Cy-Fair ISD will offer three virtual learning options to students in fourth and fifth grade and ninth through 12th grade for the 2026-27 academic year, according to a Nov. 6 presentation to the board of trustees.

In a nutshell

According to the presentation, students interested in enrolling in the new Virtual Pathways Program can choose between three online options:

• Full-time and primarily asynchronous learning through the Virtual Academy, available to students in fourth and fifth grade and ninth through 12th grade
• Partially remote Flex Learning with one to two classes completed asynchronously, available to students in 11th and 12th grade
• Tuition-based supplemental courses taken outside of the scheduled school day, available to all high school students

Virtual Pathways Director Meredith Akers said the district developed the program after conducting a survey that indicated almost 40% of parents were interested in a flexible online learning opportunity. All online courses will be taught by CFISD teachers, many of whom will be hired specifically for the program, Akers said.

“We know that online learning is the ‘now’ big thing because many of our CFISD resident students are already choosing to attend virtual schools and programs instead of staying here in our district,” Akers told the board Nov. 6.

A closer look

More than 1,100 resident students attended virtual learning alternatives instead of CFISD schools in the 2024-25 school year, according to the district’s withdrawal data, including:

• 310 elementary school students
• 287 middle school students
• 515 high school students

Students enrolled in full-time online instruction through the virtual academy will remain students at their home CFISD campus, Akers said, and their curriculum will match in-person learning. She said remote learners will also still be able to participate in the University Interscholastic League, or UIL,

and extracurricular activities in person at their campus of residence.

Akers said the benefits of the Flex Learning program and supplemental courses include balancing classwork with jobs and extracurriculars, accelerated graduation and college readiness, as many postsecondary institutions also offer virtual coursework.

Texas Senate Bill 569 allows school districts to receive average daily attendance funding for students in virtual programs, meaning virtual enrollment will not hurt CFISD's annual funding, according to the presentation.

Akers said it’s also possible the district could gain back average daily attendance funding if students who previously withdrew to attend non-CFISD virtual options enroll in the Virtual Pathways program.

“Something I’m really excited about and proud to share is that our program is not going to be an outside curriculum,” she told the board. “It’s going to be our Cy-Fair [ISD] curriculum, taught by Cy-Fair teachers ... and that’s not what you get with every virtual school out there.”

Looking forward

Akers said in fall 2027, the district plans to expand the full-time virtual academy to include middle school students and offer flex learning courses to grades ninth through 12th, depending on interest.

Additionally, CFISD intends to offer virtual summer school options for high school students by 2028, she said.

There is no exact cap on the number of students who can enroll in CFISD Virtual Pathways as of press time. Families can enroll through the district’s website. The priority deadline is Dec. 18, and the final enrollment deadline is Feb. 16, per the website.