Leander ISD scored 87 out of 100 possible points in the Texas Education Agency's A-F accountability ratings, maintaining a "B" rating from last year. The TEA released the 2025-26 ratings for Texas school districts on Aug. 14.

How it works: According to the TEA, ratings are based on measures of student achievement including State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR tests; graduation rates; and college, career and military readiness outcomes. "A," "B" and "C" ratings are considered passing, while "D" and "F" are failing ratings. Campuses rated "D" or "F" for two or more consecutive years are required to implement state turnaround plans.

Breaking it down: Per the data, LISD has:

• 19 "A"-rated campuses

• 13 "B"-rated campuses

• 11 "C"-rated campuses

• 2 "D"-rated campuses

• 2 "F"-rated campuses

Twenty-six campuses maintained their ratings from 2024-25. 

While no LISD campuses have had "D" or "F" ratings for two consecutive years since 2024-25, Giddens Elementary and Knowles Elementary received a "D" rating this year, and Bagdad and Camacho received "F" ratings. 

The fall festivities are in full swing. Check out nine events in the Cedar Park area. 

Messy Makerspace: Get creative and make a cuckoo clock during this hands-on program at the library. The program is for ages 5 and older, and adult supervision is required for children younger than 8. A Full Access Library Card is required to register, but walk-ins are welcome as space allows.

• Sept. 19, 10-11 a.m.

• 425 S. Parkwest Drive, Cedar Park

Cedar Parktoberfest: The Cedar Park Parks and Recreation Department invites the community to celebrate Bavarian culture at this lively festival featuring traditional German food and beer, live music, carnival rides and a stein-hoisting competition. Enjoy performances by Yodel Blitz and the Brushy Creek Brass Band, along with activities for the whole family.

• Sept. 26, 4 p.m.

• 301 S. Bell Blvd., Cedar Park

Texas Pumpkin Festival: The pumpkin fest returns to Leander for a fall celebration featuring a massive pumpkin patch, carnival rides, live entertainment, family-friendly games, photo opportunities and more.

• Oct. 10- Nov. 1

• 8760 FM 2243, Leander

Williamson County commissioners unanimously approved an economic development agreement Aug. 20 for Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ space technology company, to possibly construct a facility on Innovation Boulevard in Hutto.

What we know: The deal would facilitate Blue Origin’s construction of approximately one million square-feet of industrial research space related to the aerospace and defense industry, located in Hutto Crossing industrial park, according to county documents.

The facility represents an $674 million investment in the county, and would create as many as 2,000 jobs in 10 years, officials said at the meeting. This would make it the largest employer in the city of Hutto, Precinct 4 commissioner Russ Boles said

Something to note: The county’s deal mirrors the incentives that the Hutto Economic Development Corporation recently approved, Snell said. The exact details of the agreements have not been made public, and are still under active negotiation, EDC Director Cheney Gamboa said.

Ahead of the 2026-27 school year, public school leaders in Community Impact’s coverage areas shuttered at least nine individual schools to respond to repeated state accountability issues and stave off state intervention. A new Texas Education Agency rule may make it harder for districts to do so in the future.

The details: Beginning Aug. 16, if a district closes a D- or F-rated campus and transfers the largest share of students from the closed campus to a school with a C, D or F rating, the closed campus’ rating will be assigned to the new campus. 

Districts will only avoid transferring a shuttered school’s rating history if they relocate a plurality of students to an A- or B-rated campus.

Stay tuned: The TEA is scheduled to release A-F ratings for the 2025-26 school year on Aug. 14. If a school receives five failing ratings in a row, the TEA is required under state law to close that campus or replace the district’s board of trustees with a state-appointed board of managers.