Student Transfers
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The transfer application for the 2024-2025 school year is closed except for the following:
- District employee assigned to a new campus or newly hired who wishes for their child(ren) to attend their worksite or campus closest to their worksite
- Intended residency
- Change of residence - request to remain at current campus
- Sibling transfers
The 2025-2026 transfer application will open in phases. See below for details.
2025-2026 Transfer Application Timeline
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District student transfers will not override an Attendance Boundary Modification approved by the Board of Trustees. Attendance Boundary Modifications address the district's fast growth and student and staff capacity at schools. Balancing school enrollment across campuses is essential to ensure that every student has access to safe and engaging learning environments.
A transfer will not be granted to another campus because of friendships. Conversely, dislike of a teacher, principal, staff member, or other student shall not be considered valid reasons for a transfer.
Student transfer applications are requests for students to attend a campus to which they are not zoned. Submitting a transfer application will not update your address on file with Katy ISD. Please contact your campus registrar if you need to update your address.
Contact Us
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Jackie Cerame, Student Transfer Specialist
Phone: (281) 396-2357
jacquelineacerame@katyisd.org
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can I submit a transfer request for a sibling to attend the campus of my Pre-K student?
No, Pre-K is not a mandatory program. Therefore, a sibling of a Pre-K student does not qualify for a transfer to the relocated campus.
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Important points regarding student transfer requests
Important Points
- Visit the Katy ISD Attendance Zones Map to determine the schools to which your residence is zoned.
- Student transfers are for children in Kindergarten - Grade 12.
- Approvals are per school year. Transfers must be renewed annually, except for KISD employees who are exempted (see below).
- A parent/guardian to a student may request the assignment of a student to a campus other than the campus to which the student's residence is zoned (home campus). A district student application may be submitted via katyisd.org. Applications must be submitted with designated timeframe posted on the webpage.
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What are the approved reasons for a transfer?
Approvals are per school year. Renewal applications must be submitted annually. Submitting an application does not guarantee approval. There are several factors in determining whether or not a student transfer request is approved.
The following are acceptable reasons for a student transfer in accordance with Board Policy FDB (LOCAL):
Change of Residence:
No transfers are required for students who move after the first day of the last grading period in a school year.
High School
- Remain at current campus until the end of the current semester/school year
- Milestone years: incoming 10th, 11th, 12th grade if student attended requested campus the prior year(s)
- Updated proof of residence required
Elementary/Junior High
- Remain at current campus until the end of the current semester/school year
- Milestone years:
- Junior High – incoming 8th grade if student attended requested campus the prior school year
- Elementary – incoming 5th grade if student attended requested campus the prior school year
- Updated proof of residence required
Other Acceptable Reasons:
- A district employee may request a transfer for his/her child(ren) to the school closest to his/her worksite. The school closest to his/her worksite is determined by the Campus Administrative Support Department.
- A district employee, with an approved transfer, whose job location changes due to reassignment, may elect to leave his/her child(ren) at the current campus.
- Intended residency transfers require supporting documentation. Transfers are not required for students who will be residing in their new residence prior to September 1st.
- A sibling may request to attend the same campus that another sibling (other than one in a centrally located district program) currently attends. Siblings must reside in the same household.
- Serious medical/mental/psychological health conditions are reasons for a district transfer if documented by appropriate licensed medical personnel, and if there is documentation that the student’s identified needs cannot be met at the home campus.
- A student is the victim of a documented physical assault, and the student committing the assault is at the victim's home campus – qualifying documentation required
- A student is the victim of documented bullying - qualifying documentation required
- A student wishes to attend the MCHS JROTC Program
- Documented unresolved student conflict exists even after home campus and parents have exhausted all resources and efforts to address concerns - qualifying documentation required
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What are the reasons for denial of a transfer?
Reasons for denying a transfer include, but are not limited to, the following in accordance with Board Policy FDB (LOCAL):
- Overcrowded condition at receiving campus or requires employment of additional staff
- Record of poor attendance, late arrivals, early and/or pick-ups, and/or disciplinary infractions
- For the purpose of participating in an extra-curricular activity at receiving campus
- Previous transfer already granted for the current school year
- Falsification of information
- Failure to meet deadlines
- Failure to meet district criteria for a transfer
- Board-approved closed campus due to enrollment
- Student is not currently enrolled and attending the home campus
- Previous assignment to a Discipline Alternative Education Program (DAEP) or expulsion to Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program (JJAEP)
- Any felony or misdemeanor criminal conviction
- Revocation of a previous transfer
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What are the reasons for a revocation of a student transfer?
The following are some reasons for revocation of a student transfer in accordance with Board Policy FDB (LOCAL):
- Repeated failure to abide by the rules specified in the Discipline Management Plan and Student Code of Conduct or the student commits a disciplinary infraction that mandates removal to a DAEP or JJAEP
- Documented pattern of late arrivals, early and/or late pick-ups, and/or poor attendance
- Falsification of information
- Failure to provide documentation of occupancy of a residence when a temporary transfer is granted based on an intended residence
- Continued enrollment at the campus would result in a fiscal burden to the district requiring additional staff and/or facility space to provide services to the student
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How do I pay the transfer fee?
Transfers will be processed after the application, accompanying documents (if applicable), and the appropriate fee has been received. A NON-REFUNDABLE application fee of $35.00 ($10.00 for district employees) is required for processing each application. Student transfer requests may be automatically cancelled if payment has not been received within 30 days of submission.
