Leander Independent School District is moving forward with a major expansion to meet shifting enrollment patterns. The district proposes two new elementary schools: a 31st campus that would add capacity for students in the Tarvin, Parkside and Akin feeder areas, and a 32nd campus serving the Travisso development, where roughly 76% of current Mason Elementary students reside.
New Hope High School to occupy former Faubion site
District officials also shared design plans for New Hope High School, an accelerated, alternative‑graduation pathway. The school will be housed in the former Faubion Elementary building. Earlier discussions considered using the Faubion site for the Leander Extended Opportunity Center or an Early College High School, with the latter still under review for possible co‑location with New Hope.
Austin Community College tax rate adjustment
Austin Community College trustees unanimously approved a modest property‑tax rate increase to $0.103643 per $100 of valuation, up from $0.1034 last year. Because overall property values declined, the average bill is expected to drop about 2.2%, saving homeowners roughly $5 on their annual college tax portion. Homeowners with a $500,000 homestead can expect to pay about $513 toward the college, down from $562 the previous year.
Bluebonnet curriculum shows slight STAAR improvement
State Education Agency data released on September 30 indicate that Texas districts that adopted the state‑developed Bluebonnet Learning curriculum saw a modest year‑over‑year increase in STAAR performance compared with districts that did not use the program. During the 2025‑26 school year, 619 of roughly 1,200 public districts opted in to implement at least one of the three Bluebonnet programs—elementary math, secondary math, or elementary language arts.
These developments reflect Leander ISD’s commitment to expanding educational capacity, providing alternative pathways for students, and aligning with state‑wide efforts to improve academic outcomes.
Original reporting: Community Impact — Austin — read the source article.
