High home prices are having a sustained impact on enrollment in RRISD, a new demographic report for the district shows.
The Zonda Education report suggests that home prices and interest rates have made it difficult for young families to purchase a home in the district. Even as more homes are built, sales within the district have fallen by roughly half over the past three years, Zonda President Bob Templeton said.
Current situation: Despite a large number of homes being built within Round Rock ISD, the school district’s future enrollment is uncertain, demographers said.
A report capturing data from the last quarter of 2024 shows home sales in RRISD fell by roughly half over the past three years. Based on this data, as well as housing starts, closings and home prices, Zonda predicted three enrollment scenarios for RRISD—ranging from a decrease of 1,061 students to an increase of about 1,730 students—by the 2034-35 school year.
The Leander ISD board of trustees held a special workshop meeting Sept. 9 to discuss the district's future budget shortfalls and long-range planning efforts.
The background: LISD officials first presented three potential cost-saving pathways during the May 29 board meeting which included closing and repurposing Cypress, Faubion and Steiner Ranch Elementary schools or updating staffing numbers at underenrolled campuses. Officials say these campuses are slated to reach under 60% utilization in the coming years.
The projections: Current budget projections show a $22.8 million budget shortfall in 2026-27.
Managing the impact: Other potential revenue generating streams could include:
Adopting copper pennies
Having an open enrollment policy
Increasing average daily attendance
Selling or leasing land parcels
If the district does not implement any of these options other considerations would have to be made, such as cutting staff and making changes to various programs.
Next steps: The board will further discuss the options at the Sept. 18 board meeting and could vote on the optimization actions Oct. 9.
8 new mobile STEM labs to visit 270 Texas school districts this school year
Education in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, may become more accessible for Texas public school students this school year.
What happened: Officials from national education nonprofit Learning Undefeated and the Texas Education Agency celebrated the opening of eight new mobile STEM labs at a Sept. 10 ribbon-cutting ceremony in Austin. The TEA-funded labs are expected to visit 270 school districts across the state in the 2025-26 school year.
Notable quote: “In an ever-changing world, access to STEM education remains critical to help prepare our students for career pathways and lifelong success,” said Alejando Delgado, TEA deputy commissioner of operations.
The overview: Learning Undefeated built eight new mobile STEM labs after receiving a $3.5 million grant from the TEA, according to Learning Defeated information. The organization opened its first mobile STEM lab in Texas in 2020.
The nine regionally-based labs will now visit elementary and middle school campuses across the state’s 20 educational service center regions. Kindergarten through eighth grade students may participate in a variety of STEM activities to learn engineering design.
