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Who Is Families Empowered?
Families Empowered is a community-based, women- and minority-led non-profit parent service organization with the vision that, one day, all families will have access to schools that work, for them. With a leadership team and staff comprised of multiple first-generation college graduates, we deeply understand the importance of empowered parents, and the positive impact they can have on Texas communities. Each year we reach out to tens of thousands of families in Texas through in-person events, our bi-lingual call center, text, and social media, and provide them with free personalized support to help them navigate their many great PK-12 school options. We work with thousands of families in Tarrant County each year to help them better understand the options that they have for their students.
What is Apply Tarrant County?
The collective mission of Apply Tarrant County schools and Families Empowered is to ensure that all families in Tarrant County know they have school options — to us, that is empowerment. Apply Tarrant County gives families a chance to connect and explore a variety of PK-12 school and education options from one location in English and Spanish.
Am I eligible to apply to a charter school?
Public charter schools are open-enrollment schools of choice. All students are free to apply!
Charter schools do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, national origin, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, age, ancestry, homelessness, special needs, English language proficiency or foreign language proficiency, athletic ability or prior academic achievement.
What is the "lottery", and how does it work?
If a public charter school receives more applications from interested students than there are seats available, public charter schools will conduct a random lottery in order to admit students.
If there are not enough seats available after the lottery has been drawn, children will be placed on a waitlist. The school will notify parents if and when a seat becomes available.
If your student is placed on a waitlist, you can explore other school options for your child by visiting Families Empowered.
How do I apply?
Each school has an application on their own website. Please click onto their individual school links (located here) to find them. Each school covers their own application, lottery and admission process. If you have questions regarding a specific application please contact the school directly.
When is the deadline to apply?
In order to be considered for the lottery, applications must be submitted by the deadline specified by each individual school. Applications submitted after this date may be placed on a waiting list; applications received after the application deadline will only be considered if the school has space available.
I don’t see my school of choice listed, how can they be included in Apply Tarrant County?
We’re working with schools throughout the city each day to expand Apply Tarrant County. Let us know the name of the school that you’re looking for! Families Empowered is always here to help walk you through all of your choices. Call us at (817) 663-2004 or email us at info@familiesempowered.org
Where can I go if I have more questions?
Reach out to a school directly (school contact info available here) or reach out to Families Empowered at (817) 663-2004. You may also email us at info@familiesempowered.org.
I represent a school – how do we join Apply Tarrant County?
Apply Houston is open to all schools, public, private and charter. Are you interested in joining this collaborative for families? Send an email to our School Services Manager, Julia Dvorak at jdvorak@familiesempowered.org