“During the time I was in dance, I was happy. I had learned that there was another thing that I liked to do in the arts,” Serenity Franklin said.
FORT WORTH, Texas — The Academy of Visual and Performing Arts is a tuition-free charter school that blends the arts into a project-based curriculum with a focus on student well-being. The school had plans to expand to 12th grade this fall, but financial setbacks — including the loss of a major funder — put its future in jeopardy.
Despite several fundraising efforts, the AVPA Board of Directors voted to close the school, sparking sadness for its students.
“I really wanted it to stay open,” said Serenity Franklin, a fifth grader who thrived at the Academy of Visual and Performing Arts in Fort Worth, located in the Gran Plaza shopping mall. “During the time I was in dance, I was happy. I had learned that there was another thing that I like to do in the arts, and I feel proud of my work.”
Serenity’s mother noticed how much she blossomed at the school.
When Serenity started at AVPA in the fifth grade, her mother says Serenity was shy and somewhat introverted. But things quickly changed.
“It was amazing to watch,” said Krista Franklin, Serenity’s mother. “To see the life in her eyes, to see the excitement about the school, to hear her talk about it, and say I’ll go out by myself and get 100 more students.”
In a statement, AVPA founder Dr. Stephanie Love acknowledged parents’ and students’ frustration while expressing appreciation for what the school accomplished.
“This is incredibly unfortunate news,” Love said. “We fought so hard to provide an opportunity for all kids to experience the greatness of the arts. At its best, AVPA was an amazing school for kids – a real gem. I hope there is a lasting positive impact on the students it was blessed to serve.”