Choose McKinney ISD

Choose McKinney ISD

For more than 100 years, McKinney ISD has demonstrated a deep commitment to the families of our diverse community, continuously providing new and exciting opportunities for our students. Now, we can extend those opportunities to families beyond McKinney ISD. We offer deep roots, a deep commitment to every student, every day, and a wealth of opportunities for all.

Choose McKinney ISD is an open enrollment program that allows families the flexibility to enroll their children in McKinney ISD schools, even if they reside outside the district’s boundaries.

Terms & Definitions

26 - 27 Application Window:

Programmatic Transfers:
Caldwell Dual Language Academy - December 8, 2025 - until filled
Career & Technical Education - CTE - December 8, 2025 - January 20, 2026
Collegiate Academy - December 8, 2025 - until filled

Student Transfers:
Employee Student Transfer -
Window: Dec. 16, 2025 – January 9, 2026

McKinney ISD values its employees and remains committed to supporting families through flexible transfer options. Children of MISD employees receive priority consideration based on available space at the requested campus. Employee Preference Forms will be emailed to all staff by the MISD Communications Department on December 16.

Employees will continue to have flexibility for new kindergarten enrollments, staff transfers, and as new employees join the district.

MISD will communicate all other student transfer options, including any grandfathering provisions, following the December 15 Board meeting. It is our intent to offer these options to support families affected by the district realignment

*Inquiries regarding 25-26 transfers, please email studenttransfers@mckinneyisd.net.

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Caldwell Dual Language Academy

Caldwell Dual Language Academy offers a two-way dual immersion program. The program is offered to all students in grades Kindergarten through 5th grade. Two- way immersion is a form of dual-language that combines students from two language groups while providing instruction in both languages. The (K-5) classes are comprised of approximately one-half of students identified as emergent bilinguals and one-half of students who are proficient in English. 

Families must complete the district’s standard enrollment process before being considered for acceptance into the program. After enrollment is submitted, the Dual Language team will review all information and notify families of their acceptance status.  If this is a student's first time enrolling in a Texas school, they may be required to undergo an English language proficiency assessment as mandated by the state.For more information, visit the Caldwell Dual Language Academy website.

The application for Caldwell Dual Language Academy opens on December 8, 2025.

Apply for Caldwell Dual Language Academy
Frequently Asked Questions
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Collegiate Academy of McKinney

A Collegiate Academy is a specialized high school program that allows students to earn both a high school diploma and an associate degree (or at least 60 college credit hours) concurrently. This is achieved through a partnership between our district and our local Community College providing students with college-level courses and support services. 

  • Offers an accelerated pathway to College for historically underserved students (i.e. low income students, at-risk students, etc.)

  • Students can earn required high school credits while earning an Associate’s Degree (AA or AS)

  • Students take classes together in a cohort for each year of high school. This allows them to get a head start on College coursework and minimize cost!

Application information and application timeline can be found on the Collegiate Academy of McKinney page.

The application for The CAM opens on December 8, 2025.

Apply for Collegiate Academy
Frequently Asked Questions
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Career & Technical Education

McKinney ISD CTE programs will offer all students pathways to high-demand, high-wage careers. Through a blend of technical skills, critical thinking, and career-focused experiences, CTE prepares students for success in post-secondary education and future careers, adaptability, personal development, and financial independence.  Some of our CTE Programs of Study include; Agriculture, Engineering, Health Services, Law & Public Service, and many more. For more information visit our Career and Technical Education page.

The selection window for CTE programmatic transfers opens on December 8, 2025.

Select a CTE Program of Study
Frequently Asked Questions
k-8

K-8 Student Transfers

McKinney ISD is proud to offer families the opportunity to request a transfer to a campus other than their home-zoned school. We believe that providing families with choices helps support student success by allowing them to find the best educational environment for their child’s unique interests, learning style, and needs. Whether you are a current MISD family, new to McKinney, or an out-of-district family seeking the excellence of McKinney ISD, transfer opportunities may help you find the right fit within our district.

Transfer availability is determined each year based on campus capacity, current student enrollment, and staffing allocations to ensure that all schools maintain a balanced and effective learning environment. While not all campuses may be open for transfers at all grade levels, our goal is to accommodate as many families as possible while maintaining the high standards of instruction and support that define McKinney ISD. The application for K-8 Student Transfers opens January 20, 2026 for Intra-district transfers and February 9, 2026 for Inter-district transfers.

Apply for a K-8 Student Transfer
Frequently Asked Questions
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Employee- Student Transfers

McKinney ISD deeply values its dedicated educational staff and recognizes the vital role they play in the success of our students and schools. As a district, we understand that our employees are not only professionals but also parents and caregivers who want the very best educational experience for their own children.

To support this commitment, McKinney ISD offers transfer opportunities for employees, allowing their children to attend campuses that best meet their academic, social, and logistical needs. These employee transfer options are designed to promote convenience for families, strengthen staff engagement, and encourage long-term investment in our school community. The application for Employee - Student Transfers opens January 20, 2026.

Apply for an Employee-Student Transfer
Frequently Asked Questions

General-For ALL Transfer Types

Requirements:

  1. Provide all requested documentation

  2. Meet eligibility requirements

  3. Complete a transfer acceptance

  4. Complete the 2026-2027 enrollment and registration process

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.

Waitlist: Applicants not selected due to capacity are placed on a waitlist. Notifications are issued as seats become available.

Eligibility: Each student must meet transfer eligibility criteria. Sibling transfer requests are reviewed independently; approval for one sibling does not ensure approval for others.

Revocation: Violations of the transfer agreement may result in immediate revocation, and ineligibility for future transfer applications.

Application Process

  • Apply Online: Complete the applications and submit all required documents.

  • Await Approval: You will receive notification once your application has been reviewed and approved.

  • Enroll: Upon approval, complete the registration process through McKinney ISD's online enrollment system.

Transfer Eligibility Criteria

Students must meet the following:

  • Residency in Texas

  • Attendance of 90% or better in the prior academic year

  • All student discipline history will be reviewed and considered when determining approval of a transfer request

  • Satisfactory grades in all subjects

Required documents generated from current school:
* Note - This information is only required for first - eighth grade new to MISD applicants. (intradistrict & interdistrict)

  • Student Attendance Records for 25-26 school year

  • Student Discipline Records (ISS, OSS, Alternative, or Expulsions) for 24-25 and 25-26 school year

  • Student Academic Records (report cards, IEP, 504, LPAC)

  • Student Academic Testing (MAP, STAAR, CogAT, etc)

Optional documents for consideration:

  • Legal Documentation (i.e custody)

  • Medical Records

  • Any additional supporting documentation for the committee to consider

Transportation

  • Parents/guardians are responsible for transportation for approved transfers

  • Timely and safe transportation is mandatory; violations may result in revocation

UIL and Extracurricular Activities

  • Transfer students must comply with all school district and UIL rules

  • Detailed eligibility guidelines are available through coach/director of the extra-curricular

    activity or the UIL and should be investigated fully by the parent

  • Parents should verify activity eligibility before applying

Revocation

  • Transfer agreements may be revoked for violations of terms, behavior, attendance, or

    academic concerns

  • Serious incidents may lead to immediate revocation without notice

  • Revocations are provided in writing and result in future transfer ineligibility

Appeals

Transfer decisions, including approvals, denials, and revocations, are final and not subject to appeal.