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Applications for the 2025-26 School Year open on

November 6, 2024

Deadline: February 4, 2025

Application Steps

1. Parents of all students applying to Kealing must complete an Enroll Austin Application by February 4, 2025. You can access Enroll Austin via austinisd.org/enroll. The Enroll Austin Application includes the following:

  • Report Card for Current Grade Level (end of Fall Semester 2024-2025 School Year)
  • One Teacher Recommendation from English or Social Studies
  • One Teacher Recommendation from Math or Science
  • STAAR Scores Spring 2024 (Math and Reading) Applicants who do not have STAAR scores can submit an alternate standardized test result such as MAP or ITBS.

2. Required Video: Review Student Video Guidelines & Upload Video Presentation (Link will be provided at a later date).  

3. Required Essay Session: All Prospective Students are required to complete an in-person essay. Applicants do NOT need to register for the essay sessions. If a student receives extended time or other accommodations through Special Education or Section 504, they will be provided those services. We will need a copy of the IEP or 504 Plan one week prior to the session you choose to attend. Please email paperwork to the magnet administrative assistant at anngela.watkins@austinisd.org.

  • In person Essay sessions:
    • DATES:
      • December 7, 14, January 11, 18, & 25
    • Essay Time Slots
      • 9:00 am or 10:00 am
    • Optional Campus Tours 
      • 9:00 am - 9:30 am or 10:00 am - 10:30 am 

 

General Application Questions

  • WHAT TIME DOES THE APPLICATION CLOSE?
    • The deadline for completing an essay and submitting a video is January 25, 2025.
    • The application closes on February 6th, 2025 at 11:59 PM.
    • We recommend completing your Kealing video essay by the end of Winter Break. This will also allow Kealing to review your submitted materials and ensure everything is in order. 
    • Remember, the week before the deadline will be the most hectic at Kealing and response times will be longer than usual.
  • HOW WILL KEALING SCORE MY FULL APPLICATION?
  • WHAT IF I MISS THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT MY APPLICATION?
    • Late applications will not be allowed.
  • MY STUDENT IS HOMESCHOOLED, CAN WE STILL APPLY TO KEALING?
    • Students that are homeschooled apply to Kealing every year. Homeschooled students, just like all other applicants, will submit an application, supplemental form, teacher recommendations, and grades.
    • A tutor, coach, outside club sponsor, etc, are all acceptable options for recommendations.
  • CAN I SEE MY STUDENT’S APPLICATION SCORE?
    • Kealing does not share the final score on your application.
  • IF MY CHILD DOES NOT GET ACCEPTED TO KEALING, CAN I SEE MY STUDENT’S SCORES?
    • No. All students will receive a letter acknowledging their commitment and effort in the application process.
  • HOW DO I KNOW WHEN I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING REQUIRED TO APPLY TO KEALING?
    • Once you have attended one of the Kealing Admission Essay sessions, in addition to completing all checklist items, you will receive an email congratulating you on completing your application.
  • WE ARE INTERESTED IN APPLYING TO KEALING. CAN WE SCHEDULE A TOUR?
    • The best way to experience Kealing as a prospective family is our Showcase Night - Nov 7, 2024- 5:30-7:30 pm. Prospective students and their caregivers may tour the entire campus, meeting current students, teachers, and administrators. Current students will greet families in classrooms to discuss their favorite classes and class projects and showcase their work. The building buzzes with teen energy and Hornet pride!
    • We’ll have student-led tours during our Essay Sessions:
      December 7, 14, January 11, 18, & 25 - 9:00 am - 9:30 am or 10:00 am - 10:30 am
  • CAN I USE A TEACHER FROM A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO TO COMPLETE MY TEACHER RECOMMENDATION?
    • We prefer that you use teachers from your current grade level. This allows Kealing to receive the most recent information. 
  • WHERE CAN WE FIND THE RECOMMENDATION FORM FOR TEACHERS TO FILL OUT?
    • When parents fill out the Enroll Austin Application, they will be prompted to provide the email addresses of up to three teachers (Kealing only requires two recommendations, but other programs may ask for a third). A link to the recommendation form will be automatically sent to those teachers. Parents may return to the Enroll Austin Application to see the status of that recommendation. Once a teacher has submitted a recommendation, it will show as complete.
  • THE TEACHER SAYS THEY DID NOT RECEIVE THE LINK TO THE RECOMMENDATION FORM. CAN KEALING SEND IT DIRECTLY TO THEM?
    • Unfortunately, no. The link is sent via the Enroll Austin Application. Parents can log back onto the Enroll Austin Application and re-send the email to the teacher. Before they do so, they should double-check the spelling of the email. The most common reason for missing links is that the teacher name or domain is misspelled.
  • WHICH TEACHERS CAN SUBMIT A RECOMMENDATION?
    • We ask for recommendations from teachers in your core math/science and English/social studies classes.
  • MY STUDENT DOES NOT ATTEND AN AISD SCHOOL. HOW CAN THEIR TEACHER SUBMIT A RECOMMENDATION?
    • All applicants, whether they attend an AISD school, a non-AISD school, or are homeschooled, must have an Enroll Austin Application on file. When parents fill out the Enroll Austin Application they will be prompted to provide the email addresses of up to three teachers. These teachers can be from any ISD or program. (Kealing only requires two recommendations, but other programs may ask for a third). A link to the recommendation form will be automatically sent to those teachers.
  • CAN WE SUBMIT MORE THAN TWO TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS?
    • Please do not. While the system will accept additional recommendations, Kealing will only consider two recommendations: one from a math or science teacher and one from an English or social studies teacher. If additional recommendations are submitted, we will consider the ones received first.. In either case, we will not consider recommendations from teachers of subjects other than the four core ones requested, except in the case of homeschooled students as noted above.
  • I HAVE A LONG-TERM SUBSTITUTE IN ONE OF MY CORE SUBJECTS, CAN THEY SUBMIT A RECOMMENDATION?
    • Yes! Your long-term substitute is absolutely allowed to submit a recommendation for you if they feel comfortable doing so.

Report Cards Questions

  • WHICH GRADES FROM MY REPORT CARD ARE CONSIDERED?
    • Kealing considers your current school year grades in math, science, English, and social studies.
  • I AM AN AISD STUDENT. HOW DO I SUBMIT MY REPORT CARDS?
    • Good news! You do not have to submit any report cards from an AISD school. They will be automatically available to Kealing once your parent submits the Enroll Austin Application. If you attended a non-AISD school last school year, you will be prompted to upload that report in the Kealing supplemental materials form. Please ensure the report card shows your name, grade level, year, and final year grades.
  • WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR REPORT CARDS?
    • AISD students do not have to submit separate report cards unless they spent their previous grade level in a non-AISD school. All other students should submit report cards that are clearly legible and show the student name, grade level, school year, grades in math, science, English, and social studies (or school equivalent!). Report cards from the previous grade level should show the final year grades. Report cards from the current grade level should show the semester 1 (or latest grading cycle equivalent available) grades.
  • I ATTEND A SCHOOL THAT DOES NOT ISSUE STANDARD REPORT CARDS AND/OR GRADES. WHAT DO I DO?
    • Please submit the documentation your school provides, whether it be a narrative report, a student portfolio, or a report card with non-standard grades. Many schools will either have a grade conversion document or an ability to request a transcript showing the more traditional grade equivalents. If yours does, please request and submit those. If yours does not, please submit what you have. Every year, Kealing receives non-traditional student reports or grades, and we have systems to score them. They should still list the student name, grade level, and school year. If the math, science, English, or social studies equivalents are not obvious, someone from Kealing may reach out for clarification.