Northside ISD plans to launch a full-time virtual high school, Northside Connect, for grades 9–12 in the 2026 school year, including special-education supports. District leaders told trustees they expect to select a vendor soon and present a formal proposal in January. The program aims to help homeschooled students, frequent travelers, and off-campus learners stay connected to Northside. Officials expect steady growth over time rather than a large first-year enrollment.
Northside ISD staff told trustees they plan to present the virtual high school proposal for board approval on Jan. 13, 2026, with a vendor selection expected soon. Marketing will start in mid-January, followed by registration in February. Superintendent John Craft noted that student motivation and parental support will be key. Virtual enrollees will count toward Northside’s average daily attendance. Enrollment currently sits around 97,000, down from a pre-pandemic peak of 107,000, according to the San Antonio Express-News.
Northside ISD is one of Texas’ largest districts, with about 97,600 students, 133 campuses, and roughly 13,000 employees. A virtual campus could help the district attract students who left for other schools or are currently unenrolled. Even small enrollment changes can affect staffing and campus services across northwest Bexar County, the district says.
How State Law Changed The Math
Senate Bill 569, passed by the 89th Legislature, updated Texas rules for virtual and hybrid instruction and established clear pathways for districts to run full-time virtual programs with attendance counting toward funding. The Texas Education Agency guides attendance, funding eligibility, and instructional standards. District staff told trustees they are working with TEA as rules are finalized for the 2025–2026 school year.
Northside’s move is part of a broader Texas trend. Katy ISD has already announced its own Legacy Virtual High School, slated to open in fall 2026, and Grapevine-Colleyville ISD’s iUniversity Prep operates as an established online high school model. Those districts have promoted virtual campuses as tools to expand access, offer more specialized courses, and give families greater schedule flexibility, even as each district takes a slightly different approach to staffing and student support. For examples of how these models look in practice, see Katy ISD and FlexPoint Education Cloud.
What Trustees Still Must Decide
Several key policy decisions remain before Northside Connect launches. Trustees must determine whether out-of-district students can enroll and whether virtual students may participate in extracurriculars, tutoring, and other on-campus programs. Board members also questioned staff on staffing, student support, and monitoring engagement and academic outcomes. District leaders said the program is expected to be cost-neutral but want guidance on enrollment boundaries and activity participation before final approval, according to the San Antonio Express-News.
Next Steps For Families
If trustees approve the proposal in January, Northside plans to start marketing Northside Connect in mid-January, open registration in February, and begin classes next fall. Families should be prepared for a virtual program requiring student self-direction, reliable internet, and parental support. The district will provide more details on vendor selection, staffing, and enrollment after the board vote.
