Richardson | January 2026

Education

BY ISABELLA ZEFF

Richardson ISD’s six remaining junior highs are on track for expansion into middle schools by 2028, district ocials presented to the school board at its Dec. 11 meeting. The overview Richardson ISD’s middle school transformation, which transitions sixth graders from elementary to junior high campuses, began with Lake Highlands and Forest Meadow, which opened as middle schools in 2024. The 2025 bond that voters approved in November will fund construction on the remaining six junior high campuses to convert to middle schools. “We wanted to ensure that there was equity across all eight middle school transformations, with Lake Highlands and Forest Meadow being our trailblazers,” Superintendent Tabitha Branum said. “However, every site and some programming that is housed at each campus does inuence the design of the building, and each building will have a unique look and a unique identity.” The details The junior high campuses require varying levels of expansion, renovation and construction to take on the additional students and programming planned for the middle schools, chief of sta Mike Jasso told the school board. The current designs plan for a 1,000-student capacity across all campuses. RISD on track to have 8 middle schools by 2028

Richardson ISD ocials presented design plans and renderings for the expansions of six junior highs, including Richardson North Junior High, at the Dec. 11 board meeting. (Rendering courtesy Stantec Architects)

Richardson West, the arts and technology magnet school, will also have culinary arts, robotics, theater and digital communications programming. West- wood, the math, science and leadership magnet, is set to have leadership, health science, computer science and criminal justice programming. What’s next The city reviewed design plans in December which are set to be nalized in the spring. School board President Chris Poteet said that people should be prepared for these early design plans to change throughout the process. Construction is slated to begin in June and projected to last until May 2028, with all campuses planned to open to sixth graders as middle schools in fall 2028.

The additions

RENDERING COURTESY STANTEC

Academic and extracurricular programming expansions for the middle schools include: • Core academic spaces (sixth through eighth grade) • Science labs • Career and technical education • Special education and intervention • Fine arts and athletics • Guidance and counseling • Collaboration spaces

• Teacher support spaces • Administration ofices • Cafeteria/kitchen

SOURCE: RICHARDSON ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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