Admissions
Ironwood is a tuition-free public charter school. There is no entrance exam, no audition, and no minimum grade point average. If more families apply than we have seats, state law requires us to fill them by random lottery, which is exactly what we do.
Who can apply
- Any student entering grades 9 through 12 who resides in Travis County.
- No previous coursework in technology or the trades is expected or required.
- Students receiving special education services are welcome; our program is built to accommodate an IEP or 504 plan in both tracks.
- Siblings of currently enrolled students receive lottery preference under our charter.
How to apply, step by step
- Submit the interest form. Two minutes, and it puts you on the list for tour dates and deadline reminders.
- Attend a tour or information night. Not required, but strongly encouraged. Seeing the shop floor answers most questions faster than we can in writing.
- Complete the application. Available in English and Spanish, online or on paper at the front office.
- Lottery, if needed. If applications exceed seats, the lottery is drawn publicly and families are notified within one week.
- Enroll and choose a track. Track selection happens after acceptance, and students can change tracks through the end of the tenth grade.
Application timeline
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| October 1 | Applications open |
| October through January | Tours every Thursday, information nights monthly |
| February 6 | Priority application deadline |
| February 20 | Public lottery drawn, if needed |
| February 27 | Offers sent to families |
| March 20 | Enrollment paperwork due |
| Rolling | Late applications accepted for any remaining seats |
What it costs
Nothing. Ironwood is a public school funded by the state of Texas. Tuition is free, dual-enrollment tuition at Austin Community College is covered by the school, and safety equipment for shop courses, including boots, goggles, and welding gear, is provided. Families are not asked to supply tools.
Still deciding?
The most common thing we hear from families in March is that they wish they had visited in October. Tours run while classes are in session on purpose.