During the November 20, 2025 Board of Trustees meeting, district administrators shared considerations to expand the district’s magnet and choice/specialized programming with the goal of increasing opportunities for more students within Richardson ISD.
Magnet schools in Richardson ISD provide specialized programs, themes, and courses designed to engage students with unique, interest-based pathways.
These campuses attract learners from across the district who seek focused opportunities in areas such as advanced math and science, technology, leadership, the arts, and law. Unlike neighborhood schools that serve students based on residential zones, magnet schools are chosen by families for their distinctive programming and use an application and lottery process for admission.
The expansion of the magnet program and choice programming will support goal 3 of the district’s improvement plan: to establish systems for curriculum and learning experiences which support the individual growth goals, and would be driven by five pillars:
- Identity and Branding: Amplify the school’s brand and strengthen culture and pride.
- Learning and Innovation: provide students real-world learning experiences.
- Pathways and Collaboration; Align pathways to ensure student continuity from elementary through high school.
- Engagement and Partnerships: foster more partnerships to provide RISD magnet students with more real-world and community experiences.
- Continuous Improvement and Sustainability for the programming.
The enhancements to the magnet program would focus on three areas:
- Improvement in current magnet programming and systems
- Expansion of inter-district transfer options
- Increased choice programming
Choice Programs would offer diverse programs including International Baccalaureate, Personalized Learning Academy, Montessori, an Advance Learning Academy, additional Dual Language programs, and other innovative models designed to satisfy different student interests and needs. Lottery selection for choice schools would have limited enrollment policies, allowing student transfers from within and out of RISD.
Growing the district’s magnet and choice programming, with the goal of offering students with more interest-based pathways, opportunities and experiences, is one of the strategies that the district will be putting in place to increase student recruitment, retention and recovery. This is also following the recommendations of the Community Budget Steering Committee from November 2024 of expanding choice programming and inter-district transfers as a way to help attract new families to RISD to increase student enrollment and generate more revenue.
The success of the magnet and choice programs would be measured by:
- Student’s academic outcomes
- The number of students placed in Industry internships and certifications
- Student local, state, and national recognition
- Parent and students satisfaction of services survey
- Student attendance
- High program retention
