{"id":440476,"date":"2026-09-18T23:38:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T23:38:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/440476\/"},"modified":"2026-09-18T23:38:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T23:38:11","slug":"tcus-starpoint-and-kinderfrogs-schools-seek-space-amidst-expansion-tcu-360","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/440476\/","title":{"rendered":"TCU\u2019s Starpoint and KinderFrogs schools seek space amidst expansion \u2013 TCU 360"},"content":{"rendered":"

The relocation of the Starpoint<\/a> and KinderFrogs<\/a> schools has no start date planned.<\/p>\n

Physical space is limiting the number of students the schools can enroll, said Jan Lacina, the interim executive director of TCU laboratory schools.<\/p>\n

Last year, KinderFrogs admitted 10 out of 34 applicants. Starpoint admitted 12 out of 24 applicants.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are two schools in a building that was built for one school,\u201d Lacina said. \u201cHistorically, the building functioned as a more ideal lab school with space for observations and offices.\u201d<\/p>\n

TCU\u2019s Starpoint and KinderFrogs schools are highly specialized, small laboratory schools with limited capacity. The schools are part of TCU\u2019s College of Education<\/a> and both serve students with specialized learning needs.<\/p>\n

TCU proposed a relocation and expansion of the programs in the 2024 Campus Master Plan<\/a>. Currently, the 1.33-acre lot identified for their future relocation is being used to house a construction trailer for the Ed Landreth Hall renovation<\/a> through summer 2028.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 2024 TCU Campus Plan proposes that these properties would facilitate a relocation and \u2018rightsizing\u2019 of the Starpoint\/KinderFrogs program,\u201d said Jason Soileau, assistant vice chancellor for planning, design and construction. \u201cHowever, there are no plans for that accommodation in the immediate future.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"TCU-owned properties along Wabash Avenue sit vacant after seven single-family homes were demolished on the eight lots in 2025. (Courtesy of the City of Fort Worth)<\/p>\n

TCU purchased eight properties on Wabash Avenue, the site for the proposed relocation, in March 2024. The single-family homes occupying the land were demolished in 2025, according to the zoning staff report<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Before construction can begin, TCU first needs to raise capital.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe funds raised will, in part, dictate the size and amenities of a new building,\u201d Lacina said.<\/p>\n

The laboratory schools have not received any updates on a specific timeline for the expansion.\u00a0<\/p>\n

KinderFrogs serves children with Down syndrome ages 18 months to 6 years old. Starpoint serves children with learning disabilities ages 6 to 11.<\/p>\n

KinderFrogs is the only program of its kind in the Fort Worth area, providing early intervention educational services for children with Down syndrome.<\/p>\n

With a 3:1 student-to-teacher ratio, KinderFrogs offers individualized support for children ages 18 months to 6 years. But with only three classrooms, KinderFrogs hopes to take more students without sacrificing the individualized experience.<\/p>\n

Because KinderFrogs is the only program of its kind in the area, there are limited alternatives.<\/p>\n

Starpoint is also highly specialized with a 10:1 student-to-teacher ratio, but there are alternative options. Some options include the Key School and Training Center<\/a> and the Hill School of Fort Worth<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"A KinderFrogs student arrives for the first day of school. (Courtesy of TCU Instagram)<\/p>\n

Until expansion moves forward, applicants to both schools could wait up to two years to be accepted, according to an article from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cApplicants who asked about possible admission for the 2027-2028 academic year will be called to inquire about their continued interest,\u201d Lacina said. \u201cThose calls will be made if there would be space in the appropriate class.\u201d<\/p>\n

As TCU works toward Research 1 status, the laboratory schools want to expand alongside the university. An R1 designation represents the highest level of research activity based on research spending and doctorate production.<\/p>\n

There are 187 universities recognized by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions in Higher Education<\/a> as R1 institutions.<\/p>\n

Creating a facility for the lab schools that supports R1 research goals requires more room for researchers to observe students without disrupting classrooms.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope that an equal focus would be on spaces where university students can come, experience and learn from our students,\u201d Lacina said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The relocation of the Starpoint and KinderFrogs schools has no start date planned. Physical space is limiting the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":440477,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[116,118,117],"class_list":["post-440476","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-fort-worth","tag-fort-worth","tag-fort-worth-headlines","tag-fort-worth-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/440476","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=440476"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/440476\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/440477"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=440476"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=440476"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=440476"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}