Plano ISD opens applications for new virtual high school academy

Plano ISD is betting that some families will trade a traditional campus schedule for a tighter, more flexible one. The district has opened applications for its Virtual Academy pilot, a high school program for grades 9-12 that offers both full-time virtual learning and a hybrid option for the 2026-2027 school year.

The application window runs from April 8 through April 30, 2026, and a parent and guardian webinar was scheduled for April 13 at 6 p.m. Current Plano ISD students apply through Skyward Family Access, while students not already enrolled in the district apply through a Laserfiche form. Placement will be decided by lottery, a sign that the district expects more interest than it can serve immediately.

The academy is aimed at students who are self-motivated, organized and able to thrive in a virtual setting. Plano ISD says students remain district students and are supported by certified educators, counselors and campus staff, with coursework designed to keep them on track for graduation and college, career and military readiness. Students may also move faster through self-paced coursework, but they will still work toward target completion dates.

The rules are strict. Students must already be enrolled in Plano ISD, have at least 95% attendance in the previous school year and have met standard on prior STAAR or EOC assessments. District guidance also says students cannot have technology violations. Campus administrators or counselors may recommend students who do not meet every requirement for district-level review. Students who are not already in Plano ISD may still apply, but if accepted they must enroll in the district first and provide residency and academic records, including transcripts, attendance records, STAAR or EOC results and discipline forms, along with special education or 504 documentation if needed.

The hybrid model may be the most practical fit for families trying to balance competing demands. Community Impact reported that hybrid students will take both in-person and online courses, but no single course will mix the two formats, and that option is limited to students who live within Plano ISD boundaries. The fully virtual option does not allow athletics, which will matter for students whose schedules revolve around sports. Plano ISD also plans to charge $325 per semester for virtual AP and NCAA clearinghouse courses.

The rollout comes as Plano ISD faces continued enrollment pressure. District enrollment fell to 43,905 in September 2025, down from 46,551 the prior school year and far below its 2011-12 peak of 55,659. Trustee Elisa Klein has said the program gives the district a way to keep students connected to Plano ISD, while Assistant Superintendent Courtney Gober said students entering the full-time virtual option must have attended a brick-and-mortar public school the year before. The academy is now both a student-support option and a test of whether Plano ISD can hold families who want something different from a standard campus day.