Student Transfers

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. 

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

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

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

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.)

A parent submitting a transfer application for a student is now required to acknowledge and agree to the following terms: 

• 1.  Transfers do not and will not override a Board-approved  Attendance Boundary Modification
  2.  The transfer fee is non-refundable
  3.  Transportation must be provided by the parents or  guardian of a student on an approved transfer.  High  school students are not guaranteed parking privileges.
  4.  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.
  5.  The student will be allowed only one transfer request per school year.
  6.  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.
  7.  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.
  8.  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.
  9.  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.   
  10.  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.

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 updated proof of residence (lease agreement, closing statement, utility bill – water, gas, or electricity).  The registrar will update your child’s school in the KISD system.

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 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 at Katy ISD.  The Student Transfer Office will review attendance and behavior with regard to approval or denial of the transfer request.

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.

Only full-time KISD employees (parents) 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 the date of employment to submit transfer applications.

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.

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.

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.