By Hali Moore
Shop in Seagoville
A proposal that trustees only discussed in March has turned into a working program at Crandall High School. The Crandall ISD Virtual Academy opened in August 2026 for incoming juniors and seniors. Students can now complete part of their coursework online while remaining fully enrolled Crandall ISD students.
The answer to the question many families were asking is yes. The district did move forward. The rollout closely follows the plan Deputy Superintendent Dr. Christy Starrett laid out for the Board of Trustees earlier in the year.
From Board Discussion to Open Enrollment
Dr. Starrett presented the concept during the March 9 board meeting under the heading Virtual Learning Possibilities. It appeared on the agenda as an information item rather than an action item. That means trustees discussed the framework and gave direction without taking a formal vote that evening.
The plan called for a partnership with the Forney ISD virtual program through a seat purchase arrangement. Students would stay enrolled as Crandall ISD students so that state attendance funding remained with the district. Administrators pitched a hybrid design that mixed campus classes with online coursework completed at home.
Year one would be limited to juniors and seniors as a phased rollout. District leaders set a target of 50 to 100 participants. The version that launched in August matches that blueprint almost exactly.
Why the District Acted
The proposal was driven in part by students walking out the door. District staff reported that 41 students withdrew during the year for homeschooling or virtual alternatives. Each departure carries an academic cost and a financial one.
Crandall ISD is not facing that pressure alone. Texas public schools enrolled roughly 76,000 fewer students in the prior school year than the year before that. Statewide enrollment in full time virtual schools has climbed from about 5,000 students a decade ago to more than 62,000 in recent years.
Senate Bill 569 from the 89th Legislature reshaped the rules for this kind of program. Under that law districts receive the same funding for virtual and hybrid offerings that they would receive for comparable classes taught on campus. That change made the math work for a district the size of Crandall ISD.
How Eligibility Works
The district built a gated application process rather than an open sign up. Attendance at an information session was mandatory before a family could apply. Crandall ISD hosted three of them during April.
Two sessions met at Crandall High School at 6 p.m. on April 9 and April 14. A third session was offered virtually at noon on April 16 for families who could not attend in person. Only households that attended one of the three received the application link.
The timeline moved quickly from there:
- April 17 — application link sent to families who attended a session
- April 24 — deadline for submitted applications
- May 8 — students notified of acceptance into the program
District officials warned from the start that enrollment would be limited. Early application was strongly encouraged. Acceptance was never automatic for anyone who applied.
What Students Can Take
The Virtual Academy is a partial schedule rather than a full withdrawal from campus. Students may register for a minimum of two virtual courses and a maximum of four. Everything else stays in a traditional classroom.
Course offerings were built through the partnership with Forney ISD and other neighboring Kaufman County districts. The catalog covers core subjects and a small slate of electives:
- English — English III and English IV
- Math — Financial Math, Algebra 2 and PreCalculus
- Science — Physics, Environmental Science, Forensic Science and Astronomy
- Social Studies — US History, Government and Economics
- Electives — Spanish 1 and Spanish 2
Honors and Advanced Placement classes are not part of the virtual catalog. Students who want that level of rigor still take those courses on campus. Dual credit arrangements were not changed by the new program.
The Practical Details
Every class is taught by a certified instructor who remains available to help students. In person tutoring is also available for students who need extra support. There is no fee to enroll in the virtual courses.
Technology is already covered under existing district practice. Crandall ISD provides a device to every student in grades 6 through 12. Families are responsible for having internet access at home.
Transportation is where families need to plan carefully. The district does not provide bus service for students who split their day between home and campus. Students who take a mix of virtual and classroom courses must arrange their own rides to and from school.
Athletics and Activities Still Count
Students in the Virtual Academy have not given up the rest of the high school experience. They remain eligible for sports, fine arts and other extracurricular activities. Those classes and practices must be attended in person at the scheduled time.
That requirement is a meaningful trade. A student athlete gains flexibility on academic coursework but still reports to campus for the athletic period. Transportation for those trips falls on the family.
What Comes Next
District leaders have signaled that juniors and seniors are only the starting point. Crandall ISD has said it plans to expand the program in the years ahead. How far it grows will likely depend on how the first group performs.
The larger goal is retention. Every student who chooses the Virtual Academy instead of an outside homeschool or online provider stays on Crandall ISD rolls. That keeps the student connected to Pirate teachers, counselors and activities.
Families with questions can email the district at virtualprogram@crandall-isd.net. The Crandall ISD administration office can be reached at 972-427-6000. Crandall High School is located at 13385 FM3039 in Crandall.
