Private schools around the Tomball and Magnolia area offer a variety of specialized instruction, from different religious affiliations to various types of curriculum. These are some of the private schools in the Tomball and Magnolia area, including several from bordering areas that serve Tomball and Magnolia students. Tuition prices are current. This list is not comprehensive, and details are subject to change.

The Sherwood Academy
Type: traditional
Grades served: pre-K-9
Religious orientation: N/A
Extracurricular activities: art, Spanish, Destination Imagination, music, fine arts
Enrollment: 200
Tuition: $1,200-$1,300 per month

• 32810 Tamina Road, Magnolia

• 700 East Main St., Tomball

• 715 Carrell St., Tomball (grade school); 23623 Snook Lane, Tomball (early childhood campus)

Barbarossa Coffee has added a new shop in Magnolia, its third location, after celebrating a grand opening Nov. 15, owner Ozzy Guragac said. 

The details: Guragac said the Magnolia location serves as a new gathering place designed for everything from catching up with friends to studying or hosting meetings, paired with coffee and freshly baked pastries. 

The Magnolia cafe joins Barbarossa Coffee’s existing locations in Tomball and Spring, according to its website.

• 28408 Sweetgum Road, Unit B-1, Magnolia 

With vendors across Harris County starting consumer fireworks sales Dec. 21 ahead of the holiday and new year, Harris County Fire Marshal officials are reminding residents to follow safety protocols and proper disposal guidelines.

Quote of note: “Fireworks are allowed in unincorporated Harris County, but there are areas that fireworks are not allowed in unincorporated Harris County,” HCFMO Public Information Officer Brandi Dumas said. “Our message is always safety first.”

What residents should know: The fire marshal’s office recommended some of the following tips:

• Follow the law and be sure fireworks are legal in your community and with your homeowners association
• Make sure there is a bucket of water or water source nearby for emergencies
• Soak used fireworks prior to disposing of them in the trash

Here are eight fine dining restaurants near Downtown Houston that will be open on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. This list is not comprehensive, and details are subject to change.

Trattoria Sofia: The Houston Heights restaurant serves authentic, rustic Italian food in an intimate, romantic setting, with a focus on seasonal items and fresh ingredients. Popular pastas include the cacio e pepe, lamb ragu and shrimp scampi.

• Open 4-9 p.m. on Christmas Eve
• 911 W. 11th St., Houston

B&B Butchers: The fine-dining steakhouse on Washington Avenue will be open Christmas Eve, serving Royal White Sturgeon Caviar, Snake River Farms Pork Chop and brisket ravioli.

• Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Christmas Eve 
• 1814 Washington Ave., Houston

Remi
The restaurant at Hotel Granduca is hosting a festive, family-style feast with sparkling bubbles, gourmet dishes and seasonal treats.

• Open 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on Christmas Day
• 1080 Uptown Park Blvd., Houston

In the Greater Houston area in November, single-family rental leases grew 10.2% year over year, while lease prices remained statistically flat, with a 0.4% increase to $2,244, according to the Houston Association of Realtors’ November 2025 Rental Market Update report released Dec. 17.

More details: This November, there were 3,459 leased homes, compared to 3,139 last November, according to the report. Active listings also increased, with 11,933 single-family homes available.

What they're saying: “As the year moves into its final stretch Houston renters are receiving a welcome gift in the form of more options and stable prices,” HAR Chair Shae Cottar with LPT Realty said via news release. “As interest rates continue to ease, we may see more people feel confident about making the transition from renting to buying in the new year.”

Here are five of the most-read CI Texas stories from this year and the latest updates on these trending topics.

1. Texas Senate passes bill that would nearly double property tax exemption for seniors, people with disabilities: Elderly and disabled homeowners were set to receive a $200,000 property tax exemption this year.

2. Texas House bill would make it easier to remove students from the classroom: The law gives teachers more discretion to remove students from the classroom if they are repeatedly disruptive or threaten the safety of others.

3. What to know about the 17 state propositions on the Nov. 4 ballot: Nearly 3 million Texans voted in the November election, approving all 17 constitutional amendments.

4. Texas House bill would prohibit cellphone use in K-12 schools: Under House Bill 1481, cellphones and other personal communication devices are prohibited bell-to-bell in Texas public schools.

5. Texas families can now access 2022-23 A-F school accountability ratings after multiyear legal battle: The state later released ratings for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years in August.