High school is an important time for students, the next step in their academic journey, and an important way to prepare for college. The high school you go to very much impacts your chances of college admission, and we’ve discussed some of the best high schools in the Houston area before.
Today, we’re going to take an in depth look at the schools in Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD). Here, there is a special program available to high school students: Academies. In this article we’re going to cover what these academies are, who benefits from them, and how you can participate. Let’s get started!
What are FBISD’s Academies?
Some high school students already know what they want to do with their lives, and don’t see why they should wait until college to begin specializing. FBISD’s academies are meant to provide specialized learning environments for these students, giving them supportive and like minded communities, and allowing them to take specialized coursework aimed at career or academic interests.
These academies are selective for enrollment; there are only limited seats available. We cover how to apply in a later section. Note that all academies are magnet, and will take students from throughout the district. If you are attending an academy outside your zone, however, you lose eligibility to participate in varsity sports for a year.
Note that all academies still provide a standard high school curriculum. You will take a full complement of science, English, math, and history courses regardless of which you attend. Academies simply give you access to additional specialized classes, in place of the electives you may otherwise take.
Here are the academies currently available within FBISD:
Digital Media Academy
This academy is related to the digital arts, including graphic design. It is intended for students who want to study these further, and seeks to ensure that graduates are qualified for entry level positions in these fields by the time they graduate. This includes both classes on these skills, and a senior year practicum, where students have the chance to apply what they have learned. The academy is hosted at Hightower High School.
Engineering Academy
This academy is intended for students who wish to study engineering in college. It has two focuses, the first being giving students a solid academic foundation to allow them to succeed in college. The second is to expose students to a broad range of engineering disciplines, so they can begin to decide where and how they want to specialize. The curriculum has a heavy focus on the engineering design process especially. The academy is hosted at Elkins High School.
Global Studies Academy
The purpose of this academy is to give students global perspective, and prepare them for careers in public service or international business. Students take additional history courses to gain perspective, and must take four years of one foreign language. The academy capstone has students pursue independent research to a global issue of their choice, to propose solutions. The academy is hosted at Travis High School.
International Business and Marketing Academy
This academy has two distinct pathways, to introduce students to the worlds of business or marketing in a global context. Students take courses on business, economics, and entrepreneurship, in order to understand the basics of how business is conducted. This academy is hosted by Travis High School.
Math and Science Academy
This academy, as the name suggests, is dedicated to the advanced study of math and science. Hosted at Dulles High School, this is one of the most competitive academies for admissions, and specializes in preparing students to study STEM fields in college. Students have the chance to take advanced science electives not made available to most students.
Medical Science Academy
This academy is dedicated specifically to medical science, and students take both practical and theoretical courses related to medicine. The goal is to prepare students for careers in the health professions, and to study medicine further at higher levels. This is more specialized than the Math and Science Academy, but both are great options for students interested in medicine. The academy is hosted by Hightower High School.
Early College High School at FBISD
Separate from the Academies is the Early College High School program, which allows students to earn college credit before they graduate. Students are able to earn up to 60 credit hours for free while still in college, the equivalent of two years of college instruction.
The goal of this program is to help first generation students acclimate to college level work, and to give them a leg up when it comes to college access. Students who complete the program earn an Associate of the Arts degree in multidisciplinary studies from Houston Community College, and the credits are transferable to any public school in Texas.
This program is great for students who want to challenge themselves early, or who want to save time and money on college. As you will have an associates degree when you graduate, you will need to apply to four year colleges as a transfer student, which is a slightly different process. Note that not all private colleges will automatically accept the credits from this program, but most will.
Applying to FBISD’s Academies
Only students who reside within the Fort Bend District are eligible to participate in these academies. Applications occur during your 8th grade year, with academies beginning when you enter high school. You must take and pass the STAAR* exam in both 7th and 8th grade.
Students are evaluated using the following metrics:
- Your grades in science, math, English, and social studies across 7th and 8th grades
- Your exam scores
- Your interview score
Each academy has a certain number of available seats. Students are given a composite score, based on the above factors, and ranked by it. Once they determine how many students an academy can admit, they choose a minimum score that will let them admit that many students, and then accept those applicants.
Each academy has a different minimum score each year, as they receive different numbers of applicants. Generally, the math and science and medical sciences academies are the most competitive. Note that all acceptances are contingent; you can lose them if your grades drop precipitously before the end of your 8th grade year.
During the priority acceptance window, students who ranked an academy as their top choice, and are qualified based on scores, will be invited to attend. You must accept this within a few days, or you will be automatically rejected. If you do not select an academy as your 1st or 2nd choice, you may still choose to attend if you are qualified and there are remaining seats available during the regular acceptance window.
Students who are not accepted may be placed on a waiting list. The number of students accepted, and the number waitlisted, differs between years and between academies. The number of students eventually accepted off the waitlist cannot be accurately predicted.
Students may be accepted into multiple academies. In these cases, they are urged to pick a spot quickly. This way, students on the waitlist gain a chance of acceptance within a reasonable timeframe.
Are These Academies the Right Choice for You?
That depends entirely on your educational goals. These academies are highly specialized, but still offer you a chance to take a full load of standard high school courses, though they do constrain which electives you can take.
Students interested in one of the subjects presented by the academies would do well to participate, to show colleges their interest and gain some preliminary experience in the subject. Colleges like to see that you have challenged yourself by taking the most advanced course load available to you, and these academies do a great job of offering advanced courses to students.
The early college program may not be the right choice for all students, but is great for those concerned with the cost of college tuition, and who want a leg up in that field. It may make your college applications non standard, but it won’t disadvantage you when applying.
Final Thoughts
We hope that this has been a thorough introduction to FBISD’s academies program, and shown you the options available to you. High school is a challenging time for students, but planning things out in advance makes everything easier.
Of course, each district is distinct, with its own special programs and offerings. While we did a deep dive on FBISD today, that doesn’t mean other schools are lacking. If you want to discuss options at schools near you, or hear how we can help you plan out your time in high school, schedule a free consultation today. We have a long experience advising students on every step of their academic journey, and are always happy to hear from you.
