Since 2011, officials said KISD has integrated virtual learning into its programs and began certifying in-house virtual teachers in 2015-16. This summer alone, over 6,900 students participated in virtual instruction, with growing demand for full-time options.
“[KISD is in] a good position to be able to launch a virtual high school,” Deputy Superintendent Leslie Haack said at the Sept. 22 board meeting. “There has been years of work put into place to be able to get us to where we are now.”
Who’s eligible?
Emily Craig, assistant superintendent school leadership and support, said LVHS aims to serve a diverse student body, including those seeking flexible schedules, accelerated learning or specialized courses unavailable in their local schools or homeschool programs.
The school will offer free, full-time enrollment to Katy ISD students and Texas residents, per a Sept. 22 news release.
Part-time, tuition-based courses will also be available for students seeking advanced, accelerated or supplemental classes not offered at their home campuses. Out-of-district students must apply to enroll for access to part-time courses.
Digging deeper
Craig said all instructors will be State Board of Education-certified and receive specialized training in virtual instruction through an in-house program modeled after a Texas A&M program, which could otherwise cost about $1,000 a person.
A district representative told Community Impact details regarding the certification program will be made available in October.
With the completion of the in-house online instructor certification, she said the district anticipates recruiting teachers from several sources for these adjunct positions, including:
- Current KISD instructors and nonteaching staff
- Former KISD instructors in nonteaching roles
- Individuals who left the classroom but want to continue teaching part-time
- Retired personnel, whose participation in the adjunct role wouldn't impact their Teacher Retirement System
- Substitutes or teachers employed in other districts
The financials
Full-time enrollment at LVHS will generate full average daily attendance funding for Katy ISD, including the basic allotment of $6,215 and applicable weights for special programming—allowing the program to be free for eligible students, Haack said.
For part-time learners, Superintendent Ken Gregorski said tuition rates will be competitively priced to align with the state’s Texas Virtual Schools Network, which currently charges between $300 and $500 per semester.
Important to note
Full-time students enrolled in LVHS will be able to retain student program participation, including University Interscholastic League, at their home zone campus; however, Craig said the board still has discretion to approve part-time or other full-time homeschool students.
In August, the board voted not to include homeschool students as part of extracurricular programming for the 2025-26 school year, a decision that officials said would be revisited on a yearly basis based on feedback.
The next steps
Craig said a website is set to launch in mid-October with LVHS enrollment anticipated to open in February.
Interested families can complete the interest form on the district's website to stay informed on application timelines, course offerings and eligibility requirements, per the release.
