Denton ISD voters approved a bond package of more than $1 billion in May 2023. About $375 million went toward building two brand new campuses: Mia Price High School, the district's fifth high school, and the Jim Alexander Advanced Technology Center.
Denton ISD Superintendent Susannah O'Bara center will accommodate current and future said adding the new high school and career district growth along US 380. Both schools are scheduled to open for the 2028-29 school year.
Also part of the bond package is the construction of new facilities for Ginnings Elementary School and Borman Elementary School, which will collectively cost nearly $120 million, according to district data.
Ginnings Elementary closed at the end of the 2024-25 school year while Borman Elementary was operational as the new school was being built on the same property.
The overview
The district is using 2023 bond funds to build and improve campuses, including Mia Price High School and the Jim Alexander Advanced Technology Center, both in Cross Roads.
Crews are also constructing a new Ginnings Elementary building and just finished the new Borman Elementary campus to upgrade both schools' energy efficiency and technology, said Brandon Boyter, DISD's executive director of construction planning.
In September 2024, DISD trustees approved the budget to build Mia Price High School, and construction started the following month. The construction of Borman Elementary began in 2024, as well, and Ginnings Elementary's reconstruction started in September 2025.
"Both Borman Elementary and Ginnings Elementary were aging facilities that no longer met the needs of today's educational environment," Boyter said.
Some background
Demographic reports show that DISD's enrollment will reach nearly 36,000 students by the 2029-30 school year, up 12.44% from 31,955 students in 2021-22. The district called the 2023 bond to keep up with enrollment and the population growth along US 380, O'Bara said.
The city of Denton went from a population of 141,522 people in 2019 to 165,986 people in 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. For residents ages 5-19, that population grew from 35,870 in 2019 to 44,297 in 2024, a 23.49% increase.
DISD also enrolls children from all or parts of 19 nearby cities and towns like Corinth, Krum and Cross Roads, the district's website states. DISD is one of the few districts in North Texas with growing enrollment, according to previous reporting.
What else?
Will Milne, DISD's career and technical training director, said the Jim Alexander Advanced Technology Center will provide an alternative education path than traditional high schools. The school will have programs in health sciences, HVAC, plumbing, construction management, robotics, electrical work and human services.
For the 2025-26 school year, roughly 1,100 students graduated from the district's CTE programs, and 8,300 high school students will take a CTE course in the 2026-27 school year, Milne said.
Looking ahead
Mia Price and Jim Alexander are scheduled to open to students for the 2028-29 school year, Boyter said. Initial projections have the new technology center costing about $70 million, and trustees will vote to approve the funding in late 2026. Construction will start in 2027.
When Jim Alexander opens, it will serve all DISD high schoolers, Milne said. Students will attend the center for part of the school day and the rest of their classes will be at their main campus.
Feeder patterns and attendance zones will be determined this fall for Mia Price, O'Bara said. The district will communicate with affected district families directly as that process moves forward. Transportation for Jim Alexander will be determined at a later date, as well, Milne said.
Ginnings Elementary School is scheduled to reopen for the 2028-29 school year. Currently, crews are zoning in on concrete slab work and the construction of the school's exterior walls, Boyter said. Borman Elementary School reopened in August ahead of the 2026-27 school year after crews finished installing furniture and technology.
The elementary schools' improvements will save the district and taxpayers money on maintenance costs and extend the facilities' lifespan through its use of efficient energy, Boyter said. He added the enhancements will have a positive impact on learning and teaching.
"These facilities are designed not only to meet the needs of today's learners but also support the evolving educational needs of future generations," Boyter said.
