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Forney ISD: Forney Learning Academy on schedule and district to expand neighborhood pre‑K and academy offerings
Summary
District staff said construction of the new Forney Learning Academy is on schedule and on budget. The board heard plans to expand neighborhood pre‑K to additional campuses for 2025–26 and to add new academy choices at the OC, including theater, coding and robotics, entrepreneurship/global leadership, and golf and swim.
Forney ISD staff told trustees that construction at the new Forney Learning Academy is on schedule and on budget and that district leaders plan to expand neighborhood pre‑K to more campuses for the 2025–26 school year.
“They are working on the roof, which is awesome. And right now it's on schedule and on budget,” the district master planning presenter said when updating trustees on construction progress. Staff also said the shared access road had been formed and was scheduled for pouring soon.
District staff described a planned expansion of neighborhood pre‑K, saying the district believes neighborhood pre‑K improves accessibility, walkability and kindergarten readiness and increases parental engagement. Staff said pre‑K will be added at Blackburn, Griffin, Johnson, Lewis and Willett for the 2025–26 school year. The district currently offers pre‑K at Clavin, Criswell, Crosby, Dewberry, Henderson and Wilson.
The board also heard about expanded academy choices and program placements: dual language will continue at Wilson and Jones; the Advanced Academics and Fine Arts Academy will remain at Blackburn; the Fine Arts Academy at Smith Intermediate will be expanded and a sister academy will open at Rea. In addition, the district plans five academies at the OC: a theater academy (grades 5–6), a coding and robotics academy (grades 4–7), entrepreneurship and global leadership (grades 4–7), and golf and swim (grades 4–7). Staff said further expansion of virtual offerings to fifth grade could occur pending state legislation on virtual instruction.
Why it matters: Expanding neighborhood pre‑K and specialized academies affects campus enrollment patterns, transportation planning and programming. District staff said the neighborhood pre‑K model increases the likelihood that students will remain enrolled in Forney ISD and improves kindergarten readiness.
