The current boundaries are drawn for eight elementary schools and two middle schools, Deputy Superintendent Kristi Lee said during a BISD board meeting Nov. 19.
Current school boundaries:
The proposed perimeters will include the addition of the ninth elementary school, as well as the restructuring of two middle schools, named Adelton, Riverside and Creekside, respectively—all of which will open in the fall of 2025.
BISD Communications Director Cassie Balderas said no high school boundaries are expected to change.
School officials will hold two town hall meetings to present detailed maps of the proposed boundaries and consider public input.
Maps of proposed middle school boundaries:
Map of proposed elementary school boundaries:
Bob Templeton, vice president of school districts for demographic consulting firm Zonda, presented the suggested boundaries during the Nov. 19 meeting, emphasizing the growing population in Bastrop causing a need to restructure the district boundaries.
“You have a very long growth horizon,” Templeton said, noting that the district has 31 actively building subdivisions.
Templeton said the district’s student enrollment is expected to hit 19,361 in the next 10 years—a 45% increase from the 2024 enrollment of 13,373.
Templeton noted that the rezoning will eliminate the projected overcrowding within the district—but not for long.
The new schools, and more to come, are part of the 2021 and 2023 bonds, totaling over $500 million.
Lee Raspberry, BISD director of construction and planning, said in a previous interview with Community Impact that all bond projects should be completed by fall 2026; however, a new bond package will likely be proposed as the district continues to grow.
“We are aware that another bond proposition is inevitable in the near future based on this exceptional growth, and it’s important for our community to be aware of this too,” BISD Superintendent Barry Edwards said.
The challenges
The middle school plan will double the boundaries into four zones; however, Templeton said the Bastrop Middle School will approach its capacity of 885 in 2028-29, and Cedar Creek and Riverside middle schools will approach their capacities of 904 and 907 in 2030-31.
“Regardless of how you do the zones, you’ll hit total capacity on these by 2030-31,” Templeton said.
“The challenge that we see is you’re opening an elementary, but you need to relieve five to six elementaries,” Templeton told trustees. “I’ve reviewed your plan, and your plan does a really good job at the cascade or domino moves. ... The reality is, in 2025 we’ll see a significant reduction [in approaching capacity] that will cover you for two to three years.”
After that, district officials will need to open more campuses, he said.
Stay tuned
District residents are encouraged to attend one or both of the upcoming town halls, Balderas said.
“We will have large maps available, and we will give [the public] the boundary presentation, answer their questions, and help them to feel comfortable with the boundaries,” Lee said.
After hearing from residents and adjusting any proposed boundaries if needed, Lee said her team will present their final proposal to trustees in January.
“Our goal is to create school boundaries that are balanced in student population, that minimize neighborhood disruption, and that factor transportation routes and needs,” Lee said.
Upcoming town halls on proposed boundaries:
- Dec. 9, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Bastrop Middle School
- Dec. 10, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Cedar Creek Middle School
