Hill Elementary School in Northwest Austin hosts ribbon-cutting ceremony for modernized campus

Austin ISD officials and the Hill Elementary School community gathered March 1 for a ceremonial grand opening celebration for the recently renovated campus.

The school—located at 8601 Tallwood Drive, Austin—received $17 million in renovations aimed to modernize the building and increase its capacity. While construction concluded in October, a ribbon-cutting ceremony had been delayed due to COVID-19.

Among the improvements made at Hill Elementary School are a new fourth-grade classroom wing, which includes modern and flexible learning spaces; a new gymnasium; and outdoor learning areas, according to an AISD press release.

“Our modernized campuses are more flexible, and they are easier to adapt because at the end of the day it's how our teachers maximize the space,” AISD Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde said at the ceremony. “The new furniture and flexible learning spaces mean our kiddos and our staff can learn and teach in ways that best work for them.”

The Hill Elementary School project was funded by the more than $1 billion 2017 AISD voter-approved bond.

AISD District 4 Trustee Kristin Ashy said the completed construction represents a partial renovation of Hill Elementary School, and additional projects, including vestibule improvements and modernizing additional classroom spaces, may happen in the future.

“Now that we’ve returned to in-person learning, my hope is that the modernized Hill Elementary School is a treasured space for students for decades to come,” AISD board President Geronimo Rodriguez said.