Former employees and students of Frisco ISD's first stand-alone elementary school, Acker Elementary, are encouraged to attend an Open House on Sunday, October 13 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Walk the halls of the school, visit with friends, watch a video, and look at scrapbooks as we celebrate 50 years of education at Acker.

Acker Elementary was named for early pioneer Z.T. Acker – a school teacher from Alabama who came to Texas to farm in the 1800s. Mr. Acker taught his children prior to the formation of the Frisco Independent School District. Education was a priority to Mr. Acker and he insisted each of his seven children attend at least one year of college. One of his daughters, Mattie, became a teacher and later donated 11 acres of land on which Acker sits to honor her father’s love of education.

In 1963, shortly before President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, teachers and students began moving into the brand new Z.T. Acker Elementary School, located at 7159 Hickory Street in Frisco. The late Bert Isbell was principal of the school.

Today, Acker Special Programs Center is the home to the KEYS and RISE programs for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

The KEYS (Keeping Every Youth Successful) program assists elementary and middle school students who will benefit from a safe, alternative learning environment.

RISE (Reaching Individual Success in Education) is a program for elementary and middle school students who have academic needs and desire a smaller, innovative instructional environment. Staff members believe interventions taken through the RISE program can benefit students by focusing on the remediation of missing skills and the prevention of academic frustration, which can help ensure future success for students in their academic careers.

After 50 years, Acker is still a school dedicated to helping students achieve their educational goals and do their best. 

Current Principal Shawn Perry and the staff at Acker Special Programs Center would like to invite the Frisco ISD community to help celebrate 50 years of innovation and learning at Acker.