Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

 

About Our School

 

What type of school is this?
We are a free, public charter school. That means we are tuition-free, open to all students, and publicly funded, while offering innovative programming and flexibility in how we teach.

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Is your school really free?
Yes. There is no tuition to attend our school. As a public charter school, we are funded by the state and open to all eligible students.

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Who can attend the school?
Any student who meets state enrollment requirements may apply. We do not have academic, test-score, or behavioral requirements for admission.

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Where is the school located?
Our school will open in East Dallas. Our permanent campus location will be shared as soon as it is finalized, and we will communicate updates directly with enrolled and interested families as well as social media and newsletters.

 

 

Enrollment & Admissions

 

How do I apply?
Families can apply online through our enrollment application. The application is simple and does not require prior academic records to apply. 

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Is there an application deadline?
Yes. Enrollment windows and deadlines will be posted on our website and shared with families via email and social media.

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Is there a lottery?
If we receive more applications than available seats (a pre-determined number approved by the Texas Education Agency at time of authorization), a random public lottery will be held, as required by law.

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Do you give preference to certain students?
Preferences may be given where permitted by law (such as siblings of current students). Details will be clearly communicated before the lottery.

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I have applied, now what?

Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an email notification after February 17, 2026 regarding your student's acceptance status. Once your child is offered a seat, the email will include an official acceptance letter and instructions on how to accept your spot at The Museum School of East Dallas.

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To complete enrollment, you will need to submit the required registration documents, including:

• Student birth certificate

• Student social security card (if available)

• Parent/Guardian government-issued ID

• Immunization Records/Affidavit Exemption

• Previous School Records (if applicable)

• Legal Documents such as custody or guardianship (if applicable)

• Special Education or Gifted and Talented documents (ex: IEP, 504, etc; if applicable)

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Academics & School Model

 

What grades will you serve?
We will open serving Kindergarten through 4th grade in our first year. Each year, we plan to add additional grade levels and grow into a Pre-K through 8th grade school.

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What makes your school different?
We are the first and only National Association of Museum School models in Texas serving K-8th grades (read up more here: https://www.museumschools.org

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Do students take state assessments?
Yes. As a public school, students participate in all required state testing.

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What is a Museum School?
A museum school is a national learning model which treats the world as a classroom and learning as an active, hands-on experience. Instead of relying only on textbooks, students learn through:

• Frequent, integrated immersive learning expeditions within community

• Student curated textbooks through documented student reflection

• Quarterly high quality, professional student work exhibitions celebrated with community partners

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How does the Museum Model work in a school setting?
Our school emphasizes immersive, integrated learning, mirroring how learning happens in museums through exploration and discovery including:

• Lessons that are project-based and interdisciplinary (subjects are connected, not isolated)

• Students learn by doing, creating, and reflecting

• Teachers act as guides and facilitators, not just lecturers

• Learning emphasizes curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving

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Is a Museum School still aligned to academic standards?
Yes. Museum Schools are fully aligned with state academic standards and accountability requirements.

The Museum Model enhances, not replaces, strong academics by making learning deeper, more engaging, and more memorable.

 

What are the benefits for students?

 

Students in a Museum School:

• Love and excitement for learning

• Develop strong critical thinking and communication skills

• Build strong self-awareness around their interests and strengths and how to leverage them in their learning environment

• Build confidence and agency as independent learners

• Learn to collaborate and present their ideas

• See learning as meaningful and connected to the real world

• Build durable skills to be set up for success in high school and the future work force

 

What does this look like for elementary students?

 

Learning is structured, supportive, and age-appropriate—just more engaging and joyful. For younger students, the Museum Model includes:

• Hands-on projects and exhibits

• Storytelling and visual learning

• Art- and object-based exploration

• Play based learning in lower elementary

• Frequent outdoor learning and play

• Guided inquiry that builds foundational skills in reading, math, science, and social studies

 

Teachers & Staff

 

Are teachers certified?
Yes. Our teachers are required to meet state certification requirements and receive ongoing professional development.

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What is the student-to-teacher ratio?
We prioritize small class sizes to ensure personalized attention and strong relationships.

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School Day & Operations

 

What are the school hours?
Our school offers extended day hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., (7:30am - 5:30pm including arrival and dismissal) providing families with a full-day academic program, targeted intervention and additional enrichment and support.

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Is transportation provided?
Transportation information will be shared once our campus location is finalized.

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Do you offer before- or after-school care?
Details about extended-day options will be shared as programs are finalized.

 

 

Meals & Student Services

 

Do students receive free or reduced-price meals?
Yes. Eligible students may receive free or reduced-price meals in accordance with federal guidelines.

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Do you support students with special needs?
Yes, this is one of our specialties as this model works well with students who learn differently (neurodivergent) which includes the gamut of learning styles from learning disabilities to gifted and talented. We provide services for students with disabilities in compliance with federal and state law.

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Do you serve English Language Learners (ELLs)?
Yes. We support multilingual learners with appropriate instructional services.

 

 

Family Engagement

 

How can families get involved?
Families are encouraged to participate through volunteer opportunities, events, and school-wide activities. More details will be shared soon. 

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How will the school communicate with families?
We use email, text messages, and our website to keep families informed.

 

 

Still Have Questions?

 

Who can I contact for more information?
You can reach our team through the contact form on our website or by emailing us directly. We’re happy to help!​