Montgomery community members took their first steps into the front doors of MISD’s two new facilities for high school students on July 30 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours.

In a nutshell

Named The DEN for “discover,” “explore” and “navigate,” one building is for career and technical education and one is dedicated to agricultural science. The two centers, which have an estimated final cost of $69.5 million, are projects from the district’s 2022 $326.9 million bond, according to prior Community Impact reporting.
“These are not just buildings, they are symbols of what Montgomery ISD stands for. We stand for investing in our young people,” MISD Superintendent Mark Ruffin said. “We value opportunity, we value hard work, we value innovation and most of all, we value our students enough to give them the very best.”

The setup

The DEN features facilities including:
  • Bistro operated by culinary students
  • Cosmetology studio
  • Automotive shop
  • Engineering and robotics lab
  • Animal show arena
  • Audiovisual studio
  • Manufacturing and welding lab
  • Culinary lab
  • Criminal justice classroom
  • Health science classrooms
“The students who walk these halls will go on to become engineers, healthcare professionals, small business owners, chefs, law enforcement officers and many, many more and when they do, they'll remember where it all started, right here at The DEN,” Ruffin said.


What to expect

The DEN will be open for the 2025-26 school year, which begins Aug. 14.