A drop in the local birth rate is being felt at the district level, according to Round Rock ISD demographers.

What's happening: In recent years, the number of students enrolled in the district declined from a peak of 50,953 in the 2019-20 school year to 45,952 students in the 2025-26 school year.

The details: Rocky Gardner, a representative of demographic firm Zonda Education, shared projections showing the district’s enrollment could further decline to 40,199 students by the 2035-36 school year. Gardner said that generally, people are having fewer children, which has a direct impact on the state’s attendance-based funding model.

The impact: This is a trend observed across the country, RRISD Chief of Schools Natalie Nichols said ahead of the 2026-27 school year, and not indicative of parent dissatisfaction with public education.

Facing additional budget constraints, the district is planning programmatic efficiencies if this enrollment decline bears out.

Just under an acre of property near Round Rock Christian Academy was rezoned for a potential black-box theater.

What you need to know: Round Rock City Council approved the addition of 0.99 acres to a planned unit development land zoning encompassing the academy and Asher Point Independent Living Aug. 13.

The request came from property owners Scott and Julie Anderson, said Brad Dushkin, the city’s director of planning and development services.

Who is it for?: He said the primary intent of the theater is to rent out space to private schools and homeschool organizations, which do not otherwise have a space for performances.

Williamson County commissioners adopted the fiscal year 2026-27 budget and tax rate at the Commissioners Court meeting Sept. 1.

The $712.94 million budget is supported by a tax rate of $0.421547 per $100 valuation, the no-new-revenue tax rate.

Explained: The no-new-revenue rate calculates the property tax rate that would generate the exact same amount of revenue as last year from existing properties. Williamson County’s current tax rate is $0.413776 per $100.

Under the newly adopted rate, which goes into effect Oct. 1, Williamson County property owners will likely see a decrease on their county tax line, officials said. The average homestead will pay about $28, or 1.49%, less per year than in the current fiscal year, according to a county news release.

Digging deeper: The county budget consists of the general fund, road and bridge fund, and debt service. Commissioners approved a general fund budget of $405.65 million, $75 million for the road and bridge fund, and $232.3 million for debt service.

Check out stories trending in the Austin area Aug. 31-Sept. 3. 

1. Georgetown to reduce speed limit on Ronald Reagan Boulevard

2. Rooftop padel club planned at downtown Austin Convention Center garage

3. New East Austin supportive housing offers exit from homelessness

4. Round Rock residents to see higher water, wastewater, sewer bills

5. Bee Cave rejects permit for VVater research lab

6. Hays County secures over $39 million for railroad overpass at Centerpoint Road

Republican incumbent August Pfluger will face off against Democratic candidate Claire Reynolds in November.

On Sept. 1, the State Board of Education moved forward with an overhaul of what Texas high schoolers will learn in four social studies courses: U.S. History, U.S. Government, World History and World Geography.

What's happening: Roughly 100 Texans testified about the high school curriculum rewrite at an Aug. 31 meeting, with the debate revolving around how students would learn about the two largest world religions, Christianity and Islam.

Dozens of Muslim Texans asked that students learn about the religion’s core principles and how Muslims have contributed to advancements in math, science and medicine throughout history.

Some testifiers said the social studies curriculum should highlight the role of Christianity in the founding of Texas and the U.S., praising the board for prioritizing “American exceptionalism” and topics that they said would teach students to love the country.

The context: The discussion comes as the Republican-led board nears the finish line on its new K-12 social studies curriculum standards.

If approved, the new requirements will be rolled out to public school classrooms in the 2030-31 school year.