Clear Creek ISD starts out-of-district transfer window for 2025–26, outlines a fuller SchoolMint process for 2026

Dr. Sharon Lopez, executive director for secondary, and Monica Dupree, director of instructional design, told the board the district opened an out-of-district transfer application process on May 23 to fill seats available for the 2025–26 school year and described a more robust, software-driven process planned for 2026–27.

The update laid out two tracks: a short-term process to use existing campus staffing and fill currently open seats for 2025–26, and a longer-term, SchoolMint-based process that will run December–April each year beginning with the 2026 cycle.

Why it matters: The district is implementing a new policy allowing nonresident students to request transfers into Clear Creek ISD. The immediate process aims to use existing capacity and staffing; the later SchoolMint integration is intended to make applications, selection and seat availability more transparent and automated.

What district staff told trustees: - Immediate (2025–26) process: The district added an "out-of-district" option to its existing transfer application and began accepting submissions. Staff said they will close the out‑of‑district transfer window on July 3, clean and triage applications, and present approved applicants to campus principals when principals return on July 14. Campus principals will make final acceptance decisions based on space and staffing with the goal of completing the queue by July 25 so families can enroll by the August 1 enrollment window. - Eligibility and criteria: All transfer applicants — in‑district and out‑of‑district — must submit a completed online application with documentation of attendance, behavior and academic standing. Staff will deny incomplete applications. Principals will confirm space and staffing before approving transfers. Out‑of‑district transfers do not include district transportation. - 2026 and beyond (SchoolMint/Skyward): Staff outlined a phased timeline for a new system. Draft timeline: advertise Oct–Nov; open applications Dec. 1–Jan. 23; principals review Jan. 23–Apr. 10, after staffing is set; notify families April 10; families confirm and enroll May 1; and the district will republish remaining seats May 15. Next-year functionality is expected to show only schools with available seats and dynamically present options to applicants. - Current counts and capacity: District technology staff reported 59 nonresident (out-of-district) applications received since May 23. Staff also noted 37 pending applications tied to the new policy change; most pending applications are elementary.

Board comments and next steps: Trustees praised district staff and technology for quickly standing up the short-term process and asked staff to report a consolidated number of how many additional students the district can accept under current staffing for secondary and elementary schools. Staff said they will provide those capacity totals and that the district will monitor applications daily and deny incomplete submissions so principals see only eligible applicants when they return in July.

Rules and limitations: The presenters reiterated that accepted transfer students must meet annual eligibility criteria and must reapply each year; the district will honor an accepted student’s seat while the student continues to meet annual eligibility requirements. Staff reiterated that transportation is not provided to out‑of‑district transfers and that the district will not accept applications for schools already at capacity.

Ending note: Dr. Lopez said the district will use this summer to refine the process and finalize the SchoolMint rollout for the 2026 application cycle, and staff will return to the board with follow-up data about capacity and final applicant counts.