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Magnet Spotlight

Recruitment Video 2025-26

Communications Arts High School


  • Current Enrollment: 567
  • Graduation Rate 100%
  • College, Career & Military Readiness 99%

In order to maintain our college preparatory setting, most core classes at CommArts are Pre-AP level, Advanced Placement, and/or Dual Credit. Our unique communications magnet program is based on three distinctive strands: Audio/Video Production, Animation, and Broadcast Journalism, with the potential to earn Adobe Certifications in Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere, and Animate.

The successful CommArts student is:

  • Able to speak publicly in various settings, both formal and informal, with diversified audiences.
  • Hard-working and willing to undertake rigorous and college-level courses, with support from teachers and resources at school.
  • Responsible and goal-oriented, actively pursuing goals and achieving those goals within a given time frame.
  • Eager to take risks and extend outside their comfort zone, taking control of the educational experience.
  • Enthusiastic and comfortable using technology throughout the day, from completing assignments in one of our Mac labs to collaborating with peers on Google Docs for an interdisciplinary project.
  • Able to create, design, problem solve and become innovative thinkers by using our new Makerspace Lab equipped with a variety of printers, including a 3D printer, computers and a t-shirt press.

Important Dates

  • Open Houses / Campus Tours
    Tour the campus November 19, 2025, and January 15, 2026, from 6:30–8:00 p.m. for an informal meet and greet with staff and students representing organizations and activities.
     
  • Application Deadline
    Communications Arts High School must receive applications and all supporting documents uploaded online by January 23, 2026.
     
  • Notification Letters Emailed
    Letters indicating the status of your acceptance will be emailed on February 2, 2026. Subsequent lotteries may occur until all slots are filled.
     
  • Commitment Forms Returned
    Forms indicating your Communications Arts High School commitment must be received by February 9, 2026.

Forms may be faxed, emailed, or mailed to the school:
Email: sonya.lee@nisd.net
Fax: 210-688-6092

About Us


Communications Arts is a Northside ISD magnet school located on the William Howard Taft High School campus that promotes rigorous, foundational learning in a personal, supportive environment, developing skills in communications and technology, emphasizing collaborative choice and fluidity between disciplines. Communications Arts High School creates confident, global citizens, bold and articulate communicators, and self-directed leaders whose intellectual curiosity leads to positive change and societal transformation.

Application Timeline


  • November 17, 2025: Online application opens
  • January 23, 2026: Deadline to submit applications
  • February 2, 2026:  Acceptance/waitlist letters emailed
  • February 9, 2026: Deadline for families to accept/decline

Magnet Fairs


  • December 1, 2025: Northside Sports Gym
  • December 8, 2025: Northside Activity Center

Honors & Distinctions

With a focus on excellence, our campus has earned recognitions for its commitment to high standards in education. These awards reflect our ongoing dedication to supporting student growth and achievement.

Tax Rate Notice
This year's levy to fund maintenance and operations expenditures exceeds last year's maintenance and operations tax levy.
Northside Independent School District ADOPTED A TAX RATE THAT WILL RAISE MORE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS THAN LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE.
THE TAX RATE WILL EFFECTIVELY BE RAISED BY 1.05 PERCENT AND WILL RAISE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS ON A $100,000 HOME BY APPROXIMATELY $30.00.