The Academy of Visual and Performing Arts is now accepting applications for the 2023-2024 school year, with the goal of addressing a crisis in educational opportunity equity and fine arts-based education. AVPA is enrolling 6th and 7th graders in its inaugural year and will gradually expand to all high school grade levels. Located on the city’s south side, AVPA brings arts focused instruction to students who because of distance or financial constraints, are unable to attend private or fine arts schools.
AVPA is open-enrollment, tuition-free, open to all students and exists to ensure all students are provided with equitable opportunities to learn through the arts, in the arts and with the arts. The admissions application takes 5-minutes to complete and there are no audition requirements.
AVPA students will experience arts-integrated, project-based learning across subject areas and conservatory programming in dance, digital media arts, literary arts, music, theatre, and visual arts. The middle school program is an exploratory opportunity for students to learn and develop pertinent skills to make informed decisions about AVPA’s high school conservatory programs for which they’ll audition in the Spring of their eighth-grade year. Enrollment in AVPA provides children with access to a learning environment that is designed to meet their needs while also addressing the years-long deficits in literacy, art curriculums, and even culinary deficits that exist in public education. This is the direct result of Texas’ commitment to prioritizing school choice in educational program selection.
Another hallmark of AVPA is its dedication to personalized learning. This is bolstered by a commitment to provide a safe, challenging learning environment that cultivates, sustains, and promotes academic and artistic excellence. AVPA culture focuses on five tenets of well-being by addressing the needs of students enrolled. By addressing physical, psychological, social, emotional, and economic needs AVPA students are more apt to succeed academically and artistically.
Some of the world’s foremost entertainers the likes of Kirk Franklin, Major Attaway, Sedrick Huckaby, Leon Bridges, Tatiana Mayfield, Ornette Coleman, Dewey Redman, Channing Godfrey Peoples, and several others hail from Fort Worth, a city without a major school for the performing and visual arts in their home communities. Though proximity is not always the immediate crisis, opportunity equity, and impedances to fine arts-enriched programming, yet abound. AVPA seeks to fill this void and make futures in visual and performing arts a possibility for more students with the opening of their school.
AVPA Board of Directors
To schedule a group presentation or individual meeting, please email or call Dr. Stephanie Love at enroll@avpaschools.org or (817) 200-7299. Learn more about the Academy of Visual and Performing Arts today by visiting www.avpaschools.org or by connecting on social media using @AVPATexas on all platforms.
Esmeralda Baez enrolled at Evolution Academy Charter School in the fall of 2015 as a true freshman and completed the requirements for graduation in just two years. At just sixteen years old, Baez completed the Texas recommended graduation program with 28 credits to best prepare her for college.
Esmeralda first heard about Evolution Academy from her cousin, who previously graduated from the progressive Texas-based charter school. She was looking for alternatives to the massive high schools in her home-school district and she found her perfect fit at Evolution Academy. She set her goal to graduate early and she took advantage of every resource provided by Evolution Academy, including computer-based classes, credit by exam and summer school. In fact, she completed her Spanish II class in just three weeks. “I wanted to complete high school early, so I could start college earlier,” said Baez. “The teachers and the staff at Evolution Academy supported me every step of the way.”
Esmeralda’s family is very proud of her and are impressed with Evolution Academy, its staff and course offerings. She has recommended the school to family members and friends and her sister is now enrolled at Evolution Academy as well.
“We are proud of Esmeralda and all that she has accomplished,” said Cynthia Trigg, superintendent and founder of Evolution Academy Charter Schools. “The blue print is set, and other students can realize the dream of a high school diploma if the follow the plan and stay the course. It may be difficult, but not impossible.”
Now that she has checked high school off the list, Esmeralda plans to enroll in college and has her sights set on majoring in psychology and becoming a psychiatrist. “Education is something you really need,” said Baez. “I knew it was important for me to take my education seriously, so I could reach my goals.”
Founded in 2002, Evolution Academy offers one-on-one attention with a mix of traditional and computer-based instruction, which enables students to earn 2 or more credit hours every nine weeks, allowing them to catch up or graduate early. The main campus in Richardson includes a science lab, fitness center and wellness program, piano lab, culinary arts program, full-service cafeteria and a state-of-the-art music studio where students can write and produce music. The school also offers multiple career and technical education courses that prepare students for certificates in professional fields. Students who enroll also receive monthly DART bus passes provided by Evolution Academy, so they won’t have to worry about how to get to school.
To date, Evolution Academy has graduated more than 2500 students, many of whom were unsuccessful in traditional school settings. Evolution Academy graduates have gone on to graduate from some of the top colleges and universities in the country, enlist in military service and embark on productive careers in the workforce. Evolution Academy has campuses in Richardson, Beaumont and Houston, Texas and has open enrollment year-round on all three campuses. Students can enroll online at http://www.evolutionacademy.org or visit one of the campuses to enroll in person.
About Evolution Academy Charter School
Evolution Academy is a public charter high school, serving students grades 9-12, with campuses in Richardson, Houston and Beaumont. The school offers two convenient sessions, Monday – Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and 12:20 p.m. to 4:20 p.m. http://www.evolutionacademy.org.
