Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

DFW-Area District Opens New Replacement Middle School

  • By Matt Jones
  • 02/10/26

Key Takeaways

  • Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD celebrated the opening of a new replacement campus for Wayside Middle School, funded by the district’s 2023 Bond Proposition A and designed in partnership with VLK.
  • Inspired by Marine Creek Middle School, the 180,000-square-foot facility expands capacity to 1,200 students and features three academic wings connected to a central media center.
  • Built in two phases to limit disruption, the school opened to students in spring 2026, with parking and athletic facilities currently under construction.

The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District near Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new replacement middle school campus, according to a news release. The new facility for Wayside Middle School, originally established in 1964, was built on the site of the former district administration building and funded through Bond Proposition A in 2023. The district partnered with VLK for the project’s design.

The school’s design was inspired by the prototype of nearby Marine Creek Middle School, paying tribute to the school’s history and sense of school pride while upgrading important amenities. The new facility expands the campus by 30,000 square feet to a total of 180,000 square feet, allowing a total capacity of 1,200 students. The building contains three academic wings connecting to a central media center, according to the news release.

“Through the support of the bond program and the dedicated work of district leadership, board, and staff, this vision has become a reality. The new Wayside Middle School is more than a building. It is a modern learning environment designed to support academic excellence, student engagement, and long-term success,” said Lauren Brown, VLK Principal. “This is a moment to celebrate what thoughtful planning and community trust can accomplish. Congratulations to EMS ISD on delivering a campus that will serve generations of students for years to come.”

According to the news release, construction occurred in two phases to minimize disruptions for students during the transition phase. Phase I consisted of the facility itself, which opened its doors to students at the beginning of the spring 2026 semester. Phase II will consist of developing school parking and athletics facilities, and is currently underway.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Barbara Vick Western Branch

    Barbara Vick Western Branch

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The Barbara Vick Western Branch has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Grand Prize award in the category of Renovation.

  • Phoenix School District Breaks Ground on New Prep Academy

    The Creighton Elementary School District near Phoenix, Ariz., recently broke ground on a campus replacement for Biltmore Preparatory Academy, according to a news release. The new space will allow the school to expand its enrollment by 50 percent for K–8 students and accommodate modern, collaborative learning styles.

  • Dallas ISD Voters Approve $6.2B Bond Package

    Dallas ISD voters have approved a record-setting $6.2-billion bond package that district leaders say will modernize aging campuses, eliminate portable classrooms and reshape learning environments across one of the nation’s largest school systems.

  • USC Launches Major AI Initiative After $200M Gift

    The University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif., recently announced that it has launched a “transformational” new AI initiative thanks to a $200M gift, according to a news release. The project will leverage AI toward breakthroughs and innovations in subjects like the health sciences, business, security, and the arts.