Cedar Park - Far Northwest Austin Edition | September 2025

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Cedar Park Far Northwest Austin Edition VOLUME 3, ISSUE 5 SEPT. 16OCT. 14, 2025

2025 Education Edition

Leander ISD weighs closing 3 campuses

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

Ahead of a $20.2 million budget shortfall for scal year 2025-26, Leander ISD administration has put forth three possible cost-saving pathways that could include closing down and repurposing Cypress, Faubion and Steiner Ranch elementary schools next year. Despite a public school funding bill that sent $8.5 billion to Texas school districts, the bill requires the money be spent largely on teacher salary raises, school safety mandates and special education allotments. “House Bill 2 just passed, and that money, as great as it was ... it was money that we had to spend in certain areas,” Chief Financial Ocer Pete Pape said. “It wasn’t money to help with the decit; it wasn’t money to help in any other areas.” Grassroots eorts such as Save Cypress Elemen- tary, Fight for Faubion and Speak Up for Steiner Ranch have formed in light of the potential clo- sures, and LISD students and parents have packed school board meetings over the last several months in an eort to keep their schools open. “My concern is that there are families who are going to evaluate [the optimization actions] and say, ‘I don’t trust this because of the lack of transparency, and I’m going to look at alternative forms of education for my children,’” Cypress Elementary parent Nicole Krauss said.

Also in this issue

Impacts

Page 6

Check out Ethiopian cuisine at Injera & Beyond

Transportation

Page 25

Read about TxDOT’s construction plans on 183A

For months, parents and students from Cypress, Faubion and Steiner Ranch elementary schools have spoken out at board meetings to save their schools from being closed. (Brittany Anderson/Community Impact)

CONTINUED ON 22

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About Community Impact

Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.

Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Brittany Anderson

Katlynn Fox Dacia Garcia

Haley McLeod Hannah Norton Karoline Pfeil Sam Schaer Brooke Sjoberg Ben Thompson Joel Valley Gracie Warhurst

Denise Seiler General Manager dseiler@ communityimpact.com

Shannon West Sienna Wight Chloe Young Graphic Designers Abbey Eckhardt Alissa Foss Abigail Jones Sabrina Musachia

Minh Nguyen Joseph Veloz Managing Editor Darcy Sprague Product Manager Gloria Amareth Quality Desk Editor Adrian Gandara Austin Market President Travis Baker

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Beth Burton Account Executive bburton@ communityimpact.com

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Impacts

Cedar Park & Leander

offers a fast and casual dining experience. Everything is made fresh to order, and the restaurant imports its spices from the Middle East. The restaurant offers gyros, kebabs, shawarma, falafel and more. • Opened July 24 • 2011 Little Elm Trail, Ste. 106, Cedar Park • www.thehalalfix.com 4 Solis Mammography The largest independent provider of breast exams in the United States opened a new center in Cedar Park on Aug. 11. The center offers mammograms and other health treatments for women, including bone density testing, breast biopsies, ultrasounds and heart screenings. • Opened Aug. 11 • 5001 183A Frontage Road, Ste. G150, Cedar Park • www.solismammo.com 5 TPH Academy The sports training program has begun accepting admissions for their new Austin-area branch. The academy is open to student athletes grades 4-12 and offers sport-specific training and instruction paired with academic learning. • Opened July 1 • The Crossover, 1717 Scottsdale Drive, Leander • www.tphacademy.com 6 X-Golf The company offers seven virtual indoor golf simulators, which use cameras, infrared lasers, impact sensors and advanced gaming software. The company offers lessons, league and tournament play, and has two party rooms for private events. The location also features a bar and restaurant with a selection of pub favorites. • Opened Aug. 6 • 12301 W. Parmer Lane, Ste. 105, Cedar Park • www.playxgolf.com/locations/cedar-park

Leander

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Cedar Park

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2 Church’s Texas Chicken The fried chicken franchise opened a new location in Cedar Park on Aug. 15. In addition to the restaurant’s signature fried chicken, Church’s also offers a variety of sides, desserts and half-gallon drink selections. • Opened Aug. 15 • 13729 Hwy. 183 N, Austin • www.churchs.com 3 The Halal Fix Locally owned by Mohammad Zakzok, the restaurant

