PRE-K ENROLLMENT ELIGIBILITY

AGE
As of September 1st of the current school year, the student must be: 
Age 3 or 4 to enter Pre-Kindergarten
(additional qualifications necessary - please reference the page titled "Texarkana ISD - Pre-Kindergarten Eligibility" in the Pre-K packet for qualifications)


RESIDENCY
Student must live within the TISD District with a Parent or Legal Guardian. Out of district Texas residents will be accepted if space is available. Students who reside outside the state of Texas cannot be accepted.


ENROLLMENT INSTRUCTIONS & FORMS

The following records will be required to complete the enrollment process for your student:

Pre-K Enrollment Packet (English/Spanish) (Packets can also be picked up from any of the elementary campuses listed below or the TISD Welcome Center - 2208 Kennedy Ln)

Headstart Application (English)


ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS NEEDED:

• Certified Immunization Record (Dtap or Tdap, Polio, Hepatitis B, HIB, PCV, MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis A and Meningococcal) - Immunization requirements can be found here.
• Official City, County or State Birth Certificate
• Social Security Card
• Student Records Release Form
• Proof of monthly income or Food Stamp Case Number (A month's worth of check stubs or most recent tax statement)
• Proof of Residence (current water, electric, or gas bill, current Lease Agreement, or property Tax Statement)
• Withdrawal Form from previous school with withdrawal grades

For questions regarding Pre-K enrollment, please contact any of the below:

TISD Welcome Center
(903) 794-TISD (8473)
enrollTISD@txkisd.net

KINDERGARTEN - 12TH GRADE ENROLLMENT ELIGIBILITY  

AGE
As of September 1st of the current school year, the student must be:
Age 5 to enter Kindergarten
Age 6 to enter 1st Grade (unless Kindergarten was completed in another public school)
Less than 22 years of age and not previously graduated from high school

RESIDENCY
Student must live within the TISD District with a Parent or Legal Guardian. For students who reside outside of the TISD district or elementary attendance zone, please click here to complete a transfer application in addition to the enrollment packet. If you are not sure which district/zone you reside in, please call the TISD Welcome Center - (903) 794-TISD (8473).

ENROLLMENT INSTRUCTIONS & FORMS
The following records will be required to complete the enrollment process for your student:

These documents will be required at the time of enrollment:

• Certified Immunization Record (Dtap or Tdap, Polio, Hepatitis B, HIB, PCV, MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis A and Meningococcal) - Immunization requirements can be found here.
• Official City, County or State Birth Certificate
• Social Security Card
• Transfer Application (if applicable - please see the Transfer Students section below)
• Verification of Residence (current water, electric, or gas bill, current Lease Agreement, or property Tax Statement)
• Withdrawal Form from previous school with withdrawal grades
  
  

TISD STUDENT ENROLLMENT PACKET
Paper forms or online enrollment instructions can be found below. 
PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT BOTH PAPER AND ONLINE ENROLLMENT.
Students currently enrolled in TISD do not need to complete a new enrollment. If you have any questions, please call (903) 794-TISD.


DOWNLOADABLE PAPER FORMS:

Elementary
KG - 5th (English/Spanish)

Texas Middle School
6th - 8th (English/Spanish)

Texas High School
9th - 12th (English/Spanish)

Paper enrollment forms can also be picked up from any campus or the TISD Welcome Center - 2208 Kennedy Ln.

ONLINE ENROLLMENT (*NEW!):

If you wish to complete enrollment online, please click here.

Instructions for online enrollment can be found here.

Parents are welcome to use computers at the TISD Welcome Center (2208 Kennedy Ln) to complete enrollment.

* For parents/guardians who do not have a proof of residence in their name, you will need to come by the Welcome Center to complete a Certification of Residence form. Please contact the Welcome Center (information below) to find out more regarding this process.  Proof of residency can be any of the following: current water, electric, or gas bill, current Lease Agreement, or property Tax Statement.

* If you are trying to enroll a student and you are not the biological parent on the birth certificate or do not have legal custody, you will need to complete paperwork to become the student's Educational Guardian. Please contact the Welcome Center (information below) to find out more regarding this process.

For questions regarding any part of the enrollment process, please contact any of the below:

TISD Welcome Center
(903) 794-TISD (8473)
enrollTISD@txkisd.net  

MORRISS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ENROLLMENT ELIGIBILITY    

As a new or prospective student of Texarkana Independent School District, we are committed to providing an exceptional education in an environment that will nurture the intellectual, social, cultural and physical development of each student’s overall well-being. Students will be challenged through a wide array of academic and extracurricular opportunities which focus on the individual talents and interests of each student. Our goal is to connect students to real world experiences which promote real-world success thereby optimizing the learning experience for every child.

