Unique, Like You.
Broaden your understanding of yourself and others. Make new friends. Develop your own style, with confidence. Learn new skills. Be challenged in a way you’ve never been challenged before.
How would we describe ourselves? Entertaining, engaging, creative, challenging, collaborative, learner-centered and unique — all together, DECATS-ian. Take a six-minute glimpse into the best three weeks of your summer!
Eligibility Criteria
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95th Percentile Score
95th Percentile Score
Participants must have a ranking in the 95th percentile or above on any nationally standardized achievement test, creativity test or reasoning test – in a specific area, in multiple areas or as an average score overall.
3rd - 6th Grade
3rd - 6th Grade
Participants must currently be completing third, fourth, fifth or sixth grade to be admitted.
Principal Nomination
Principal Nomination
Students meeting the age and test score criteria are certified of their eligibility via a nomination from their school’s principal.
2023 Tuition Fast Facts
We never want finances to prevent someone from coming to DECATS. The affordable cost of an innovative program like DECATS is made possible by a leading grant from DeBusk Foundation, and need-based tuition assistance is available for families that qualify.
Applications may be submitted via your myStatus portal after submitting an application for admission to the program. Applications for tuition assistance must be made each year; there is no automatic renewal or guarantee that the same award will be made in consecutive years.
Dr. Sue Bryant Francis Scholarship
In 2015, DeBusk Foundation announced a new scholarship program named in honor of Dr. Sue Francis, who for many years served on the foundation’s board of directors. Dr. Francis was active with the foundation from 1989 until 2013, and upon her retirement from an impressive career serving in education as a school teacher, administrator and public speaker, the foundation chose to honor her tireless service and tremendous contribution with a scholarship program for participants in DECATS programs. This scholarship is above and beyond DeBusk Foundation’s grant that provides the leading operational funding for our program.
There is no special application process: all need-based tuition assistance applicants are automatically considered.
To gain the most benefit from the program, and because there is likewise very high demand to attend, nominees may only sign-up if they are committed to attending the entire three-week program.
By virtue of signing up, participants commit to full attendance and understand that they may not plan to attend any other summer activities that would result in absence from any portion of DECATS, including, but not limited to:
- Sports programs / camps / meets
- Scouting trips
- Other summer camps
- Fine arts programs / performances
- Routine medical appointments / non-emergency surgery
- Family travel / vacations
These are by no means exhaustive but serve as solid examples.
Should someone sign-up and then discover they cannot attend the entire program, we ask they notify us immediately so that the space may be made available to another applicant.
Absences for illness or family emergency (e.g. death) that occur during the program may be excused. Unapproved absences not due to illness or emergency may result in not being permitted to complete the current summer session without refund and could result in forfeiture of any and all remaining years of eligibility.
DeBusk Enrichment Center of Texas shall reserve full and exclusive right to the interpretation, application and execution of these policies.
Non-Refundable Payments
A non-refundable $100 deposit is due at the time of signing up to reserve your space, which will be applied to the tuition balance. Deposits may not be applied toward deposits, tuition or other payments due of other participants.
Remaining tuition and fees (if any) are due by April 30. Participants who do not submit payment in full by April 30 will forfeit their spaces to those on the waitlist beginning May 1.
Extended day fees and merchandise fees are non-refundable. Supervision is hired and merchandise ordered based upon sign-ups received for these areas.
Elective Withdrawals Prior to DECATS
Through April 30: eligible for full tuition refund, less the non-refundable deposit
After April 30: not eligible for any tuition refund
Elective Withdrawals During DECATS
Participants who withdraw during the program by preferential choice or who do not fully attend by preferential choice will not be eligible for any tuition refund. This policy shall remain in effect for the entirety of the program and shall not be related to the number of days attended or remaining in the session.
Non-Elective Withdrawals During DECATS
Participants required to quarantine, self-isolate or otherwise discontinue the program due to injury, illness or exposure to a disease like COVID-19 within the program may be eligible for a partial tuition refund. This amount shall be pro-rated based on the total days attended up to the point of withdrawal from the program and may not exceed $400. This policy shall remain in effect for and applied to the first two weeks (10 weekdays) of the program. No participant is eligible for any tuition refund after the second week of the program (after weekday 10), even if injury, illness or exposure takes place from within the program.
Participants required to quarantine, self-isolate or otherwise discontinue the program due to injury, illness or exposure to a disease like COVID-19 outside the program will not be eligible for any tuition refund. This policy shall remain in effect for the entirety of the program and shall not be related to the number of days attended or remaining in the session.
Participants asked to leave the program for disciplinary reasons will not be eligible for any tuition refund. This policy shall remain in effect for the entirety of the program and shall not be related to the number of days attended or remaining in the session.
Program Cancellation
Before DECATS: eligible for full refund of all deposits, tuition and fees
During DECATS, through the first two weeks (10 weekdays): eligible for a partial tuition refund. This amount shall be pro-rated based on the total days of the program conducted up to the point of cancellation and may not exceed $400.
During DECATS, after the first two weeks (after weekday 10): not eligible for any tuition refund
PARTICIPANT TESTIMONIALS
“I loved everything about DECATS! I wish DECATS could be every single day!”
“My child loves going to DECATS and yours will too! The opportunity to select enrichment classes that build their self-confidence, critical thinking and executive functioning skills is invaluable. It’ll be the easiest decision and best investment you make for your child’s summer time!”
“Thank you so much for teaching us manners. My manners have improved so much, I feel like James Bond.”
“DECATS has been a great experience for my daughter. She loves the courses offered, all the beautiful songs and making new friends.”
“Best summer program for gifted kids in Houston! Our sons have been attending for the last six years. Our oldest son has enjoyed it so much that he has returned for the last two years as a Graduate Assistant, and our youngest son plans on returning as a GA as well. DECATS provides a healthy and fun learning environment for kids.”
“The courses offered are simply amazing. The variety was spectacular and the mentors were stupendous. Sometimes being a gifted child can have its challenges. They can be misunderstood or awkward and at DECATS that is never the case. They are surrounded my love, fun and knowledge. They learn while they may be better at things that they are not in fact better than others. They learn responsibility and grow so much in such a short period of time. I have never seen my daughter as excited as she was every day at pick-up. She met so many new friends and is already looking forward to next year – as am I!”
“I like all the kids from different schools, and I made new friends.”
“This is my first year at DECATS and it was really fun and it was great having my friends by my side. I really loved the music and it got a lot of my energy out and I was able to focus in my courses. I LOVE DECATS!”
“Loved this program and pray and hope God will bless me in the opportunity to attend again next Summer. Fingers crossed … can not wait. Was so sad when it was over.”
“This is the best program ever! The mentors are very supportive. The courses are fantastic. This program teaches Scholars about themselves, to respect others and most importantly to always keep God in your life.”