Forney ISD Opens Round 2 Applications for 2026-2027 Choice Academies: What Parents Need to Know
FORNEY — Following a massive expansion of its specialized choice programs over the last school year, Forney Independent School District (FISD) has officially opened Round 2 of applications for its innovative Academy programs for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year.
With many programs already moving to waitlists, district officials are urging parents to act quickly. Remaining open spots are being filled on a first-come, first-served basis for students who meet the district's qualification criteria.
A Personalized Approach to Learning
First expanded significantly during the 2025-2026 school year, Forney ISD’s choice academies are designed to ignite student engagement by tailoring education around specific areas of passion—ranging from coding and entrepreneurship to water athletics and fine arts.
Unlike traditional neighborhood school assignments, these academies are built entirely on parental choice. Parents must apply for their children to attend. It is important for families to note that while academies follow the standard FISD student code of conduct and dress code, bus transportation is not provided for academy programs; parents are responsible for student transit.
Round 2 Availability: Where the Spots Are
Acceptance into a Forney ISD Academy relies on a qualification process evaluating a student's past academics, attendance, and behavior, alongside assessment performance. For Round 2, qualifying applicants will secure spots based on the order their applications are received.
Currently, the only academies with open spots remaining for the 2026-2027 school year are:
- 5th and 6th Grade Fine Arts Academy at Rhea Intermediate
- 5th and 6th Grade Fine Arts Academy at Smith Intermediate
- Kindergarten Dual Language at Jacobs Elementary or Wilson Elementary
All other academies have filled their initial capacities. While the district is still accepting applications for the remaining programs, new applicants will automatically be placed on a waitlist and will only be contacted if a spot opens up.
A Look at the 2026-2027 Academy Lineup
Forney ISD’s academy ecosystem spans from kindergarten through high school, utilizing both elementary campuses and state-of-the-art spaces like The Opportunity Central (The OC). The diverse options available to local families include:
- The Arts & Performance: * Theater Academy (5th-6th Grade at The OC): Focuses on performance skills, confidence, and hands-on stage experience.
- Music and Dance Academy (5th-6th Grade at Smith & Rhea Intermediates): An expanding program designed to foster artistic growth and movement.
- Advanced Academics and Fine Arts Academy (K-4th Grade at Blackburn Elementary): Provides an accelerated academic pace integrated with specialized instruction in piano, dance, music, and visual arts.
- STEM & Business:
- Coding and Robotics Academy (K-4th at Wilson Elementary; 5th-8th at The OC): A hands-on, real-world problem-solving track built for a tech-driven world.
- Entrepreneurship Academy (K-4th at Wilson Elementary; 5th-8th at The OC): Empowers future leaders with business literacy, global market concepts, and collaborative projects.
- Athletics:
- Swim Academy (K-4th at Wilson Elementary; 5th-8th at The OC): Designed for young athletes passionate about competitive swimming, focusing on technique and endurance.
- Golf Academy (K-4th at Wilson Elementary; 5th-8th at The OC): Features leveled instruction from expert coaches. Bonus for parents: participation counts toward the student's PE credit.
- Language & Flexibility:
- Dual Language Academy (K-4th at Wilson & Jacobs; 5th-6th at Jones Intermediate): A dual-language enrichment model teaching in both English and Spanish. (Note: Native English speakers must enter at the Kindergarten level, while emergent bilingual Spanish speakers can enter at any grade level from Pre-K through 6th).
- Forney ISD Virtual Academy (5th-12th Grade): Offers the ultimate flexibility to complete coursework virtually from anywhere, with options to "flex" onto a home campus for CTE courses, fine arts, or athletics.
How to Apply
Forney ISD is utilizing the Avela platform for handling academy registration. The district has streamlined the process by syncing Avela directly with Skyward.
Important Application Tips for Parents:
- Do not click “Start a New Form” when logging into Avela. Because of the Skyward sync, your child’s form will already be in progress on the main screen. Simply click to resume and complete it.
- Log into Avela using the phone number associated with Family 1 in Skyward to receive a quick text authentication code. If you are unsure which number is on file, contact your home campus PEIMS clerk.
- If applying for the Dual Language Academy, be sure to consult the district’s 2026-2027 Dual Language Attendance Map first to correctly specify the Wilson or Jacobs zone.
For parents experiencing technical issues, the district has set up a dedicated Google help form, which is monitored Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
With spots in high-demand programs already closing, Forney families are encouraged to log in and submit their applications as soon as possible to secure a spot for the upcoming school year. For more information or to access the application videos, parents can visit the Academies page via the parents tab at www.forneyisd.net.
