Waco City Academy

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The 2025 application will open January 17, 2025 and close February 17, 2025.

Waco City Academy is ten-week sessions that teaches participants about civic engagement and their local government. Sessions include presentations and interactive activities from City of Waco departments showcasing the day-to-day 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 sessions for two hours per week.
  • Have an interest in learning more about your local government.
  • Participants are encouraged to attend all 10 sessions, but must attend 8 sessions to graduate.  

Apply

Due to space limitations, Waco City Academy sessions are limited to 20 participants. Participants are selected on a first applied, first enrolled basis. Some seats will be reserved to ensure there are at least three participants representing each city council district, but the remaining five seats may be from any district.  To apply, complete a short application which includes brief essay question.

The 2025 application period opens January 17, 2025 at 8 a.m. for next Waco City Academy cohort. Subscribe to the Neighborhood Newsletter for the latest information about upcoming Neighborhood Engagement programs.

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Schedule

Each session follows a theme based on each of the City of Waco’s strategic goals featuring presentations from City departments 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.

2025 Schedule
  • Thursday evening classes will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. March 6 through May 15. Due to spring break, there will not be a session on March 13.
  • A field trip will be on Saturday, May 3 or 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Graduation is tentatively scheduled on Tuesday, June 3 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.
  • For a preview of the program, you may view the 2024 schedule: Waco City Academy Schedule(PDF, 126KB). The 2025 schedule will be posted once all speakers are finalized. 
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