Community Impact compiled compensation for superintendents, teachers, and staff at 15 public school districts in the Austin area to compare trends across the metro as budgeting season wraps up for most districts.

According to the 2025-26 school year data from the Texas Education Agency, Lake Travis ISD had the highest-paid superintendent at $483,116, while Pflugerville ISD had the highest average teacher pay at $69,917.

Some context: The highest student enrollments for the 2025-26 school year were:

• Austin ISD

• Round Rock ISD

• Leander ISD

The lowest student enrollments were:

• Eanes ISD

• San Marcos ISD

• Dripping Springs ISD

The big picture: According to the 2025-26 school year data from the Texas Education Agency, Lake Travis ISD had the highest-paid superintendent at $483,116, while Pflugerville ISD had the highest average teacher pay at $69,917.

Little Nishi announced plans to open its first brick and mortar location on Oct. 15 named Nishi, according to a social media post. Along with the expansion will come consolidation, the restaurant’s team explained. On Oct. 1, Little Nishi’s South Congress trailer will close to customers.

Diving in deeper: The Japanese restaurant, founded by Joel Taylor, initially opened in downtown Austin in fall 2023, according to previous Community Impact reporting. In addition to the brand’s South Congress trailer, Austinites can also find Little Nishi’s handrolls and sashimi in North Austin at Teddy’s Bar on Manor Road. 

On the menu: Little Nishi serves up appetizers like seaweed salad, roasted chili edamame and miso soup. The restaurant also offers sashimi, including hamachi, which features yellowtail and toasted sesame, as well as sake toro, made with salmon belly, toasted sesame, sakura powder, roasted garlic and ikura. 

Patrons can also order up temaki, or handrolls, including spicy tuna which is prepared with yellowfin tuna, avocado, honey and seasoned chili puree. 

• 2000 Southern Oaks Drive, Austin 

Check out nine events for locals to attend in Austin in September and early October. Activities include visiting a pop-up cafe dedicated to “The Golden Girls” at Wanderlust Wine Co., attending Austin Bat Fest or visiting Meanwhile Brewing Co. for the brewery’s annual Lagers and Literature book fair.

This list is not comprehensive, and all events are subject to change. 

'The Golden Girls' Kitchen
From Atlanta to Austin, Disney Entertainment and Bucket Listers are opening a pop-up restaurant that will serve up breakfast, lunch, desserts and drinks with nods to the show’s characters and storylines. Tickets will include a welcome drink and 90-minute seating. 

• Opening Aug. 20
• $21.85+
• Wanderlust Wine Co., 610 N. I-35, Austin

• Sept. 6, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Free (attendance)
• 3901 Promontory Point Drive, Austin

Texas’ audit of hundreds of proposed data centers will likely wrap up by the end of the year, grid officials said Aug. 20.

The overview: Up to 300 proposals will be audited to ensure they meet certain criteria before the data centers can begin connecting to the state electric grid. If all the plans are approved, these facilities alone could use about 200 gigawatts of electricity—more than twice Texas’ 91-gigawatt peak demand record, which was set on July 22.

How we got here: On Aug. 3, Gov. Greg Abbott directed ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission of Texas to audit proposed data centers regarding their water and electricity use; tax exemptions; impacts on residents; and facility ownership.

More details: Only large loads, or facilities that are expected to use at least 75 megawatts of electricity, will be fully audited. However, ERCOT will also survey proposed data centers that would use 25 megawatts of electricity or more.

ERCOT plans to release reports detailing the results of the audit and surveys on Dec. 10, officials said.