The History of Willow Bend Academy is an interesting story. Willow Bend Academy opened in the summer of 1998 under the name Education Center of Plano with a mission of providing a “custom tailored education” to students based on their abilities and interests rather than the traditional model where students are grouped into large categories – usually based on grade level – and all students progress at the same speed in all subjects.

The name was cause for confusion, as people associated the school with the disciplinary alternative school of the local school district.  Thus, the name was changed to Willow Bend Academy with the same mission.

The Plano campus opened at its present location in the fall of 1998 with two students, but over the year grew to around forty.  As growth continued, a second campus was opened in Lewisville with a single student and has also experienced steady growth.

In January 2013, a separate middle school campus was opened in Plano.

Both campus locations have achieved accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools allowing students to readily transfer schools and seek admission to colleges and universities with the same standing as do graduates of much larger public and private schools.

In the  2009-2010 school year, Willow Bend Academy began receiving International Students.  Since then the International population has dramatically increased to include students from every inhabited continent on the planet.  This has diversified the school culture and has given great opportunities for American students to gain a more global view of their own world.

The Willow Bend Academy chapter of National Honor Society has achieved national recognition for its community service projects.

Academically,  students of both programs score well above the Texas and national averages on both the SAT and ACT testing programs.

Graduates of Willow Bend Academy have many choices for career development.  Some enter the workforce or Military Service immediately following high school, while other continue their education at a variety of colleges and universities ranging from local community colleges to major universities.  Major universities that have accepted our students include Baylor University, Harvard University, Louisiana State University, Ohio State University, Seton Hall University, Texas A&M University, University of Arkansas, University of Texas and a host of other well known universities.