Everything You Need to Know about Plano ISD Schools: Your Unlimited Guide

Is Plano ISD a good School District?

If you are new to Plano ISD Schools or just have younger kids and incoming Kindergarten students it’s a good idea to learn a little bit more about PISD – Plano Public Schools and introduce you to Plano ISD (PISD).

If you’re looking for the PISD (Plano ISD) School Calendar or wondering which Elementary Schools or Middle Schools or Plano ISD High School you might be zoned for or close to, we have the information you need.

More: The Ultimate Guide to Schools near me

What is Plano ISD (PISD)?

Plano ISD Schools (PISD) are structured a little differently from other surrounding independent school districts so it’s a good idea to know more about them before your kids start.

Nationally renowned, Plano has real pride in Plano Independent School District, which currently educates just under 53,000 students. It covers a few cities, not just Plano TX.

Within 73 campuses over 100 square miles, over 7,000 Plano ISD teachers and staff serve kids from 127 countries with 95 spoken languages. 

PISD has a number of programs (ESL (English as a Second language, PACE (for gifted and talented students), Special Education, AVID, Summer learning programs and also has an adult transition center for Special Education students aged 18-22.

Plano ISD also has 4 specialized facilities: Plano Academy High School, an IB World School and the Health Science Academy (Plano East Senior High School), and an IB PYP World Elementary School at Huffman.

Are you new to the area?

Zoning

Your child will automatically be placed at the zoned school for the address you are registered at.

Use the Plano ISD School Finder to see which one you are zoned to. When you enroll at the school you’ll need a copy of your rental agreement, property tax/utility bill, and other proof of residence. Transfers are available but within limited windows of time and by following the process, so be sure to research this so you are familiar with how it works. It differs for each school level and some schools may not be open to transfers if they are at capacity.

If you live in parts of Richardson, Dallas, Wylie, Murphy, Allen, Carrollton, Garland, Lucas, or Parker you may be zoned to a PISD school.

Want to Transfer within Plano ISD (PISD)?

Plano Public Schools Calendar

The Plano ISD School Calendar can change year to year, but Back to School season currently starts August 9th and will let out just before Memorial Day.

Check out the Plano ISD Calendar

We’ve got more details on how this calendar works and tons of tips to help you plan around any student holidays and early release.

Plano ISD School Times

Early Childhood Schools: Beaty, Isaacs & Pearson

Full day program: 7.55 a.m. – 3.10 p.m.

Head Start 7.55 a.m. to 3.10 p.m.

Pre-K (Barron, Boggess, Christie, Forman, Haggar, IB World School at Huffman, Hughston, Jackson, Mathews, Memorial, Mendenhall, Mitchell, Sigler, Thomas & Weatherford) 7:40 a.m. – 2:55 p.m.

Elementary Schools (grades K-5): 7:40 a.m. to 2:55 p.m.

Middle Schools (grades 6-8): 8:25 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.

High/Senior High Schools (grades 9-12): 9:00 a.m. to 4:25 p.m.

Academy High School: 9:20 a.m. to 4:40 p.m.

Health Sciences Academy and IB World School: 9:00 a.m. – 4:25 p.m.

Special Programs

Elementary (grades K-8) – 7:40 a.m. to 2:55 p.m.

Secondary (grades 9-12) – 8:30 a.m. to 3:55 p.m.

How many Schools are in Plano ISD (PISD)?

Pre-K: Half-day programs are available at some of the Campuses and transportation is available too. Be sure to check if you qualify.

Prekindergarten is a state-mandated program that serves qualifying children who are:

• Next School Year:  four years of age on or before September 1, 2023.

Students may attend this program free of charge if they meet any of the following criteria:

The student:

• is unable to speak and comprehend the English language;
• is educationally disadvantaged (which means a student who is eligible to participate in the national free or reduced-price lunch program);
  • automatic income qualifiers:
    • Medicaid, SNAP, TANF (must upload current benefit letter with Eligibility Determination Group – EDG number)
    • Income eligibility requirements (must upload current paystubs for all working members of the household)
• is homeless;
• is the child of an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States;
• is the child of a member of the armed forces who was injured or killed while on active duty;
• is or ever has been in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services (foster care) following an adversary hearing held as provided by Section 262.201, Family Code; or
• is the child of a person eligible for the Star of Texas Award as:
  • a peace officer under Section 3106.002, Government Code;
  • a firefighter under Section 3106.003, Government Code; or
  • an emergency medical first responder under Section 3106.004, Government Code.

For more information, please refer to the Texas Education Agency website: TEA PK Eligibility

There are Preschools for 3,4 and 5 year olds at our Senior High Schools

Plano East Senior High School: Monday through Thursday 8.30 am – 1.45 pm

Plano Senior High School: 3 year old class on Tuesday and Thursday 9.10 am – 2.10 pm and 4/5 year olds Monday through Thursday 9.10 am – 2.10pm

Plano West Senior High School: For 3,4 and 5 year olds: Tuesday through Thursday 9:10 am – 12:40 pm.

Which School would my child attend based on their age?

Elementary: Once your child turns 5 (on or before September 1) they are ready to start Kindergarten and one of the local PISD elementary schools.  These schools will be for grades Kindergarten – 5th grade.

Huffman Elementary is the first Elementary School to achieve IB World Status in Plano

Middle: PISD Middle school serves grades 6-8th.

