Round Rock ISD owns 1,496.9 acres of land within its 70,400-acre boundaries, with almost 250 of those acres currently undeveloped.
Some larger parcels have long been identified as the future homes of campuses, such as a sixth high school near Pearson Ranch Road and a potential second competition stadium near A.W. Grimes Boulevard.
These parcels have remained part of RRISD for many years, as the district anticipated growth.
However, as the district enters into another financial year characterized by uncertainty, Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez said every option is on the table.
The context
The district has not yet committed to any land sales to generate more revenue in the short-term, he said. However, this could change, pending discussions with the district’s demographic firm, Zonda Education, in the fall and spring.
If demographic projections show further declines in enrollment or that future residential development is unlikely to bring more students to the district, he said the district may reevaluate its position regarding property sales.
“If we determine that we may not need all this land, [then] probably the best way is to talk with the board about potentially selling ... to generate some funding,” Azaiez said. “But we are not there yet.”
Holding these properties also carries a cost to the district, he said, as they must still be maintained.
The action taken
During the 2024-25 financial year, the district announced the sale of a 7.5-acre property for $9.8 million. This sale, administrators said, was expected to turn a balanced budget for that fiscal year into a surplus.
In FY 2025-26, property sales totaled just over $1 million.
What are the options?
If growth persists in the area, Azaiez said the district could accommodate enrollment fluctuations by adjusting attendance boundaries, rather than building more campuses. This could allow the district to part with some of its undeveloped properties, he said.
He said RRISD is closely monitoring how education savings accounts as well as the district’s own in-house virtual academy could impact facility needs.
It is possible, he said, that the properties held by the district could become permanently unnecessary and would better benefit the district through their sale.
