any national or state regulations of the organization or activity.
All UIL rules regarding student eligibility for competition are followed. Approval for an Open Enrollment Transfer does not verify the student’s eligibility for competition under UIL rules. Students in athletics who move from one secondary school to another are ineligible for varsity competition for one year by UIL guidelines; unless, the UIL grants a residency waiver. Students who participate in UIL athletics are excluded from Open Enrollment Transfer screening for eligibility until they have verified eligibility through the Director of Athletics.
Students may participate in sub varsity athletics below the varsity level upon enrollment in RISD as a transfer student.

Revocation

RISD Open Enrollment transfer students must adhere to all RISD transfer rules and regulations, including but not limited to district policies and regulations, the Student Code of Conduct, and attendance requirements.

Reasons For Revoking A Transfer

Open Enrollment transfer students may have their enrollment revoked for, but not limited to, the following reasons as determined by RISD:
  • Disciplinary reasons, i.e.: persistent misbehavior, in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, or disciplinary alternative education placement.
  • Repeated failures to abide by the rules specified in the RISD student code of conduct.
  • Failure to maintain at least 95% attendance.
  • Excessive tardiness.
  • Off track to graduate with a cohort.
  • Falsification or omission of enrollment information.
  • Failure to provide timely transportation to or from school.
  • Failure to meet admission criteria as outlined in RISD out-of-district guidelines.
  • Lack of parental cooperation.

Procedures For Revoking An Open Enrollment Application

A campus administrator must present a reason for recommended revocation to the designee in central administration. The campus administrator must hold a conference with the parent and inform the parent of the revocation and the reason for the revocation. Revocation results in immediate and permanent expulsion from the Open Enrollment program.

Appeals

Transfer decisions, including approvals, denials, and revocations, are final and not subject to appeal.
View the District Policy
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