Texas Center for Arts + Academics

What Texas Center for Arts + Academics does

Texas Center for Arts + Academics (TCA+A) is a Fort Worth, Texas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates two tuition-free public charter schools — Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts (FWAFA, Grades 3-12) and Texas School of the Arts (TeSA, Grades K-6) — alongside three premier choir programs (Texas Boys Choir, Singing Girls of Texas, and combined ensembles) and four after-school conservatories in Dance, Music, Theatre, and Visual Art. Founded in 1946 as the Texas Boys Choir, the organization rebranded to TCA+A in 2015 to reflect its broadened educational mission, and today serves over 1,200 students annually across academic, choral, and conservatory programs. The Texas Boys Choir holds two GRAMMY Awards and a legacy of international performances in 18+ countries, anchoring an 80-year institutional brand.

The organization's core technology stack is commodity K-12 SaaS: SchoolMint for audition-based admissions, Ascender for the parent portal and student information, Google Classroom and Seesaw for learning management, and Eventbrite for performance ticketing. There are no proprietary technology platforms or AI/ML capabilities disclosed. Revenue is generated primarily through Texas per-pupil state funding under its charter authorizations, with secondary streams from the Annual Fund campaign (donations from families, alumni, and supporters), conservatory and summer program fees, and competitive federal and foundation grants (ESSER II/III, LASO Cycle 3, Amon G. Carter Foundation). In April 2025, TCA+A was selected for the Texas Public Charter Schools Association's ESA pilot program, and the organization is preparing for the consolidation of TeSA under the FWAFA charter district in the 2026-2027 academic year. Leadership is headed by CEO/President and Superintendent Dr. Anika Perkins.

Name

Texas Center for Arts + Academics

Legal name

Texas Center for Arts + Academics

Website

https://artsacademics.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Texas Center for Arts + Academics is a Fort Worth-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating two tuition-free public charter schools (FWAFA and TeSA), three Grammy-affiliated choirs, and four after-school conservatory programs serving 1,200+ K-12 students annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Worth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Charter School Funding: State funding through Texas Education Agency for operating public charter schools (TeSA and FWAFA). As a charter school district, TCA+A receives per-pupil funding based on average daily attendance.
2. Donations and Annual Fund: Tax-deductible donations from faculty, staff, parents, grandparents, guardians, alumni, and friends. The Annual Fund campaign supports classroom supplies, instruction materials, technology upgrades, activity costs, performance travel, and district-level support for over 1,200 students.
3. Conservatory and Program Fees: After-school conservatory classes (Dance, Music, Theatre, Visual Art), summer programs, and workshops generate fee revenue. The Texas Theatre Conservatory opened in 2023 serves students in grades 6-12.
4. Grant Funding: Federal grants including ESSER II and ESSER III for COVID relief, LASO Cycle 3 grant for Early College High School ($100,000 preliminary award), and foundation grants such as the $85,000 Amon G. Carter Foundation award.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Texas Center for Arts + Academics is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates two public charter schools (FWAFA serving grades 3-12 and TeSA serving grades K-6) alongside choral performance ensembles (Texas Boys Choir and Singing Girls of Texas) and arts conservatories, delivering integrated arts and academic education in Fort Worth, Texas. The organization traces its origins to 1946 with the founding of the Texas Boys Choir.

Product overview

Texas Center for Arts + Academics (TCA+A) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating a portfolio of arts education programs. The core consists of two public charter schools: Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts (FWAFA, Grades 3-12) and Texas School of the Arts (TeSA, Grades K-6), both providing tuition-free education blending rigorous academics with daily fine arts instruction. Supporting the schools are three premier choirs (Texas Boys Choir with Grammy awards, Singing Girls of Texas, and additional ensembles) and four after-school conservatory programs (Texas Dance Conservatory, Texas Theatre Conservatory, Acting for the Camera, and Fine Arts Conservatories) offering professional training in Dance, Music, Theatre, and Visual Art. A Virtual Learning Academy provides online education options. Together, these programs serve over 1,000 students annually across the Fort Worth area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fine Arts Conservatories: After-school conservatory programs providing professional training in Dance, Music, Theatre, and Visual Art for students in the community.

Products and services

• FWAFA Charter School

Quantifiable outcome

• 1000+ students enrolled annually in schools, conservatories, and summer programs
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Educational Theatre FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 August 2025Philanthropic arm of the Educational Theatre Association advancing educational theatre by broadening representation and increasing access. Partnered with Disney Theatrical Group and MTI on the Disney on Broadway School of Excellence Program, selecting FWAFA as one of 21 national winners for 2025-2026.
• Disney Theatrical GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 August 2025Division of The Walt Disney Studios operating under direction of Andrew Flatt, Anne Quart, and Thomas Schumacher. Partners with ETF and MTI on School of Excellence program, providing free licensing and production materials for Disney musical productions to winning schools.
• Music Theatre International (MTI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 August 2025One of the world's leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting rights to perform Broadway musicals. Provides official scripts, musical materials, and theatrical resources. Particularly dedicated to educational theatre through Broadway Junior and School Editions.
• Texas Wesleyan UniversityminorOthers · 12 August 2025University hosting Texas Boys Choir's grand 80th Anniversary Celebration Concert on May 8, 2026, with special appearance by TBC alumnus and Broadway star Major Attaway.
• Texas Public Charter Schools Association (TPCSA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2025State association supporting charter schools in Texas. Selected TCA+A to participate in Education Savings Accounts (ESA) pilot program, expanding access to after-school conservatory classes for new audiences beyond current enrollment.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Baltimore School for the Arts (BSA): Public magnet high school in Baltimore serving grades 9-12 in dance, film, music, theatre, and visual arts. Directly comparable as a tuition-free public arts secondary school with conservatory-style training.
• Interlochen Arts Academy: Premier residential fine arts school in Michigan offering intensive arts training alongside college-prep academics. Directly comparable to TCA+A's charter schools and conservatory model, although it is a private boarding school versus TCA+A's tuition-free public charter model.
• Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts: Dallas-based public magnet secondary school for the performing and visual arts. The closest geographic peer; shares TCA+A's mission of integrating arts with rigorous academics and serves a similar Texas student demographic.
• Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA): Public arts high school in Santa Ana, California, serving grades 7-12 with conservatory-style training across performing and visual arts. Directly comparable in mission, public funding model, and audition-based admissions.
• Duke Ellington School of the Arts: Public magnet high school in Washington, DC serving grades 9-12 with concentrations in dance, instrumental and vocal music, theatre, visual arts, and literary media. Comparable model combining rigorous academics with pre-professional arts training.
• New World School of the Arts: Public magnet school in Miami jointly operated with Miami Dade College, offering arts programs from high school through college. Comparable in combining college-prep academics with intensive conservatory-style arts training.
• Houston High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA): Houston-based public magnet secondary school for the performing and visual arts. Directly comparable as a Texas public school combining college-prep academics with conservatory-level arts training.
• Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA): Public audition-based arts high school in Los Angeles serving grades 9-12 across dance, music, theatre, and visual arts. Comparable as a tuition-free public arts school with conservatory-style training.
• Idyllwild Arts Academy: Residential arts boarding school in California offering pre-professional training in dance, music, theatre, visual arts, and creative writing alongside college-prep academics. Comparable in mission and conservatory-style program depth.

Emerging players

• Idaho Fine Arts Academy: Public charter school in Eagle, Idaho offering arts-integrated K-12 education. Comparable as a tuition-free public charter school combining fine arts and academics, though smaller and newer than TCA+A.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ArtsAcademics
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/texas-center-for-arts-academics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Texas Center for Arts + Academics