At Frisco ISD's first public forum Oct. 7, Superintendent Jeremy Lyon talked primarily about the district's unprecedented growth, which continues to drive the need for more schools.

"We've watched other communities grow in rapid form, but probably nothing like in Frisco," Lyon said.

The forum took place one week before the district is set to publicly announce proposed rezoning plans for the 2014-15 school year when Independence High School is set to open.

"We understand that Independence represents a challenging moment for the district because it sits between three schools in the district," Lyon said. "We understand there is quite a bit of anxiety by parents and a keen interest in this process, and we're prepared for that."

Growth numbers

Lyon presented a graphic to the crowd showing that, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, Frisco saw a 2,527.13 percent increase in student enrollment from the 1990-91 school year to the 2010-11 school year, making it the fastest growing district in the country According to the study, Leander ISD was a distant second with 493.13 percent growth over the same period.

The district had 45,993 students enrolled as of Oct. 1, 2013. That number is projected to climb to 55,807 by 2016 and significantly higher by the time Frisco is built out.

"We ended the school year last year with 43,000 students and we started this year with 46,000 students ... with reasonable estimates we will hit the 70,000 to 80,000 mark," Lyon told those in attendance.

Frisco ISD is 68 percent built out, and according to Lyon, much of its future growth depends on three landowners, who collectively own 40 percent of the remaining land in the district.

"We spend a lot of time looking at those undeveloped tracts of land and pondering, 'well, what if those get developed'" Lyon said.

During the open forum, one Frisco ISD parent asked what happens if the growth slows or if population decreases after the district has built schools to accommodate current needs.

In response, Richard Wilkinson, deputy superintendent of business services said the district continually works to be conservative, yet proactive in addressing growth.

"We try not to build schools too fast," he said.

Rezoning process

With Independence High School opening in August 2014, the district is set to begin the rezoning process public discussions.

Board members and the public will hear the district's preliminary redistricting plan for high schools at the Oct. 14 meeting, followed by discussion at the November meeting and a board of trustees decision at the December meeting.

The discussion for elementary school rezoning will start at the November meeting, continue at the December meeting, and the board of trustees will make a decision at the January meeting.