From its roots as a specialized choir school to a K–12, multi-disciplinary public charter district, FWAFA celebrates 25 years of educating young artists and scholars in Fort Worth.
FORT WORTH, Texas – Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts (FWAFA) is commemorating its 25th anniversary, marking a quarter-century of transforming public education in North Texas by fusing intensive fine arts training with a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum.
The Evolution: From Choir School to Multi-Disciplinary, Multi-School District
FWAFA’s milestone celebrates a continuous journey of growth and expanding vision. The organization’s roots began in 1946 with the founding of the Texas Boys Choir, establishing a legacy of discipline and performance excellence. Recognizing the need to expand this immersive arts-and-academics model to a broader community, the parent organization, Texas Center for Arts + Academics (TCA+A), opened FWAFA in 2001.
The launch of FWAFA transformed a specialized single-discipline program into a tuition-free, co-educational public charter school. Over the last 25 years, FWAFA has expanded into a multi-campus, multi-disciplinary organization serving more than 1,000 students through its charter schools: FWAFA Elementary, FWAFA High School, and Texas School of the Arts Elementary (TeSA).
Four Pillars of Fine Arts + High-Ranking Academics
Today, FWAFA serves approximately 1,000 students in grades K through 12, offering daily, professional-level instruction across four core arts disciplines alongside elite academic standards:
- Dance: Comprehensive training in ballet, modern, jazz, and choreography, preparing young dancers for collegiate performance programs and top conservatories nationwide.
- Theatre: Immersion in acting, musical theatre, stagecraft, and production, cultivating well-rounded performers and technical theatre specialists.
- Visual Arts: Studio instruction in painting, drawing, sculpture, and digital media, featuring student work in regional galleries and competitive artistic showcases.
- Music & Vocal Arts: Classical and contemporary vocal training, anchored by world-class ensembles including the Texas Boys Choir, the Singing Girls of Texas, the Academy Singers, and the Children’s Choir.
- Academic Rigor: A college-preparatory environment where FWAFA High School ranks in the top 17% of high schools nationwide (U.S. News & World Report) and maintains a 100% college acceptance rate.
Leadership Perspectives on 25 Years
“Celebrating 25 years of Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts is a celebration of the vision, dedication, and countless individuals who believed that students should never have to choose between artistic excellence and academic achievement,” said Dr. Anika Perkins, CEO/President and Superintendent of Texas Center for Arts + Academics.
“FWAFA has grown from a bold idea into a nationally recognized public charter school where young artists and scholars are challenged to discover their talents, pursue their passions, and envision possibilities beyond what they may have thought possible. As we honor this remarkable legacy, we are equally excited about the future. The next chapter of FWAFA will build on 25 years of excellence while continuing to expand opportunities for students to thrive as artists, scholars, and leaders. We are incredibly proud of what our students, families, faculty, staff, and community have built together, and we look forward to inspiring generations of students for the next 25 years and beyond.”
“Our students prove every day that when you cultivate creativity alongside high academic expectations, young people excel in every field they pursue,” said Amber Ledbetter, M.Ed., Principal of FWAFA. “At FWAFA, inspiring a lifelong passion for artistic and academic excellence isn’t just our mission, it’s what our students live out every day. Pairing creative expression with academic rigor pushes our students to excel. When that happens, there is truly no limit to what they can achieve.”
“Building an early foundation where creativity and academic growth go hand in hand allows our youngest students to thrive from day one,” said Kiera Wallace, M.Ed., Principal of TeSA. “Our students have the opportunity to develop their talents in the arts while building the academic skills that prepare them for continued success. Seeing that growth come to life, from the classroom to the stage, is truly remarkable. They are not only becoming talented artists, but confident, curious, and well-rounded learners.”
To learn more about Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, upcoming 25th-anniversary events, or enrollment opportunities, visit www.artsacademics.org.
About Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts & Texas Center for Arts + Academics
Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts (FWAFA) is a tuition-free public fine arts charter school serving grades 3 through 12 in Fort Worth, Texas. Operated by Texas Center for Arts + Academics (TCA+A), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to youth development through an arts-based academic worldview, FWAFA offers daily instruction in dance, music, theatre, and visual arts integrated with college-preparatory academics. TCA+A supports public charter schools (FWAFA and Texas School of the Arts), fine arts conservatories, and community arts programs in North Texas.
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Media Contact:
Liesl Gray Manone
Executive Director of Development & Marketing
Texas Center for Arts + Academics
Phone: (817) 766-2390
Email: liesl.manone@artsacademics.org
Website: www.artsacademics.org