Education
BY JOEL VALLEY
Education Edition
2025
Readers, welcome to your annual CI Education Edition. School is back in session, and families are adapting to the change that comes with it. We are excited to share our annual CI Education Edition to shine a light as the change and growth occur. Throughout this guide, our passionate local journalists provide information on budgets, expansions, closures, consolidations, college application help and more. As you enjoy this year’s guide, also take notice of the business ads that support our mission to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets.
What's inside
Discover terms and dates to know for college applications (Page 18)
Judy LeBas General Manager jlebas@ communityimpact.com
Check out details on Austin ISD’s and Dripping Springs ISD’s budgets (Pages 20-21)
Learn more about new state laws impacting local education (Page 23)
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183 Project Lighthouse supports internet access as demand grows Districts across Bastrop, Hays, Travis and Wil- liamson counties are ensuring learning continues when students step off campus. The details 35 Project Lighthouse schools Katherine A. Cook Elementary School
essential tool for students, many have highlighted that the internet is essential for at-home use. From March 2020-July 2023, Austin ISD pro- vided 30,000 hotspots to connect students to the internet, but funding for the $7.2 million in technology through the Federal Communications Commission ended in June 2024. Now, hotspots are prioritized for specific student programming, according to Austin ISD. However, the district has rolled out Project Lighthouse—an ongoing initia- tive that is improving telecommunication services on campuses and in neighborhoods where internet access has historically been limited. “If they don’t have internet, they can’t connect sometimes with their teachers, their classmates, online homework, and also all the information that’s out there in the world that is accessible through connectivity,” Laura Browder, AISD executive director of technology operations said.
Graham Elementary School
With devices and internet resources provided through their respective technology departments, students can access instructional materials at home. Several Central Texas districts offer tech options for students. Bastrop ISD provides Chromebooks for students in grades sixth through 12th as part of its BootUp 1:1 Technology Initiative, which launched in the fall of 2023. “Having their own device allows students the opportunity to engage with their teacher and other learners or experts,” the district said in a statement posted to its website. Zooming in Although school officials call Chromebooks an
MOPAC
Blanton Elementary
183 TOLL
Barbara Jordan Elementary School
Austin High School
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Liberal Arts and Science Academy Perez Elementary School Blazier Elementary School
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290
183
Akins High School
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SOUTHWEST AUSTIN - DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION
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