PISD High School: This is for grades 9-10th only.

Senior High: Senior High Schools in PISD serve grades 11-12. Plano has 4, including Plano Academy.

Plano East Senior High School has an IB World (International Baccalaureate) program and also offers some unique programs including Health Sciences, Audio Visual programs and has it’s own car shop for budding mechanics! 

PISD Academy Programs: In the last few years, Plano has incorporated some academy high schools for some qualifying students. Right now there are 3 academy programs at different locations across Plano including the PISD Academy High School. These are great for kids that need a different learning and smaller environment at the High School level and offer places using a Lottery Application. 

Special Programs:  Special programs serve students that are referred by an intervention team from their home school, that need some special behavioral training and assistance. For older students, they help with at-risk students that are in danger of dropping out or students that need some accelerated instruction.

PISD prioritizes Special Education, English as a Second language, AVID, PACE and Title 1 schools. There is a Section 504 co-ordinator at every campus.

Plano ISD Transportation

Plano ISD does offer free busing if you live more than 2 miles from your zoned school. Ensure you are familiar with the bus stops, routes and times for pick up and drop off and that the Transportation Department has your child listed.

You’ll need to advise the school if your child will be riding the bus. You’ll be asked to advise your child’s teacher when you register for the school and on your first day or at your welcome meeting at Elementary age.

From 3rd grade onwards, children are able to leave the school to walk home and crossing guards are situated at the schools that need it for safety reasons.

If you are driving to and from school, be sure to understand how the carpool line works at your local campus and the best times to arrive.

Breakfast and Lunch

Be sure to open a cafeteria account so you can add funds in there for your child to spend. You can also check menu choices per day and per campus too!

Plano ISD offer free or reduced-price meals each school year based on student eligibility for meal benefits.

Breakfast options are available on early arrival at school

Students can choose to eat lunch provided by the School Cafeteria each day (funded by parent contributions via the My School Cafe system or bring a packed lunch to school. Kids who have food allergies are given a separate table to eat at on all campuses.

FANS is the short name for the Food and Nutrition Services department at PISD. Menus are available to check and you can email the cafeteria manager if you wish to restrict any student choices they make.

Free and Reduced lunch benefits are open to those families who qualify.

You’ll need to ensure you keep your child’s account with School Cafe topped up with funds to pay for meals, snacks and drinks at school.

You can add money to and manage meal accounts.

• E-mail confirmation notification of payments
• Account balances updated throughout day
• Balance transfer from year-to-year
• Parent monitoring of student meals
• Ability to view account balance
• Ability to view payment history

When using School Cafe for the first time, you’ll need to register

For Pearson Early Childhood parents, please contact the cafeteria manager at (972) 752-4308, to begin meal services or to make changes to the services.

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PASAR – After-School Care

For working parents who need after-school care, many campuses will have programs and after school clubs which are optional extras (some operated by PTA for an extra cost). 

PASAR is Plano ISD’s (PISD’s) after-school care program for students in grades Pre-K through grade 5, located on selected elementary campuses, including Head Start, Beaty ECS, Isaacs ECS and Pearson ECS.

Be sure to check the Plano ISD list for open campuses.

Pasar Hours are:

Monday through Thursday after school until 6:30 p.m.

Friday after school until 6:00 p.m.

Early Childhood Programs

Plano has a number of options that you might not know about for preschool-aged children.

• There are 3 Early Childhood centers that your child could attend based on where you live in Plano. These are tuition based and are 5 days a week for children of age 4 before September 1st.
• State and Federal Programs. If you meet the criteria stated, your child could attend one of the early childhood centers for free.
• Part time Pre-K: Be sure to apply to one of the three senior high schools. If you do not know what school area you live in check this school finder.
• Preschool for Children with Disabilities: PPCD is a special education program that serves children 3-5 with disabilities. You have to qualify to attend but some children go for speech and social and emotional delays. The cost is free after a child turns 3 years old.
• Senior High Learning Centers: This is a tuition-based preschool for children ages 3-5. The schools are located at each Senior High School and along with teachers, high school students interested in teaching help assist and work there.
• Plano Family Literacy: This is a full-family educational program. It will assist in teaching the adults and children in the family. There are specific requirements for this program including low income and limited English.
• Head Start: A federally funded program for children ages 3 or 4 and families that meet low-income guidelines.

Resources for Parents

Plano PTA 

If you wish to connect with other parents and help your school fundraise or lobby as a parent for our student’s education, welfare and extra programs, join your campus PTA as a single member. Annual rates start at $15 per member and provide numerous benefits. 

PISD Parent Portal

Parents with registered Parent Portal accounts can login and access: 

• Grades (the PISD Gradebook)
• Student Registration
• PASAR Registration & Payments
• Emergency Card
• STAAR & Performance Data
• Immunization Records

For grades, click the Parent Viewer button on the portal dashboard and look for Gradebook.

PISD uses an online payment system for School Lunches for a meal account balance, Fare Busing, Early Childhood Tuition, Adventure Camp, and Off-Campus PE payments – you can connect it to your debit or credit card and it will deduct money to add to your student’s account as needed.

They also have a great App you can download as a Parent or a Student with handy links to everything you’ll need.

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Related Links

• A Directory of Local Recommended Preschools