HTX-COM: Impact 8/22/2025

The Texas Education Agency released public school accountability ratings for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years Aug. 15.

The gist: Montgomery ISD received a B for the 2023-24 school year with 86 out of 100 possible points and a B with 87 out of 100 possible points for the 2024-25 school year. Willis ISD received a C for the 2022-23 school year with 73 out of 100 possible points, and a C with 77 out of 100 possible points for the 2024-25 school year, according to the TEA.

Some context: A-F ratings for school districts were first issued in 2018, according to an April 24 TEA news release. The ratings were created to give parents insight into the quality of their children’s campus and district, according to previous Community Impact reporting.

One more thing: Texas lawmakers have been working on legislation that could make it harder for school districts to sue the TEA over the accountability system.

Daniel’s Barbershop officials said the barbershop expanded with a second location in Willis earlier this month. The barbershop has an additional location in Conroe at 3708 W. Davis St., Ste. C, Conroe.

What they offer: Daniel’s Barbershop offers men’s haircuts, and grooming services such as beard trim and shaves, nose and ear wax services and hair designs.

• 904 W. Montgomery St., Ste. 3, Willis

Lone Star College System is moving forward with plans to offer a new bachelor’s degree in early childhood education with help from a $200,000 grant from Houston Endowment, according to an Aug. 13 news release. 

The details: The grant will help fund consulting services and curriculum development for the degree program, as stated in the release.
The Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education and Teaching will serve early childhood-grade 3 and early childhood-grade 6. The degree is expected to launch in fall 2026 with an initial cohort of 150 students, pending approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board as well as the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, per the release. 

Diving in deeper: The bachelor’s degree would become the fifth bachelor’s program in the college system’s offerings, which includes cybersecurity, emergency management, energy and trades management and nursing, according to the release.

Willis ISD has approved its fiscal year 2025-26 balanced budget, including a tax rate of $1.0349 per $100 valuation, which is the same as the previous fiscal year.

The gist: WISD Chief Financial Officer Garrett Matej previously presented the balanced budget at the July 9 workshop meeting following the impact of House Bill 2, as previously reported by Community Impact. The FY 2025-26 budget includes $97.18 million in both estimated revenues and expenditures. Some highlights include:

• $4.8 million in student transportation expenses
• $49.14 million in revenue from state programs
• $1.91 million in instructional curriculum expenses

July home sales saw a decrease year over year in the Conroe and Montgomery area, according to market data provided by local real estate firm The Sawyer Realty Group.

What you need to know: Home sales decreased in five of the eight ZIP codes in the Conroe and Montgomery area, with total home sales decreasing 1.7% year over year in July.