Plan Early. Explore Every Pathway.
Leander ISD is improving how students plan and select courses for the 2026–27 school year. The new earlier timeline gives students and families more time to explore interests, plan courses, and connect learning to future goals — while helping campuses make sure the courses students want most are available.
What’s Changing & Why
Last year, the course selection intersected with campus staffing decisions in a way that made it harder to match student interest with teacher availability. By moving the timeline earlier, we’ll use student interest to inform staffing. This change gives students a stronger voice in shaping course offerings and helps campuses plan for high-demand areas.
Our goal is simple: Keep pathways open and help every student discover what they are passionate about.
What’s New
🕐 Earlier timeline for middle and high schools
🧭 Step-by-step guidance through Naviance
💬 Enhanced district resources and communication to support counselors and families
🎓 Aligned planning windows across campuses so everyone stays on the same page
📅 Key Dates at a Glance
October – December 2025
Learn & Explore: Students and families learn about Naviance and start exploring interests by working their 4-year (high school) and 3-year (middle school) plans. Each school’s counseling team is following a slightly different timeline through this period.
January 2026
Plan & Prepare: Counselors continue to help students build plans and connect goals to courses. Events hosted at the campus level for students transition to a new level: 5th to 6th and 8th to 9th.
Ongoing Through Feb. 16, 2026
Select Courses: Students submit course requests in Naviance with a step for parent approval.
Feb. 17 through March 12, 2026
Adjust if needed: Families can review and make updates during the schedule-change window.
👪 How Families Can Help
- Talk about interests. Ask your student what subjects, activities or potential career paths excite them.
- Check Naviance together. Review saved courses and career clusters.
- Mark deadlines. All selections must be submitted by Feb. 16, 2026. The schedule-change window for the 2026–27 school year closes March 12, 2026.
- Reach out. Contact your campus counseling department with questions. They’re here to help!
💻 Family Webinar
Visit the links below to watch the webinar from Nov. 17, 2025, with members of the Advanced Academics & Pathways team.
What was Covered
Note: The links on the numbers below will jump you straight to each section of the presentation.
- (🎬 1) Introduction from Assistant Superintendent of Advanced Academics & Pathways Dr. Dustin Binnicker
- (🎬 2) An overview of the updated course-selection timeline and process
Slides: Course-Selection Timeline & Process - (🎬 3) Guidance from Counseling Services on correspondence, distance, summer and virtual coursework approval
Slides: Correspondence, Distance, Virtual Coursework Approval Process - (🎬 4) Information from Career & Technical Education (CTE) on electives to jumpstart your career
Slides: Career & Technical Education (CTE) - (🎬 5) Updates from Advanced Programs on AP, IB, dual credit and Early College HS
Slides: Advanced Programs - (🎬 6) Live Q&A with panelists
Campus Counseling Departments
High School
Campus Information Nights
Throughout the month of January, our middle and high schools will host a series of targeted information sessions for our students transitioning up to the next level: 5th up to 6th and 8th up to 9th. This includes students visiting their feeder school during the day. It also includes information night for families to gather more information.
Below is a list of dates. Please refer to your specific feeder campus for additional information.
High School
- Thursday, Jan. 15: Glenn HS, Leander HS, Rouse HS, Vista Ridge HS
- Thursday, Jan. 22: Vandegrift HS
- Thursday, Jan. 29: Cedar Park HS
Middle School
- Tuesday, Jan. 13: Cedar Park MS
- Tuesday, Jan. 20: Canyon Ridge MS
- Thursday, Jan. 22: Four Points MS
- Monday, Jan. 26: Danielson MS, Leander MS, Running Brushy MS
- Tuesday, Jan. 27: Stiles MS, Wiley MS
- Henry MS (check with campus)
Additional Resources
- Naviance is the hub for course planning and interest exploration.
About Naviance | Naviance Login - Middle School & High School Course Catalog
- Explore Career & Technical Education (CTE)