The proposed Tomball ISD Virtual Academy for Cybersecurity, a new Career and Technical Education program that focuses on college credits and training in cybersecurity and computer science, would be the 11th virtual school of its type in Texas.
Mapping it out
The presentation for the virtual academy was given on Sept. 15 by TISD Chief Academic Officer Michael Webb. Webb said that the purpose of the virtual academy is to allow students to earn an associate degree or 60 transferable college credits in cybersecurity or computer science alongside their diploma. The program, if approved, is set to open for the 2027-28 school year.
The virtual academy framework was made possible by Senate Bill 569, which was signed into law in May 2025. Webb said the law modernized Texas’s virtual and hybrid public school learning framework by providing equal state funding for students in approved virtual or hybrid campuses compared to in-person campuses, as well as allowing for virtual dual-credit, AP and specialized courses.
The academy program would be fully online within Tomball Star Academy, a TISD early college high school model. The admission total for the virtual campus is not expected to exceed 60 students.
Webb said that due to TEA regulations for SB 569, a virtual program can't exceed half the enrollment of the campus it is a part of; the in-person Tomball Star Academy is estimated to have around 120 students. If enrollment exceeds this limit, the program would no longer be a virtual program but an official campus.
As part of the proposal, TISD will be partnering with Sam Houston State University's Polytechnic College. Webb said TISD chose the university for its industry alignment and hands-on training for students entering the workforce, and for its ability to grant associate degrees.
What to expect
The funding for the virtual program will be based on average daily attendance. Webb said that the total funding for each virtual student will be equal to the funding for an in-person student, which is estimated to be $6,215. Since the virtual program includes CTE courses, the total additional cost would be $1,200.
As the virtual program moves forward, Webb said TISD will have a few key responsibilities. TISD students will have priority for enrollment; however, the virtual program would be open to all Texas students.
“In order to have opportunities for Tomball kids, we need the program to be made,” Webb said. “So the purpose of having an open enrollment virtual school is to increase attendance in order to provide more opportunities for Tomball ISD students.”
As in the district's other online programs, students in the Virtual Academy for Cybersecurity will need to maintain a C or above in all dual-credit courses. Students are expected to meet all TISD and EOC exam requirements and remain on track for an associate degree and level 1 professional certificate.
Moving forward
Webb said that the TISD board will vote on the plan for the virtual academy at its meeting in October. If approved, the program will then begin its next phases, such as marketing it statewide and procuring coursework.
A long-term goal, Webb said, is for the district to pursue approval from the TEA to make the virtual academy its own fully virtual campus by 2028-29.
“Based on recruitment, if we have 60 kids that are interested across the state plus our Tomball kids, then maybe we need to keep it a program,” Webb said. “If we have 260 kids that are interested in this program across the state, then I think maybe we need to consider ‘Does this need to be a campus in and of itself?’”