The Martha and Josh Morriss Mathematics & Engineering Elementary School offers students an instructional focused campus. The school has an instructional curriculum specifically in the areas of math, engineering and technology with direct ties to Texas A&M University – Texarkana College of Arts & Sciences and Education and College of Engineering. Students have the opportunity for exploration, hands-on experimentation/learning and interaction with students of similar interests.

Any student interested in attending Morriss Elementary School must apply for admission. Once admitted, the student must meet specific expectations in order to continue enrollment. Information regarding the application and selection process can be found in the left-hand links. Our offices are available to assist you through the application process and look forward to you and your student becoming a member of the TISD Tiger Family!

ENROLLMENT ELIGIBILITY

Students entering Kindergarten – 5th Grade are eligible to apply for admission to the Martha and Josh Morriss Mathematics & Engineering Elementary School.

AGE
As of September 1st of the current school year, the student must be:
Age 5 to enter Kindergarten
Age 6 to enter 1st Grade (unless Kindergarten was completed in another public school)

RESIDENCY
There is no attendance zone for Morriss Elementary School. Therefore, In-District and Out‑of‑District students may apply. Students living outside the boundaries of TISD are subject to all District transfer regulations.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Students applying for admission to the Martha and Josh Morriss Mathematics & Engineering Elementary School must demonstrate:

• A record of advanced academic success
• A record of excellent attendance
• A record of good conduct and work habits

Students will be required to complete an Application, an Academic & Behavior Questionnaire and submit prior school records. Additionally, all students will be required to take a Readiness Assessment. Due to the specific curriculum being followed at Morriss Elementary School, no curriculum or behavior modifications will be made. Students requiring specific accommodations will be reviewed individually and may be referred to their home attendance zone for appropriate services.

Skills included on the locally developed Readiness Assessment are within the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Mathematics skills will be assessed at a grade level above the tested grade to correspond with the acceleration in the Morriss Elementary School classroom. The TEKS and practice STAAR tests can be found on this Texas Education Agency link:

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=6148

For grades K, 1 & 2, the questions are based on the TEKS. Readiness Assessment questions for grades 3-5 are similar to the STAAR tests. Remember to follow basic testing strategy of ensuring your student is rested prior to testing.

If you are unable to access the link, we will provide a copy of the information requested.

Parents/Guardians will be notified of Readiness Assessment results and placement status on:

• April 1 for all Kindergarten applicants
• June 30 for all Grade 1 - 5 applicants

The highest ranking students will be offered enrollment by the above dates. As additional openings develop during the summer, we will continue to enroll in rank order. Openings that develop during the first grading period of each year will be filled. After the first grading period, no new students will be admitted for the reminder of the school year.

APPLICATION PERIOD

An application period will be designated each year for each grade level. During the official application period, applications will be available by accessing a live link on our TISD home and Morriss Elementary School web pages.

Applications will also be available from:
Student Enrollment Services
Rosalind Mayfield, Administrative Secretary

VIA EMAIL
enrollTISD@txkisd.net

For notification purposes, it will be the responsibility of the Parent/Guardian to maintain address and contact information on file with our office. TISD will not be responsible for deadlines missed due to inaccurate contact information.

APPLICATIONS FOR GRADES 1-5 FOR 2022-23

The application period for Grades 1-5 for 2021-22 has closed. It will be open in May 2023 for the 2023-24 school year.

APPLICATIONS FOR KINDERGARTEN FOR 2023-24

The application period for Kindergarten during the 2023-24 school year will be open November 1, 2022 - January 13, 2023.

The selection process for Kindergarten students will be based on a scoring rubric that awards points based on performance on the required Readiness Assessments, sibling status and TISD District residency. Additional rubric scoring points will also be given to children of staff currently employed full time at Morriss Elementary. Applicants with the highest composite score will be selected for admittance.

Readiness Assessments will be given by appointment. The tentative dates for entrance testing will be February 25 and March 4, 2023 (Saturdays). Students must test on one of the designated dates to be eligible for selection. Appointments for Assessments will be made in January 2023.

