Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

South Texas K–12 District Debuts Region’s First Electric Bus Fleet

  • By Matt Jones
  • 10/28/25

The Valley View Independent School District in Pharr, Texas, recently announced a partnership with Highland Electric Fleets to launch the district’s—and the region’s—first fleet of all-electric school buses, according to a news release. The fleet consists of eight Thomas Built Type-C electric buses and eight Tellus 30kW chargers, with the ultimate goal of reducing district operating expenses and providing cleaner and quieter rides for students.

According to the news release, the move will reduce fuel and maintenance costs as well as overall transportation expenses by up to 25 percent. Benefits to students, meanwhile, include “cleaner air, a quieter ride, and air conditioning to keep them comfortable in the South Texas heat.” The district held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to debut the fleet on Thursday, October 16.

"Valley View ISD is proud to bring the first electric school buses to our community," said Valley View ISD Interim Superintendent Monica Luna. "This project helps us lower transportation costs while giving our students cleaner air to breathe. A healthier, quieter ride means they can arrive at school ready to learn."

The district partnered with Highland Electric Fleets for the transition. Highland Electric, which offers Electrification-as-a-Service to districts, will manage the buses, charging infrastructure, and ongoing maintenance and support needs. Each new bus will average about 40 miles a day on its morning and afternoon routes, the news release reports.

"This milestone shows what's possible when schools, communities, and partners work together," said Highland Electric Fleets Regional Business Manager Mattew Scott. "For Valley View, it means students breathing cleaner air, reliable buses for drivers, and savings the district can put back into classrooms."

The project cost $2.7 million, and funding came from the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Stanford Completes Construction on Graduate School of Education Facility

    Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., recently announced the end of construction on a new home for its Graduate School of Education, according to a news release. The university partnered with McCarthy Building Companies on the 160,000-square-foot project, which involved two major renovations and one new construction effort.

  • UTampa Breaks Ground on STEM Academic Facility

    The University of Tampa in Tampa, Fla., recently broke ground on one of its largest academic facilities ever, according to a news release. The Dickey Science Innovation Center will measure 153,000 square feet and has a scheduled completion date of fall 2028.

  • From Approval to Opening: Inside Travis Unified School District’s Fast Tracked Campus Expansion

    The Travis Unified School District (TUSD) in northern California includes several elementary and high schools serving over 5,400 students. In 2024, the TUSD Board approved the addition of sixth grade to the Golden West Middle School campus for the 2025–26 school year, setting in motion an accelerated effort to bring new facilities online in less than a year.

  • FGCU Breaks Ground on New Health Sciences Building

    Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) has launched construction on a major new academic facility that leaders say will reshape healthcare education in Southwest Florida for decades to come, according to university news.