Dripping Springs ISD officials discussed academics, bond projects and more at a State of the District presentation on April 22.

Academics: When considering STAAR passing rates, DSISD students are “regularly outperforming” the region and the state, according to Karen Kidd, assistant superintendent for learning & innovation.

Operations and construction: Construction on High School No. 2 began in November. The 2025 bond provided over $298 million for the project. DSISD Chief Operations Officer Scott Berry said the project is on schedule to open for the 2028-29 academic year, and that the naming and branding committee is in the process of deciding the name, colors and mascot for the new high school.

Demographic update: DSISD added more than 1,500 students in the past five years, and more than 3,000 students since 2015. While DSISD is in a high-growth phase, certain areas of the district are approaching stabilization.

Several Austin Energy investments in solar generation and power grid resilience totaling up to $172 million were approved this spring.

The details: The energy-related projects advanced by City Council are expected to add dozens of megawatts of generation capacity to the AE grid. During peak service times, 1 MW can serve about 250 residential customers, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.

New projects will include solar installations on a defunct city landfill and dozens of city-owned sites and buildings, and a new battery storage partnership with Base Power.

Dozens of potential city sites were initially identified for the new solar installations, and about 100 remain under consideration. The project advanced ahead of a key deadline with federal solar tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act are expiring soon.

Texas residents are increasingly facing damaging storms that drive up home insurance rates and other housing costs. Ahead of the state's 2027 legislative session, consumer advocates and insurance industry representatives are urging lawmakers to consider affordability solutions.

What's happening: The average Texas home insurance premium—the amount paid to an insurance company—was $3,291 in 2024, according to the latest Texas Department of Insurance data. In total, premiums rose about 50% between 2022-24.

Texas’ high propensity for natural disasters has been “the No. 1 driver” behind recent rate increases, said Rich Johnson, a spokesperson for the Insurance Council of Texas.

Stay tuned: While Texas can't legislate itself out of weather risks, lawmakers have considered some policy changes to increase disaster resiliency and boost regulatory oversight of the insurance industry. Proposals range from creating grants to help residents weather-proof their homes to placing limits on future rate hikes.

Check out some of the most-read Austin-area stories from April 20-23. 

1. Handmade history: A century of Round Rock Donuts

2. 19 updates from Georgetown's business and dining community

3. Keating Auto Group buys Toyota of Cedar Park, City Limits Subaru

4. 13 Bastrop-area business and dining updates to know

5. City of Austin acquires 50 acres of parkland in South Austin

6. San Marcos to weigh plan for neighborhood north of Texas State