Timeline:

• Submit an Application between November 1, 2022 and January 13, 2023
• Include Proof of Residence with Application - two documents required
• Applicant must take the Math & Reading Readiness Assessments in February to early March 2023
• Students will be notified of acceptance status by April 1, 2023
• Selected students must return the Entrance Agreement and registration documents by April 14, 2023

2023-24 ONLINE APPLICATION

2023-24 PAPER APPLICATION PACKET

SELECTION PROCESS

All students seeking admission will be evaluated based on academic, attendance and behavior standards. Applying students will be ranked according to a rubric score with the highest scoring students being offered available seats. In the event of a tied score, the final rank will be given priority based upon math assessment score, sibling status and TISD residency. If your student is not admitted for the current school year, we will begin the process again the following Spring. Any prior ranking will not be considered for future school years.

Openings that occur during the first grading period of the school year will be offered to the next student on the rank list. Due to the acceleration of the math curriculum, no students will be enrolled after the first grading period.

The Scoring Rubric will consist of the following:

ACADEMIC

• Reading and math readiness assessments will be given at Morriss Elementary School.
• Report Card grades in Math, Reading, Language Arts and Science for the current and previous school year.
• STAAR scores (grades 4-5) or other standardized test for the current and prior school year, if available.

ATTENDANCE

• Full day absences and tardies will be evaluated for the current and prior school year

BEHAVIOR

• Work habits and/or conduct grades from student’s report card for the current and prior school year in addition to any office referrals for the current or prior school year.

SIBLING STATUS

• Applicants applying for the upcoming kindergarten class who have a sibling currently enrolled in Kindergarten - Fourth Grade will receive additional scoring points on the rubric.

RESIDENT STATUS

• TISD In-District students will receive additional scoring points on the rubric.

MORRISS FULL TIME STAFF

• Applicants who are children of Morriss Elementary School full-time staff will receive additional scoring points on the rubric.

In the event of a tied score, the final rank will give priority as follows:

• Score on math assessment
• Sibling of a Morriss Elementary student currently enrolled in Kindergarten – Fourth Grade
• TISD Resident
  
  

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

Students attending Martha and Josh Morriss Mathematics & Engineering Elementary School are expected to maintain high standards and to continue in enrollment at the school. Parents/Guardians will be required to sign an Entrance Agreement that outlines the following expectations:

ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS

• Maintain an average of 80 or higher in each academic class during each grading period
• Meet minimum expectations each year on all state assessments
• Complete all assignments in a timely fashion
• No late work will be accepted
• No rework of assignments for a grade
• Actively participate in class

ATTENDANCE EXPECTATIONS

• Arrive on time for school each morning
• Maintain regular attendance
• Remain in school all day
• Be picked-up timely at dismissal

BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS

• Refrain from persistent misbehavior
• Refrain from disruptive behavior
• Adhere to the student code of conduct
• Be consistently kind and courteous to students, teachers, parents and community members

In the event a student is not meeting the academic or attendance expectations, Parents/Guardians will be notified and the expectations for improvement will be discussed. A student not meeting the agreed upon expectations will be required to return to his/her home campus.

A student who does not meet the behavior expectations will be expected to show immediate improvement. A student who is involved in a serious infraction or persistent misbehavior will be required to return to his/her home campus at a time designed by the Morriss Elementary School principal.

TRANSPORTATION

Free Bus Transportation is provided to all TISD In-District students.

TRANSFER STUDENTS REGISTRATION & ENROLLMENT
  
A non-resident student wishing to transfer into TISD must file an Application for Transfer and be approved each year. All transfers are subject to approval by the Superintendent on a space-available basis by grade, subject, program and campus. Records of all transfer applicants are reviewed for attendance, behavior and work habits. Students accepted for transfer, who reside in Texas, will be admitted tuition-free to all campuses in the District accepting transfer students. (OPTIONS Academic Alternative High School does not accept transfer students.) Please refer to the Transfer Application and Guidelines for more information.

To process any new transfer requests, a proof of residence will need to be provided - a current water, electric, or gas bill, current Lease Agreement, or property Tax Statement)

Transfer Application Packet for students residing IN TISD and wanting to attend an elementary school other than their home attendance zone school.

Transfer Application Packet for students residing OUTSIDE of TISD but in another Texas school district.

Transfer Application Packet for students residing OUTSIDE of TISD and OUTSIDE of the State of Texas.

Current TISD students can apply for a transfer here.

Students not currently enrolled in TISD can apply for a transfer here.

*Transfer status is determined based on where the student will be residing at the time of enrollment. Transfer forms do not need to be completed unless the parent is requesting a campus that is not in their home district/zone.