Forney Learning Academy

Forney Learning Academy is a small alternative high school in Forney, TX, serving 104 students in grades 9-12 as part of the Forney Independent School District (Isd). This school functions as a disciplinary alternative education program (DAEP), which means it serves students who have struggled in traditional school settings, and its unique mission is reflected in its data.

The school faces significant challenges, with a dropout rate of 14.1%—10 times higher than the district average of 1.4% and the highest among nearby schools. Academic performance is low, with state rankings in the bottom 3-7% over the last three years. For example, in 2025-2026, 0% of students were proficient in English I Reading, though Biology showed a relative strength at 55.56% proficiency. However, the school invests heavily in individualized support, with a student-teacher ratio of just 4.9:1, far lower than Forney High School (16.4:1) or North Forney High School (16.7:1). This intensive approach is a key difference from the nearby Terrell Alternative Education Center/Phoenix School, which has a higher graduation rate (91.2%) but a much larger student-teacher ratio (16.4:1).

There are signs of progress. The school’s state ranking has improved from the 2nd percentile (2023-2024) to the 7th percentile (2025-2026). Most notably, Special Education students jumped to the 49th percentile in 2025-2026, a dramatic leap from the 2nd and 3rd percentiles in prior years. Additionally, the Forney Virtual Academy, another alternative campus in the district, significantly outperforms Forney Learning Academy in nearly every metric, including a much lower dropout rate (1.3% vs. 14.1%) and higher test scores, suggesting that different models may work better for different students. For parents, this school represents a highly specialized, resource-intensive environment focused on re-engaging at-risk students, with recent improvements offering cautious optimism.