Students at a new charter school participating in music and arts activities in Houston.
Houston is set to welcome two new charter schools, Arcadia High School and Frank Liu Jr. Academy for Music and Arts, approved by the Texas Education Agency. These schools aim to address the rising demand for alternative public education and will cater to diverse student needs. Arcadia High School will focus on closing achievement gaps with smaller class sizes, while Frank Liu Jr. Academy will emphasize music and arts education for Pre-K through 8th grade, prioritizing underserved communities. This addition reflects the evolving educational landscape in Houston amidst rising enrollment trends in charter schools.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has approved the establishment of two new Generation 30 charter schools in Houston, set to open during the 2026-2027 academic year. The new schools are Arcadia High School and Frank Liu Jr. Academy for Music and Arts, which will serve the growing demand for alternative public education options in the area.
The State Board of Education (SBOE) approved four charter applications statewide, guided by the recommendations of Commissioner of Education Mike Morath. Alongside the two new schools in Houston, the board denied the charter applications for Unidos Soccer Leadership Academy in San Antonio and Valenta Academy in Bastrop, highlighting the competitive nature of the charter approval process.
Both approved charter schools will undergo a contingency period during which they will finalize contracts and operational plans before opening their doors to students. The Generation 30 applicants underwent a rigorous application process to ensure a high standard of educational quality and effectiveness.
Arcadia High School is designed to primarily serve students from the Alief, Fort Bend, Houston ISD, and Stafford school districts. The school will focus on addressing achievement gaps by implementing smaller class sizes and providing additional support for underprepared students.
Frank Liu Jr. Academy for Music and Arts will cater to Pre-K through 8th-grade students across Houston and will place a strong emphasis on music and arts education. The academy is set to prioritize underserved communities, aiming to enhance academic outcomes through creative education programs, honoring its namesake, who was a musician with a vision for such educational opportunities.
Charter schools have been a part of Texas education since the Texas Legislature first authorized them in 1995. They provide an alternative public education option alongside other choices like magnet schools, state-authorized virtual schools, and district-charter partnerships. Currently, 8% of Texas public school students are enrolled in one of the state’s 188 open-enrollment charter schools, which operate across 958 campuses.
In recent years, Houston-area charter schools have faced challenges, with TEA data indicating that many received failing grades. Specifically, 10 charter schools were rated ‘F’, compared to only one Houston area school district earning the same rating. However, despite these low ratings, a larger number of charter districts achieved ‘A’ ratings compared to their traditional public school counterparts, suggesting a mixed performance landscape.
Enrollment in charter schools has been on the rise, with approximately 60,000 students zoned for Houston ISD enrolling in charter schools for the 2024-25 school year. The transfer rate from Houston ISD to charter schools has shown a decline from 96% in 2017-18 to 92% for the upcoming school year, indicating a slight stabilization in enrollment patterns.
This trend reflects a broader shift in educational preferences among families in Houston, as traditional public school districts such as Alief and Pasadena are seeing increased enrollments stemming from students previously zoned for Houston ISD. As a result, Houston ISD has announced plans to close schools by the 2026-27 academic year due to significant student loss.
With the addition of Arcadia High School and Frank Liu Jr. Academy for Music and Arts, Houston continues to expand its educational landscape, responding to the evolving needs and preferences of its families. As more charter schools emerge and existing schools adapt, the future of education in the area remains on a path of transformation.
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