The aquatic facility will be home to New Caney ISD’s two high school swim teams.[/caption]
As more families migrate to the Lake Houston area, Humble and New Caney ISDs are opening new schools and athletic facilities to keep up with population growth.
New Caney ISD will open its 10th elementary school in August.[/caption]
Each of the two districts will open an elementary school near rapidly growing single-family developments this August. NCISD will also debut a districtwide natatorium—an indoor swimming facility—at Texan Drive Stadium this fall that could attract regional high school competitions.
Groves Elementary will host Humble ISD’s third Spanish Immersion Program.[/caption]
HISD and NCISD have plans to open new schools next year as well as student growth continues.
NCISD’s student population could add more than 10,000 students in the next decade, pushing its student population to more than 24,000 by 2025, according to a high-growth scenario outlined by a 2016 study conducted by the Population and Survey Analysts demographics company.
“The latest demographic projections show continued growth by between 5 and 7 percent for the next 10 years,” NCISD Superintendent Kenn Franklin said. “The district grew by more than 6 percent from October 2015 to October 2016, which aligns with the high-growth scenario presented to the board of trustees by Population and Survey Analysts last fall.”
Meanwhile, HISD’s student population is expected to continue to increase by about 1,000 per year until at least 2025, according to PASA data.
NCISD growth Trend
After NCISD’s 10th elementary school—Dogwood Elementary School—and its new natatorium open to students this fall, the district will open a new Infinity Early College High School building at Lone Star College-Kingwood and Brookwood Forest Elementary, in 2018.
The projects are funded through the district’s $173 million bond referendum passed by voters in May 2015.
When Infinity Early College opens at LSC-Kingwood in 2018, it will be the first early college facility on a Lone Star College System campus. The 47,000-square-foot facility will cost $11.4 million to construct and host at least 400 students, according to the school district.
Early college high school academy programs allow students to take college courses and earn associate degrees while they get their high school diplomas, said Kimberly Klepcyk, dean of Academic Partnerships and Initiatives for LSC-Kingwood.
Dogwood Elementary—a 106,000-square- foot facility—will host about 800 students in 2017, according to PASA data.
The curriculum at Dogwood Elementary will integrate student leadership development into school programs and a curriculum based on Stephen R. Covey’s book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.”
“The program integrates Covey’s seven habits into regular classroom instruction and operates on the premise that every student can be a leader,” said Scott Powers, NCISD executive director for public relations.
The natatorium will feature a 25-yard competition pool and concession stands as well as locker rooms and athletic administrative offices at build-out in September.
It will be used by the swimming and diving teams at Porter and New Caney high schools and will provide the district room to grow if it has to open a third high school, Powers said.
“The natatorium will seat 400 spectators ... the courtyard created between the new natatorium and the field house will be designed to have outdoor seating,” Powers said.
New HISD schools
Groves Elementary School will open in August to about 600 students in The Groves subdivision in Atascocita.
The $23 million facility is one of six new schools the district expects to open by 2022 and has a capacity for 950 students, Groves Elementary Principal Brian Peters said.
Next year, the district will open the $44 million Middle School No. 9 next door to Groves Elementary. The 204,825-square-foot middle school is designed to hold 1,110 students when it opens in August 2018.
Both projects were funded through a $245 million bond authorized by voters in 2008.
The new elementary school will feature an in-demand Spanish Immersion Program and a heavy investment in technology, such as laptops, tablets and interactive whiteboards in classrooms.
Students will be able to continue the Spanish Immersion Program at Middle School No. 9 when it opens.
The 111,000-square-foot Groves Elementary is also designed to have collaborative spaces throughout the building, Peters said.
The school was furnished to create collaboration space in classrooms, in science labs and in the library, Peters said. The classrooms could have a combination of comfortable chairs, traditional desks and standing desks, Peters said.
“Putting things in place where it’s not just a teacher delivering content or delivering how to do something, but establishing those relationships that build rapport and create that atmosphere of children wanting to learn [leads to higher rates of student success,]” he said.
