Texas K–12 District to Build New Elementary, High Schools

The High Island Independent School District on the Bolivar Peninsula in Southeast Texas recently announced that construction on a new elementary school and a new high school will begin in January 2026, according to local news. Funding will come from a $27.9-million bond passed in May 2025.

The project consists of building separate elementary and high-school buildings that will share a new gym and library facility. Construction has an estimated completion date of August 2027, local news reports. Once the new facility opens, the existing high school and elementary buildings will be demolished and replaced with school parking.

According to local news from April 2025, the existing facilities are 76 years old and are aging out of use. Three buildings—extracurricular facilities used for cheerleading, weight training, and athletics—have been condemned. Further review indicated that renovation and repair would cost almost as much as building new facilities.

“This will meet our needs,” said High Island ISD Superintendent David Walker. “This school is a part of the community in a lot of ways. If we didn’t have the school, we wouldn’t have our community.”

12NewsNow reports that design and construction plans will be finalized by September and that groundbreaking is scheduled for January 2026. The project should involve “very minimal traffic issues in moving students and everything,” said Walker.

The bond had originally promised no tax rate increase for local taxpayers. Instead, the district will implement a tax rate decrease of 8 cents, even with the bond’s passage.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • UCNJ Launches $30M Modernization of Physical Education Center

    The Union College of Union County (UCNJ) in Cranford, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $30-million modernization project for its Physical Education Center (PECK), according to a news release. The college partnered with DIGroup Architecture for the project’s design, transitioning the existing 42,000-square-foot structure into a campus hub for student athletics and campus life.

  • LAN, Inc. Opens Office in College Station, Texas

    Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) recently announced the opening of a new office in College Station, Texas, to support its regional client base, according to a news release. The organization provides engineering, design, and program management services for water, wastewater, transportation, stormwater, and education clients in the Brazos Valley.

  • New City School

    Turning Crisis into Opportunity: Transforming New City School

    When New City School in St. Louis suffered catastrophic flood damage in July 2022, the event could have marked a serious setback for the 100-year-old institution. Instead, it became a forward-looking opportunity.

  • University of Illinois Moves Forward with College Sports’ Largest Digital Scoreboard

    The University of Illinois in Champaign, Ill., recently announced a series of upgrades to Gies Memorial Stadium that will include the largest scoreboard in college sports, according to a news release.

Digital Edition