Denton ISD leaders are planning to repurpose Paloma Creek Elementary School after it did not meet Texas Education Agency standards for several years in a row.
The district’s board of trustees and district staff discussed the rezoning plans in a Feb. 24 meeting. Current students will be moved to nearby, higher-performing elementary schools as part of DISD’s Building Forward initiative, according to a district news release. Students will be moved for the 2026-27 school year.
During the meeting discussion, Superintendent Susannah O'Bara said the district is committed to ensuring students are learning at high levels.
“This is not an easy conversation or an easy recommendation, but we firmly believe we will better fulfill what we promised to our students and families this way,” O’Bara said.
Put in perspective
Paloma Creek has been scored a D for three consecutive years under the TEA’s accountability rating.
When schools consistently perform poorly, the TEA gives districts several options to boost academic performance, including the option to reassign students to higher-performing schools, according to the release.
Currently, there are about 400 students attending Paloma Creek. Of this, there are 54 fifth graders who will be leaving after the 2025-26 school year and 72 students in the pre-K program, which has students outside of the Paloma Creek zone, O’Bara said.
What we know
Students currently attending Paloma Creek Elementary will be rezoned among the other elementary schools within the Braswell High school zone.
District officials were “very intentional” when working with Zonda Demographics, the district’s demographer, in creating the new school zones for current Paloma Creek students, said Lacey Rainey, assistant superintendent of school leadership and academic programs. District staff tried to ensure students would be attending the campus closest to their home, she said.
In rezoning Paloma Creek, some students from other elementary schools in the Braswell High zone were adjusted. Rainey explained that students currently attending another elementary school will be allowed to remain at their campus to not interrupt their educational path.
Bell Elementary will absorb about 24% of Paloma Creek students. Sandbrock Ranch will take in about 28% of Paloma Creek students while about 33% of students will be moved to Union Park Elementary. About 3% of Paloma Creek students will be rezoned to Savannah Elementary, Rainey said.
What happens next?
Paloma Creek staff will be supported through the transition and have reassignment opportunities across the district, the news release states.
The Paloma Creek campus will remain a district-owned property.
During the meeting, O’Bara mentioned the district has an opportunity to repurpose Paloma Creek to serve district staff and the community. Last year, district officials surveyed DISD employees and found that employees in the Braswell High zone gave feedback that employee child care is needed since there is a child care desert in that portion of the district, she said.
To address child care needs, other area districts have begun tuition-based preschool programs, such as Frisco ISD, which launched its tuition-based preschool program in September.
Future plans for the building are being finalized and will be shared with the community, the release states.
