Choose Your NEW Seat Newsletter

As you may know, this week CHISD district announced its decision to retire Bray Elementary School from service, effective May 26, 2023. An unfortunate series of circumstances, including the district’s declining enrollment, a failed bond election last November and a lack of funding, has led to the decision to not open the campus next school year. High Pointe Elementary School and Lake Ridge Elementary School have been selected to absorb the Bray scholars next school year.

Have specific questions about the process, deadline or programs? CHISD has created the email addresses below to help families submit questions and assist with faster response times.

Bray Elementary School Families:

braychoice@chisd.net

High Pointe Elementary School Families:

highpointechoice@chisd.net

For any questions about the choice application, you may contact choice@chisd.net. And stay tuned for campus tour dates and interest meetings after Spring Break!

Transportation service eligibility for any program is determined by board policy. Bus routes are created to enhance student safety while maximizing vehicle efficiency.

A student is eligible for transportation services if he or she meets the following requirements:

• The student resides 2 or more miles from their home campus (campus of regular attendance)
  • The 2 miles are measured via the shortest driving route between the front of the residence and the front door of the school.
  • The home campus is determined by the student's residential address and the assignment boundary of each school.

• The student has been approved to receive transportation by an ARD committee and that information has been included in the student’s IEP (Individual Education Plan).

It’s the same admission requirements as any student. Priority criteria through the lottery system are established for current Bray scholars. However, there must be seats available.

• Scholars must complete the online application by March 22, 2023
• Parents must attend 1 scheduled parent meeting prior
  
• Parents/scholar must complete a mandatory observation with school staff (required for Montessori program only).

All applicants must apply through SchoolMint. At the end of the lottery, notifications will be sent via the SchoolMint system.

Yes. Any current High Pointe scholar who is interested in the Fine Arts Academy must apply unless they were previously accepted into the Fine Arts Program

Nothing right now! If you wish to stay in the Fine Arts Program after the move to High Pointe you are set to go!

Application Window: March 3 - 22, 2023

Observation/Interviews: March 27 - April 6, 2023

Lottery Notifications: April 14, 2023

Acceptance Confirmation: April 21, 2023

1. Visit https://choice.net/chooseyourseat to access the Schoolmint application portal.
2. If you have previously applied for CHISD Choice programs through Schoolmint, log in to your account. If you have not previously applied for CHISD Choice programs through Schoolmint, create a parent account on the Login Dashboard.
3. You may submit multiple applications for multiple family members under your account.
4. You may submit an application for more than one Choice Program, but will only be able to accept a seat at one school.
5. You will receive emails from Schoolmint to notify you of the status of your application, but you can also opt for text messages as well. Please use an email that you frequently use and ensure that you check your spam mail for updates. Read those emails carefully as additional information may be required.

Initially, the children of the High Pointe' community attended school on the east side of town at Plummer Elementary. School board members and officials saw the need for a school to meet the growing needs; hence, in 1986, High Pointe' Elementary School was officially opened, and the pioneer was chosen as the official mascot. The mascot was later changed to the eagle and is now the Longhorn. During the 2001-2002 school year, High Pointe' underwent renovations that provided additional classrooms and the enlargement of other areas of the existing building.

• Click here to access the High Pointe Elementary School website

• 60 employees

• C Rating with a score of 79/100

• Student Teacher Ratio - 13:1

• According to recent YouthTruth Survey data, 89% of students at High Pointe ES feel safe during school, 85% of students feel safe on the playground, 98% of students’ teachers ask if they understand what they are learning, 90% of students stay busy in class, 76% of students behave in class, 83% of students’ classmates treat teachers with respect, 100% of student feel their teacher treats them with respect, 95% of students believe their teacher is fair, and 96% of students feel their teacher cares about them.*

• *Percentages indicate a response of 2 or 3 on a 1-3 scale per the YouthTruth Survey

The program, which places a stronger emphasis on the visual and performing arts than is typically present in a traditional elementary school setting, will give fine arts scholars the opportunity to delve deeper into the creative disciplines of theater, art, orchestra, music and dance.

• The Fine Arts Academy will operate as a school within a school model

• Any current High Pointe student interested in the Fine Arts Academy, must apply unless they were previously accepted into the Fine Arts Program

• Serves scholars in prekindergarten through 5th grade

• The Academy will operate on a school within a school model, with scholars accepted into the program receiving additional fine arts experiences along with core classes.

• All scholars wishing to be in the fine arts academy must apply, even if they are zoned to High Pointe.

• Upon the completion of the 5th grade year, FAA scholars in good standing will automatically attend the Fine Arts Academy at Bessie Coleman Middle School.

• FAA scholars not wishing to participate in the academy at Bessie Coleman, will attend their zoned middle school which is Bessie Coleman Middle School or apply for a transfer to another CHISD middle school.

Several years ago, 1020 Lake Ridge Parkway and the surrounding area were known as Magic Valley Ranch. As the population increased in Cedar Hill, housing quickly developed. Lake Ridge Elementary School opened its doors in 2002. The school was originally known as the Tornadoes, as selected by the student body when it opened; today, LRE as it is known is home of the Longhorns! Lake Ridge Elementary is located just minutes away from Joe Pool Lake. The school has almost 400 scholars in grades EE-5, including Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE), Specialized Knowledge for Individualized Life-Learning (SKILL), and Montessori classes (Primary, Lower Elementary, and Upper Elementary).

• Click here to access the Lake Ridge Elementary School website

• 60 employees

• B Rating 83/100

• Student/Teacher Ratio: 13:1

• According to recent YouthTruth Survey data, 95% of students at Lake Ridge ES feel safe during school, 86% of students feel safe on the playground, 92% of students’ teachers ask if they understand what they are learning, 89% of students stay busy in class, 84% of students behave in class, 92% of students’ classmates treat teachers with respect, 96% of student feel their teacher treats them with respect, 91% of students believe their teacher is fair, and 96% of students feel their teacher cares about them.*

• *Percentages indicate a response of 2 or 3 on a 1-3 scale per the YouthTruth Survey

1020 Lake Ridge Parkway Cedar Hill, TX 75104

Lake Ridge Elementary School offers Montessori programs for scholars ages 3 to 11 in multi-age classrooms. The Montessori Method also encourages empathy, a passion for social justice, and joy in lifelong learning. Given the freedom and support to question, to probe deeply, and to make connections, Montessori scholars become confident, enthusiastic, self-directed learners. In addition to required learning, children gain independence through the Montessori curriculum at their own pace.

• Serves scholars in prekindergarten through 5th grade

• Offers the district’s only 3-year old prekindergarten program

• All scholars wishing to be in the Montessori program must apply, even if they are zoned to Lake Ridge.

• Upon the completion of the 5th grade year, Montessori scholars will attend their zoned middle school which is Permenter Middle School or apply to transfer to another CHISD middle school. There is not a plan to expand Montessori into secondary schools.