Texas District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

The Bushland Independent School District in Bushland, Texas—located near Amarillo, in the state’s panhandle—recently broke ground on a new elementary school. Local news reports that the new facility will accommodate enrollment growth within the district. Voters approved a $94.3-million bond in May 2021 to go toward the project. The new school is projected to open in August 2023, according to the district website.

“We’ve been working on the design and the bond for about a year and a half now,” said Chris Wigington, Superintendent of Bushland ISD. “Our district is growing pretty quickly, and we felt like it was time to build a new elementary school.”

The new elementary school kicks off a series of construction projects in the district’s queue. The new facility will house students in grades PreK-2. The district middle school will undergo a series of renovations and then house students in grades 3–5. All middle school students will move into the existing high school, and the district will build a new high school for students in grades 9–12, which is scheduled for completion in fall 2024.

The new elementary school will feature eight classrooms per grade level, flex classrooms and designated co-teaching areas, local news reports. Wigington also revealed that there will be a multipurpose outdoor courtyard with learning stations for a variety of active learning experiences.

"We are busting at the seams. All of our classes are full, and we just received two new students today," said Bushland Elementary School Principal Brandi Rankin. "We are very excited for the new elementary school. It will allow for more early childhood development for the preK through second[-graders], and then allow for our third- through fifth-graders to have their own space to prepare for their curriculum, which involves state testing."

Project renderings are available on the Bushland ISD website. The district is partnering with Dallas-based architecture and design firm Corgan for all three components of district construction.

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.

  • Image credit: O

    Strategic Campus Assessment: Moving Beyond Reactive Maintenance in Educational Facilities

    While campuses may appear stable on the surface, building systems naturally evolve over time, and proactive assessment can identify developing issues before they become expensive emergencies. The question isn't whether aging educational facilities need attention. It's how institutions can transition from costly reactive maintenance to strategic asset management in a way that protects both budgets and communities.

  • Construction Begins on East Austin CTE-Focused High School

    The Del Valle Independent School District recently announced that construction has begun on a new CTE-focused high school in Austin, Texas, according to a news release. Del Valle High School will measure in at 473,338 square feet and have the capacity for 2,400 students.

  • UNT Dallas Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for $100M STEM Building

    The University of North Texas at Dallas in Dallas, Texas, recently celebrated the opening of its new, $100-million STEM Building, according to local news. The ceremony on Dec. 2 preceded the first day of classes in the facility on Jan. 12, 2026.

Digital Edition