Starpoint's Relationship to TCU
TCU students are an active and vital part of Starpoint as observers,
practice teachers, classroom aides and beginning educational
researchers. TCU professors are engaged in research at Starpoint
and are also available to offer their expertise and knowledge
to the Starpoint staff and students.
History
Starpoint school is the tangible result of a dream of M.J. and
Alice S. Neeley - a dream to have a school where children with
learning problems could learn and, more importantly, university
students could learn to teach them. Their dream was formulated
as they watched their learning disabled grandson struggle academically
in school. The Neeleys were determined that teachers should be
trained to help children with special educational needs and,
in 1966, Mr. and Mrs. Neeley initiated a laboratory school on
the TCU campus, Starpoint School, for young learning disabled
children. At Starpoint, the Neeleys wished to provide training
for teachers so as to prevent the unfortunate academic experience
of their grandson. In keeping with the original intent of the
Neeleys, the Starpoint School is an active educational laboratory
where TCU faculty, staff, and students are afforded the opportunity
to observe, study, research and participate in a quality educational
program for young learning disabled children.
Students
Starpoint School serves children six to eleven years old with
learning differences and/or attentional deficits that interfere
with academic
progress.
Schedule
The children attend school from 8:15 until 3:00 daily, following
about the same academic calendar as the Fort Worth Independent
School District.
Curriculum
The curriculum is individualized to meet the needs of each child
and includes the traditional academic subjects-language arts,
mathematics, social studies, science and physical education.
Art, music, and drama are offered as available and taught by
university students as part of their course requirements. A distinctive
feature of the Starpoint curriculum is an emphasis on organizational
and study skill acquisition.
Accreditation
Starpoint School is accredited by the Commission on Elementary
Schools, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and is
a member of the Southern Association of Independent Schools,
the Texas Independent School Consortium and the National Association
of Laboratory Schools.
Admission
Each spring Starpoint School has a screening for fall applicants.
The parents and child are required to attend for the purpose
of reviewing test data, meeting the child to gain some insight
into the child's academic skills and sharing information about
the Starpoint program. An admissions committee then convenes
to review all the information and decide whether Starpoint offers
the type of programming the child requires.
Contact Us
If you are interested in having your child apply for the fall,
Starpoint requires completion of some assessments. Please call
the office at (817) 257-7141 for specific information about this
requirement as well as the date of the spring screening. Tuition
information
can be obtained by calling the Student Accounts Office at (817) 257-7836.