Pay in person: Payments may be made to the registrar at the campus (please contact the campus to verify they are accepting in-person payments at this time) or at the district office (6301 S. Stadium Lane) with exact cash. Checks are not accepted.
Online payments: Katy ISD Pay N' Go is an online web store, providing a convenient way for parents, students, and other patrons to make payments for cafeteria meals, activity fees, district transfer fees, and a variety of other campus and district related services. There are no transaction fees and the system accepts credit cards and eChecks. Pay N' Go may not be available if your student is new to Katy ISD.
- Go to https://www.katyisd.org/
- Click the Pay N' Go icon (you will need to create an account if this is your first time to access Pay N' Go)
- Once logged in, select 'District Transfer Fees'
- If you do not see the Student Transfer fee, please make sure that it has been 2 business days from the time stamped on your Submission Confirmation email
- Go to District Transfer Fee Payments for more details
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What is the length of an approved transfer?
Approvals are per school year. Renewal applications must be submitted annually. Renewal applications are approvable only if the initial reason for the request still exists. Upon completion of the student’s education at one campus level, a new transfer application will need to be completed. There should be no expectation that a transfer will be accepted to a junior high or high school in the same feeder pattern. (Exception: KISD full-time employees may request a transfer to continue within the feeder pattern of the school to which the child was transferred.)
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The Transfer Acknowledgement and Agreement the parent is required to acknowledge and agree to on the transfer application.
A parent submitting a transfer application for a student is now required to acknowledge and agree to the following terms:
- Transfers do not and will not override a Board-approved Attendance Boundary Modification
- The transfer fee is non-refundable
- Transportation must be provided by the parents or guardian of a student on an approved transfer. High school students are not guaranteed parking privileges.
- The transfer, once approved, shall remain in effect as long as the original reason for the transfer exists, and as long as the student remains at the same campus level (i.e. elementary, junior high, or high school); however, the transfer must be renewed annually.
- The student will be allowed only one transfer request per school year.
- Failure to enroll your student into the approved transfer- to school by the first day of the second week of transfer approval could result in transfer revocation.
- Transfer students must abide by the Discipline Management Plan and Student Code of Conduct. The principal may revoke the transfer for serious or persistent misconduct, or shall revoke the transfer for any offense resulting in DAEP or JJAEP placement.
- A transfer may be revoked for a documented pattern of late arrivals, late pick-ups, and/or poor attendance. A transfer may also be revoked if the student's continued enrollment at the campus requires additional staff and/or facility space.
- Any falsification of information shall cause this application for transfer to be denied and/or revoked. In addition, falsification of documents or records is a criminal offense and subject to fines under Section 37.10 Penal Code.
- School district approval of a transfer does not grant UIL varsity athletic eligibility. An application for a waiver of the UIL Parent Residence Rule may be required. Contact the KISD Athletic Department for details.
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If I move and want my student to attend the campus I am now zoned to, do I submit a transfer request?
No, you will not need to submit a transfer request if your student will be attending his/her zoned campus. You will need to contact the campus registrar and provide him/her with an updated proof of residence (lease agreement, closing statement, utility bill – water, gas, or electric). The registrar will update your child’s school in the KISD system.
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If I move out of Katy ISD, can my child remain in Katy ISD schools?
Children of non-employees who move out of the district during the school year may be allowed to complete the current semester. If you move out of the district during the course of a semester, you must immediately provide the campus with an updated proof of residence and immediately submit a transfer request. High school seniors who move out of the district during the school year may be allowed to complete their education in Katy ISD. The Student Transfer Office will review attendance and behavior in regards to approval or denial of the transfer request.
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How is UIL participation impacted by a transfer?
Parents/Guardians should contact the Katy ISD Athletic Department at 281-396-7780 to verify if a student will be eligible for UIL participation at a new campus, or if transferring will result in the forfeiture of varsity eligibility for a year. Participation will be in accordance with all applicable UIL regulations and Board Policy FMF (LOCAL). Varsity athletic participation is based on UIL residency requirements for grades 8-12. The UIL residency rule applies to athletics only.
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Which employees are eligible to apply for a student transfer?
Only full-time KISD employees (parent) are eligible for an employee-based student transfer. Part-time and substitute employees are not eligible. A full-time district employee may request a transfer for their student to attend the actual worksite of the employee or the closest campus to the employee’s worksite. New employees have one month from date of employment to submit transfer applications.
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Does a Katy ISD employee need to renew their application annually?
Children of employees (parent) who are currently on a transfer will be automatically renewed unless they meet any of the following:
- The student is entering K, 6th or 9th grade
- The student resides outside of Katy ISD boundaries
- The employee is changing job locations and wishes for their child(ren) to attend their new worksite or worksite closest to the new location
IF ANY OF THE ABOVE CRITERIA IS MET, A NEW ONLINE TRANSFER APPLICATION IS REQUIRED.
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What is an Attendance Boundary Modification?
Attendance Boundary Modifications ((ABMs) help the District manage growth in Katy ISD. As enrollment increases, it becomes necessary to adjust boundaries and open new schools. ABMs enable the District to balance student enrollment at campuses.
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Can I request a transfer for my child to remain at a campus that is affected by an ABM?
District student transfers will not override an Attendance Boundary Modification approved by the Board of Trustees. Your student will need to attend his/her zoned campus. Please see https://www.katyisd.org/domain/5700 for additional ABM information.