A newly approved music-and-arts-focused charter school serving Pre-K through 8th grade is set to open in Houston for the 2026-27 school year following authorization from the Texas Education Agency.
The Frank Liu Jr. Academy for Music & Arts is one of four new charter schools opening in Texas, according to a June 27 news release. Located in a historic coffee plant in Second Ward, the mixed-use campus will house music and art studios, multimedia rooms, a rooftop garden and event space, according to the school’s website.
“FLAMA aims to ensure that the youth of the Second, Third and Fifth Wards benefit from the East End’s cultural district designation by providing quality music and art education in addition to rigorous academics,” the school website states.
The State Board of Education approved the new charter schools in June from its Generation 30 program based on recommendations from TEA Commissioner of Education Mike Morath. Schools selected went through the state’s application process to ensure high standards were met in order to serve as high-quality public schools for the communities they serve, according to the TEA.
Breaking it down
Charter schools have drawn out thousands of students from public school districts all over the Greater Houston area in the 2024-25 school year, with Houston ISD and Alief ISD taking the biggest enrollment losses, as previously reported in Community Impact.
Based on the 28 Greater Houston area school districts, TEA identified those with the highest percentages for net student transfers as a portion of total enrollment. For the 2024-25 school year, TEA found the highest percentages among the following districts:
- HISD with 33% of students transferring out
- Alief ISD with 25% of students transferring out
Net transfers account for both students transferring into and out of a school district.
Zooming out
The Texas Legislature authorized its first charter school in 1995, paving the way for a new public school option for Texas students and families.
Rachel Leland contributed to this report.
