Carl Wunsche Sr. High School

Carl Wunsche Sr. High School is a Career Academy for students in grades 9-12. The innovative campus is designed around three towers:

• Professional

• Technology

• Medical

All students participate in four years of advanced academics that include AP and dual-credit coursework with a senior capstone project presented before the school’s industry partners. We also offer an opportunity for students to graduate with an Associates Degree. Students are able to compete in UIL Academics and in other events on their zoned campus, as appropriate. In addition, the school does have many student-led clubs and social activities based on various traditions that are unique to the student life of the campus.

The overall goal of Wunsche is to develop citizens who are well prepared for their future, whether students choose to enter the workforce directly or move on to higher education.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I eligible to apply to Carl Wunsche Sr. High School?
In order to be eligible for admission into Carl Wunsche Sr. High School students must be currently in 8th grade and have an interest in one of the career pathways offered at the campus. Wunsche only accepts incoming students at the 9th grade level due to advanced program requirements in later grades.

Course Offerings
As a career academy, Wunsche offers students opportunities to enhance academic and career success through participation in workplace learning activities, internships, mentorships, and/or cooperative learning programs. Students are also able to earn college credits, therefore getting a head start on their postsecondary education. We also offer an opportunity for students to graduate with an Associates Degree. This is complemented by a wide range of pathway-based student organizations, including SkillsUSA, Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). Additionally, Wunsche has many other schoolwide student organizations, including National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, Key Club, and Student Council.

Does Wunsche offer athletics and fine arts programs?
Wunsche does not offer athletics but offers several different art courses that allow students to earn the “Fine Arts” credit required for graduation. As a career academy, Wunsche remains focused on providing rigorous real-world experiences that align with the student’s chosen career pathways. Much like a college major, the majority of the elective classes in each career pathway involve coursework directly related to the student’s chosen career pathway. We understand that some students want to experience the traditional athletic teams or fine arts programs offered at their designated comprehensive high school and will allow our students to participate in a maximum of one of these courses if they are scheduled for either the first or last class of the day.

Will Wunsche provide senior activities, such as prom and homecoming?
Wunsche hosts many social activities based on traditions that are unique to the student life of our campus. In addition to hosting Homecoming Week, our students participate in Latino Night, Academy Showcase, student club-led events, Alumni Day, and Prom.  Mock Interviews, Milestone projects, and Senior Awards highlight outstanding achievements by our graduating class.

How do we know which courses will be offered during either the first or last period of the day at each zoned campus?
Wunsche will continue to collaborate with the other high schools in order to finalize the placement of these courses each year to maximize opportunities at the first and last period of the day. Students will only have the option to attend a first or last period elective UIL course. Courses at other times will not be allowed.

What happens if the extracurricular class a student participates in is not offered at the first or last period of the day? What happens if it changes from one of those periods in the coming years?
Although it is our hope that the majority of UIL activities with Wunsche participation at Dekaney, Spring and Westfield high schools can be accommodated during the first or last period of the day, by accepting placement at Wunsche, both students and parents are agreeing that, should a conflict between the two programs arise, the Wunsche program would take precedence and a student would be confined to participating in the zoned-campus activity outside of the school day.  As we work to strengthen the academic offerings at Wunsche, it is critically important that students have the needed instructional time to pursue their chosen career pathway.

From which campus will Carl Wunsche Sr. High School students graduate?
All students will graduate from Wunsche and will be ranked as Wunsche students.

Will students be considered for more than one pathway?
A random lottery for each pathway will select students. All qualified students who were not selected for admission into their first-choice pathway will be placed in a second random student selection to determine the rank order for possible selection into their second-choice pathway. Students who are admitted into their first-choice pathway will not be assigned a waiting list position in their second-choice pathway.

How is my waitlist number assigned?
Students who are not assigned a seat based on their lottery number will be automatically placed on the waitlist. Each student will be given a waitlist number, which can be tracked by logging into their Novus account.

If I am number 1 on the waitlist, does this mean that I receive the first seat that becomes available?
No. The waitlist number reflects the student’s position for any of the three pathways selected on their application. If a seat becomes available in one of the selected pathways, the student will receive an offer for that program. Should the student decline the offered seat, they will be removed from the Wunsche waitlist.

If I receive a seat following the lottery, can I change my pathway?
No. By accepting your seat in the program, you are committing to four years of enrollment in that pathway. In compliance with Texas College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) requirements, students are required to complete a coherent sequence of career and technical education (CTE) courses. As such, pathway changes are not permitted. However, an exception may be considered for students who have completed level 1 CTE course(s) prior to Wunsche enrollment.

If a student is selected in the lottery, can he or she later choose to return to their zoned campus?
Once a student accepts a selection admission following the lottery, they are committed to remain at Wunsche until graduation. Both parents and students will sign an enrollment acknowledgment form stating the student’s commitment to remain at Wunsche until graduation. Please know that, when a student accepts admission at Wunsche, they are essentially taking a pre-allocated slot that cannot be subsequently offered to other applicants.

How does the sibling and district employee lottery work?
Ten percent of the available seats will be for *siblings of current Spring ISD Schools of Choice students and another 10 percent will be for children of district employees who meet entrance requirements. In order to determine who those students will be, two smaller lotteries will be held prior to the general lottery – one for siblings and one for employees’ children. Those not accepted during this process will have an opportunity to enter their name in the general random lottery with all other qualified students.

If my child has a sibling that currently attends a Spring ISD School of Choice, does my 5th or 8th grade child receive automatic acceptance?
No. There is a Spring ISD Sibling Policy. Our Spring ISD Schools of Choice will accept 10% of all identified qualified siblings who enter the lottery. This policy applies to siblings residing in the same household only. Sibling applicants will be included in a separate sibling lottery reflecting 10 percent of the available seats. If more than the 10 percent apply, these students will enter into a separate random lottery prior to the general random selection lottery. Those accepted will be notified. Those not accepted within the 10 percent lottery will have an opportunity to then enter their name in the general random lottery with all other students. Keep in mind that siblings will only be classified as such if and only if they have entered the lottery by applying, qualifying, and progressing through the first and second phase.
A sibling who currently attends a Spring ISD school of choice is defined as a student who is currently in 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th, or 11th grade.  This means that this student will actually be in the identified school of choice the following year.  Siblings in grades 8th and 12th grade will not be included as those students will no longer be in the identified school of choice the following year.

I am a district employee and my child would like to attend a Spring ISD School of Choice. Is there automatic acceptance?
No. District employee applicants will be included in a separate district employee lottery reflecting 10 percent of the available seats per grade level. If less than 10 percent per grade level apply, all district employee students who apply, qualify, and progress through the first and second phase will be accepted. Those not accepted within the 10 percent lottery will have an opportunity to then enter their name in the general random lottery with all other students. District employee status will be verified prior to the random selection lottery.