Raines Academy supports approximately 550-750 students per year through flexible schedules, innovative programs, hybrid and virtual courses, and hands-on career certifications. These students are drawn from the 10 Katy ISD high schools and the Miller Career Center, Principal Richard Merriman said.
Since its inception in 2022, over 600 students have graduated from the academy, he said.
“You have programs [at the academy] that are ... maybe not anywhere else in the state of Texas,” trustee Rebecca Fox said at the June 16 work study meeting. “The opportunities you give students to fit their time when they have it.”
The gist
The OFSDP allows eligible students to attend school outside traditional hours—between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.—and supports those who may have withdrawn from school or are at risk of being counted as dropouts, Merriman said.
Students enrolled in the program often face challenges such as child care responsibilities, work schedules, medical conditions, transportation issues or family obligations. The flexible format allows these students to attend school for shorter periods of time, sometimes fewer than two hours per visit, depending on their individual needs.
Students in the program typically take one or two courses at a time, with most completing a course within 35 weeks, Merriman said. He said the program also supports both original credit and credit recovery.
Merriman said unlike traditional attendance taken once daily, the OFSDP tracks attendance by the minute. After 45 minutes, the district earns prorated funding, supporting students who can’t attend during regular hours.
By the numbers
Merriman said that the academy is set to add a water operations licensing program for the 2025-26 school year allowing students to earn their clean and wastewater certificate, alongside community partner Inframark.
Additionally, he said the academy offers other programs, including:
- Commercial drivers license certification, which 79 students have obtained since its launch in the 2023-24 school year
- Two-year real estate dual-credit license, which 20 students have completed their first year of the since its launch in the 2024-25 school year
- Katy Work Study, where 29 students have worked part time for the district while earning their high school degree since its launch in fall 2023
Merriman said partnerships with community organizations and industries will be part of the ongoing development to expand the reach of the academy in the future.
