Dripping Springs ISD follows the Texas Department of Health Services guidelines in providing the following required health screenings for students.

Vision and Hearing Screening

• Vision and hearing screening is performed on all students in Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th grades, as well as any student who is new to DSISD.

Acanthosis Nigricans (AN) Screening

• Acanthosis Nigricans is a skin marker which may indicate pre-diabetes. AN is a light brown or black, velvety, rough, or thickened area or "marker" on the surface of the skin (usually on the neck). The presence of AN may signal high insulin levels, which puts a person at risk for stroke, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. Students in 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th grades will be screened for Acanthosis Nigricans (AN).

Scoliosis Screening

• School-based spinal screening helps to identify students with abnormal spinal curves and refer them for appropriate follow-up by their primary care physician. Screening can detect scoliosis at an early stage when the curve is mild and may go unnoticed. Early detection is the key to controlling spinal deformities. In order to identify unnatural curvatures of the spine, this screening is required for girls two times, once at age 10 (in fall semester of grade 5) and again at age 12 (in fall semester of grade 7). It is required for boys one time at age 13 or 14 (or in the fall semester grade 8).

The results of these screenings may indicate that your child needs diagnostic evaluation by a healthcare provider of your choice. Referrals to physicians are made as needed by the campus nurse. Parents are urged to obtain appropriate medical care following a school screening referral and provide documentation to the nurse afterwards.

If you do not wish the district health staff to perform the state-required screenings, you must notify the campus nurse as soon as possible so that your student will not be screened and substitute a professional examination by a healthcare provider of your choice. Please submit the results to your child's campus nurse before January 30th.  Contact your child's nurse for further instructions or to inquire about a religious exemption.

Click here to learn more about these requirements.