The Fort Bend ISD board of trustees approved secondary boundary changes on Oct. 5, impacting approximately 1,744 students with the goal to relieve overutilization in Elkins, Austin and Travis high schools. (Pili Saravia/Community Impact)
Hundreds of Fort Bend ISD students will be zoned to different schools in the 2027-28 school year after the board of trustees approved new secondary boundaries.
In a nutshell
The secondary boundary changes, which were approved at an Oct. 5 meeting, will impact approximately 1,744 students with the goal of relieving overutilization in Elkins, Austin and Travis high schools.
Middle school changes were approved in a 6-1 vote with trustee Adam Schoof dissenting, while the high school boundaries had two scenario options.
Board members were originally slated to vote on the second high school scenario, but the motion failed in a 4-3 vote. Board members made a new motion to approve the first scenario—which affects fewer students but provides less release to Elkins—and it passed unanimously.
The decision comes after the district closed seven elementary schools during its first phase of the boundary review.
By the numbers
Both scenarios aim to keep as many students together as they enter middle and high school, according to the district's website.
Currently, 14 elementary schools split to more than one middle school and 11 middle schools split to more than one high school, per the district website. With new boundary changes, only eight elementary schools and seven middle schools split.
Draft middle school rezoning map showing proposed boundary changes affecting 694 projected resident students across schools.Fort Bend ISD
The middle school scenario, which is projected to impact 694 resident students, will rezone approximately:
195 students from Crockett to Hodges Bend
121 students from Garcia to Hodges Bend
244 students from Hodges Bend to Sugar Land
18 students from Sugar Land to Dulles Middle
37 students from First Colony to Fort Settlement
192 students from Baines to Coleman
131 students from Baines to Lake Olympia
102 students from Lake Olympia to Coleman
Draft high school boundary map, Scenario 2, showing proposed attendance zone changes impacting 1,561 projected resident students.Fort Bend ISD
Meanwhile, the high school scenario, which is projected to impact 1,050 students, will rezone approximately:
464 students from Travis to Bush
73 students from Bush to Kempner
27 students from Kempner to Dulles
Two students from Austin to Travis
11 students from Austin to Clements
473 students from Elkins to Clements
The district calculated the number of students rezoned based on the number of students who live in the affected areas, per the website.
Some context
To increase campus capacity levels, schools can add temporary portable classrooms to seat more students, according to the district’s website. Austin High School has added 350 seats, Elkins added 650 and Travis added 750 via portables.
What they’re saying
During public comment, several parents and community members asked the board to consider the first high school scenario instead of the second one because it affects fewer students and some viewed it as a better long-term solution.
However, results from a feedback survey distributed to community members in August showed high school scenario two received slightly higher support from respondents who lived in affected feeder patterns.
Shirisha Mudhireddy, who is running for FBISD board of trustees, Position 4, said it can be difficult for parents in the morning to drive their kids to a school farther away.
“We don't have to rush,” Mudhireddy said. “This is happening again for the second time in the year. Elementary closures is a very sad story in FBISD, and we don’t want to repeat this.”
Also of note
Current high school students can request to stay at their school, Deputy Superintendent Chief of Staff Beth Martinez said.
Students entering 8th grade and students affected by previous boundary changes are also eligible to stay at their current campus, but the district will not provide transportation.
Check it out
Check to see if you are impacted by secondary boundary changes on the district’s interactive map. The new boundaries will go into effect for the 2027-28 school year.
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