Frequently Asked Questions

Applications must be submitted online via the HISD School Choice Application Platform. 

Phase I: Applications open December 9, 2025, and close February 27, 2026. HISD School Choice will run a lottery for all qualified Phase I applications to determine which students are offered a seat.

Phase II: Applications open April 8, 2026. Qualified Phase II applications will be added to the end of our Phase I waitlist in the order they are received.

Qualified Phase I applicants who are not offered a seat in the Phase I lottery will be placed on our waitlist in the order determined by the HISD School Choice lottery process. Students will be offered placement as seats become available until the end of Phase II, which concludes one week before school starts.

Students must be identified as Gifted and Talented in all areas (Math/Science and ELA/Social Studies) to be eligible for the Lanier Magnet lottery.

Note: STAAR scores, report card grades, or other academic information are not considered for magnet eligibility.

Magnet seat availability varies each year. As a zoned campus, we carefully review our zoned enrollment data annually to ensure teacher-to-student ratios remain balanced and aligned with our academic goals.

To ensure every student has the opportunity to participate in all advanced programs, we will only accept 6th-grade Magnet applications for the 2026–2027 school year.

For the 2026–2027 school year, we are only accepting Magnet transfers. While we are an IB campus, the IB programme is schoolwide, so we do not offer IB transfers. 

If your family resides within the Lanier Middle School attendance zone, your student is guaranteed a seat at Lanier.

• If your student is identified as Gifted and Talented (G/T) in all areas, you must submit a magnet application through the HISD School Choice platform to participate in the Vanguard Magnet program.
• If your student is not G/T identified, no magnet application is required. Your student will be placed in our International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) and must continue residing in our attendance zone while enrolled at Lanier.

We will offer campus tours in alignment with the HISD School Choice timeline, from November through February. Tours are not available outside of this window, as uninterrupted, high-quality instruction remains our top priority.

Below are the tour dates and times for the 2025–2026 school year.

November through February

Student shadowing is not available.

Lanier Middle School administration will begin each tour with a brief presentation, followed by a guided tour of the building. To maintain uninterrupted, high-quality instruction, core classrooms are not included. Tours will focus on elective classrooms and other key areas, allowing families to experience the campus atmosphere and determine whether our school is a good fit for their student.

Tours are led by current 8th-grade student leaders, giving prospective families the opportunity to interact with students, ask questions, and gain firsthand insights from those who know the school best.

Tours last one hour and no registration is required.

For the 2026–2027 school year, we are offering tours from November through February on most Thursdays at 1:00 PM and select Tuesdays at 1:00 PM. Please plan to attend one of these scheduled tour times, as no additional tours will be offered.

If you’re unable to attend in person, you can also explore our campus virtually through a tour led by our 8th-grade student leaders: Lanier Middle School Virtual Tour 

Our school address is 2600 Woodhead, Houston, TX 77098. We are located in the heart of Montrose, just minutes from Medical Center and Rice University.

• Doors Open: 7:45 AM

• Breakfast Served: 7:45 – 8:20 AM

• First Bell: 8:20 AM

• Tardy Bell: 8:30 AM

• Dismissal: 4:00 PM

Lanier reflects the diversity of Houston, serving students in grades 6–8 from over 70 different elementary schools across the city, state, and around the world.

• 6th–8th Grade Club Sports: Tennis, Baseball, and Softball

• 7th–8th Grade UIL Sports: Volleyball, Soccer, Football, Cheerleading, Cross Country, Basketball, Track & Field, and Swimming

Clubs vary each year, currently some of the clubs we offer are: Anime, Odyssey of the Mind, Math Club, The Maker Club, Craft Club, Ultimate Frisbee, Lanier Pops, and Peace Club. Students are also welcome to start their own club—all that’s needed are four friends and a teacher sponsor.

In addition, students can participate in National Junior Honor Society, Student Council, and a variety of volunteer opportunities that support our local and surrounding communities.