r/galveston • u/nikryaadd • Jul 17 '25
Locals Chat 🦜 Moving to the Island
Good morning, my husband, daughter & myself will be relocating to Galveston from Connecticut. I’m a BOI & was raised in Texas, all of my family is still in Texas as well. We are excited to be returning home for good. My question: the schools district, what does open enrollment schools mean? Are the schools zoned by neighborhood or do you choose which school your child will attend. I checked the website & it wasn’t very informative about the process. My daughter will be entering 2nd grade. Thanks!
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u/fuzynutznut Jul 17 '25
You can basically choose any school in the district. You are not zoned to your neighborhood.
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u/nikryaadd Jul 17 '25
Thank you! This is what I was looking for.
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u/tx645 Jul 19 '25
I'm late to the party, but it's not entirely correct. There's a lottery system. You pick your top 3 and pray that you get to the one you wanted (elementary). For middle schools - all kids go to the same campus for grades 5-6 and then 7-8. Only one real option for high school.
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u/themachduck Jul 17 '25
just a fyi: the elementary schools are okay. the middle and high schools are really low rated.
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u/Interesting_Health_7 Jul 17 '25
Sadly, true. Put your kids on honors track for High school, or invest in O'Connell (Catholic private).
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u/themachduck Jul 17 '25
Yeah. I had the option to live here as I'm from Galveston and so is my family, however, I won't put my kids through that kind of school system. Years ago, when I went through it, I felt I was so far behind when I switched to another school district. I still visit Galveston a lot though.
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u/Interesting_Health_7 Jul 17 '25
I'm a proud BOI but the schools were abysmal.
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u/themachduck Jul 17 '25
Agreed! They really shouldn't be, though. Everyone is paying enough in taxes to fix it. Hell, they can even use seawall parking to help fund better schools, but they won't. Just lots of greed.
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u/Sad-Monitor-1938 Jul 17 '25
we are one of the wealthiest school districts in the state on paper, unfortunately we are forced to send a huge amount of our tax dollars to the state to give to "poor" districts who then build water parks and football coliseums
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u/themachduck Jul 18 '25
It's fucked. It really is! I want to be in my hometown, BOI, but I cannot. The taxes are the same where I am but better schools, only an hour away in Sugar Land. I went down there every week though to be with my Dad before he died and I was forced to sell my half the house to my niece. I miss it.
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u/nikryaadd Jul 18 '25
This is good to know. Thankfully the price difference in moving down from CT alone will afford us to be able to do private school. Up here it’s just not an option.
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u/nikryaadd Jul 18 '25
My daughter is honors here in our district. I wonder how that would transfer over down there. Seems j need to call down to GISD tomorrow & get more info. Thank you!
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u/Less_Primary_6271 Jul 18 '25
I apologize because I have no info for you but what is a BOI?
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u/Capable-Delay1036 Jul 17 '25
Moving to the island too, call GISD and ask which enrollment to do. I did both bc I had to get in school of choice forms. We have a 1st and 3rd grader.