Waco City Academy

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Applications for the 2023 cohort are now closed.

Waco City Academy is a ten-week class that teaches you about civic engagement and your local government. Sessions include presentations and interactive activities from each City of Waco department to show you the day-to-day challenges of running a local government. Waco City Academy takes place on nine Thursday evenings plus a Saturday session. Graduates are recognized at a City Council meeting. For more information, contact us at  neighborhoods@wacotx.gov or (254) 750-5774.

 

Eligibility

To be eligible for Waco City Academy, applicants must:

  • Be at least 21 years of age.
  • Reside within Waco city limits.
  • Be able to participate in classroom-style sessions with guided tours and activities (Reasonable accommodations are available upon request.)
  • Be able to commit to attend classes for two hours per week.
  • Have an interest in learning more about your local government.

Apply

Due to space limitations, Waco City Academy classes are limited to 20 participants. Participants are selected on a first applied, first enrolled basis. Three seats are reserved for residents from each of the five council districts. The remaining five seats are filled regardless of district. The application includes a short application with a brief essay question.

  • Applications for the 2023 cohort are closed.
  • Check back in January 2024 for more information on how to apply for the 2024 cohort. 

Schedule

Each session follows a theme based on each of the City of Waco’s strategic goals featuring presentations from each department that best represent that goal. Participants are expected to attend every session. Attendance of at least eight of the ten sessions is required to graduate.

2023 Schedule
  • Thursday evening classes will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. March 16 through May 18.
  • Saturday field trip is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 6.
  • Graduation is tentatively scheduled on Tuesday, June 20 during the Waco City Council meeting. The reception will begin at 5 p.m. followed by a recognition at 6 p.m. during the business session.
  • 2023 Waco City Academy Schedule(PDF, 136KB) (subject to change)