MSON

At FWCD, students in grades 11 and 12 may apply to take Malone Schools Online Network (MSON) courses, which serve as high school enrichment elective courses and meet twice a week during the regular school day.

Each course takes a blended approach, combining synchronous instruction, real-time video conferencing seminars, with asynchronous instruction, recorded lectures, and exercises that students complete outside of class. The result lies somewhere between a “flipped  classroom” and a “virtual Harkness table.” Each course has a minimum of six students and a maximum of 16, allowing for a virtual discussion seminar that is delivered in high-definition classroom setups.

The Malone Family Foundationestablished by John Malone of Colorado, provides scholarships for academically gifted students in grades 7-9 who demonstrate exceptional motivation and ability but whose families cannot afford the cost of leading independent schools. To advance this mission, the foundation partners with select independent secondary schools committed to educating gifted and talented students.

Today, the foundation supports 50 schools nationwide – 49 independent day schools and Stanford University Online High School (OHS). Each of the schools received a $2 million grant to create a permanent endowment in support of a Malone Scholars Program. Fort Worth Country Day is the only school in Texas to hold this distinction.

Fort Worth Country Day is a founding MSON school and the only location in Texas to provide MSON courses. In the 2025-26 academic year, eight FWCD students are enrolled in nine of the 25 MSON courses offered. 

A steering committee of six heads of Malone Schools, including FWCD, established the Malone Schools Online Network with John Malone’s endorsement, and FWCD is a founding member. MSON provides upper-level students at registered Malone Schools with a variety of superior online courses offered in online classrooms that enhance each member school’s existing curriculum. These courses promote the values of the Malone Family Foundation and are taught by teachers from other Malone Schools in the network. The teaching professionals are experts in their fields; they have experience with independent school education and share a commitment to excellence, small class sizes and personal relationships. Students enrolled in these courses demonstrate sufficient independence and commitment to succeed in a virtual discussion seminar setting.