Now open

1 Capital Area Child Development Center The child care facility serves families and children 6 weeks to 5 years old. The center has a STEAM-based model for science, technology, engineering, art and math-based learning, according to previous reporting. • Opened June 5 • 11651 W. Parmer Lane, Bldg. 1, Cedar Park • www.capitalareachilddevelopmentcenter.com

Coming soon

7 Cork2Glass The new wine bar will offer premium and high-end wines, including organic and sustainable wines. The location will also serve charcuterie boards, olives, nuts and flatbread. • Opening October

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What's next

8 Teaspoon Teaspoon serves hand-crafted boba tea, signature drinks, coffee and seasonal specialty lattes. For caffeine-free options, the cafe offers a selection of lemonades, juices and fruit smoothies. • Opening in October • 1811 S. Lakeline Blvd., Ste. 200, Cedar Park • www.teaspoonlife.com 9 The Yard Gym The gym will offer progression programming, weight- based and cardio-based training. Construction is underway and is scheduled to complete in mid October. • Opening Nov. 1 • 12301 W. Parmer Lane, Cedar Park • www.theyardgym.com

13 Injera & Beyond The restaurant serves authentic West African staples, including injera, a type of spongy flatbread; and doro wat, a chicken and egg stew considered the national food of Ethiopia. Manager Gabriella Samuel said the traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony is one of the restaurant’s signature offerings. Coffee is ground and roasted in-house and then presented in a ceremonial Ethiopian pot called a jebena. • Opened Aug. 14 • 410 W. Whitestone Blvd., Ste. 100, Cedar Park • www.injeratx.com

15 Dave’s Hot Chicken The fast-casual chain has dozens of locations nationwide and also has locations coming soon to New Braunfels and Georgetown. The restaurant offers the brand’s signature spicy chicken, sold either in individual pieces or in sandwiches, as well as a variety of sides, drinks and desserts. Construction is set to begin in September. • 1500 Whitestone Blvd., Ste.100, Cedar Park • www.daveshotchicken.com

What’s next PERMITS FILED WITH THE TEXAS

DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION

10 ALDI The new grocery store is set to take the place of a former Big Lots store. The new ALDI will be the first location in Cedar Park. There are two other locations in the Austin metro area, including a store in Georgetown and Pflugerville. • 850 N. Bell Blvd., Ste. 104, Cedar Park • www.aldi.us 11 Urban Youth Park The facility will offer classes, birthday parties and summer camps. Construction on the 7,220-square-foot facility will begin at the end of August and conclude at the end of September.

technology targeting earlier detection of cancer-specific biomarkers. • Relocated in June • 1460 E. Whitestone Blvd., Cedar Park • www.exodiscovery.com

locally grown produce and more. • 200 S. Bell Blvd., Cedar Park • www.texasfarmersmarket.org/bell

Community Impact Community Impact celebrates 20 years as a company in September. Founded in Pflugerville, owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched the first Community Impact newspaper in Round Rock-Pflugerville in September 2005. Today, the company has more than 200 employees supporting 40 hyperlocal editions in Texas, printing and distributing more than 2.5 million newspapers a month. Community Impact has a strong print and digital presence, including a daily email newsletter. • www.communityimpact.com

In the news

• 12800 Anderson Mill Road, Cedar Park • www.urbanyouthpark.com/cedarpark

14 Texas Farmers' Market The Austin-area nonprofit began serving residents of Cedar Park at the Lakeline Mall in 2010. The market has since moved to the newly developed Bell District in Cedar Park in May 2024, according to previous reporting. Vendors continue serving residents weekly on Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The market includes a variety of food and drink options, handmade goods,

Relocations

12 ExoDiscovery The Korean biotech company established its new headquarters in Cedar Park. ExoDiscovery develops

CEDAR PARK - FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

Impacts

Far Northwest Austin

17,500-square-foot facility features four operating rooms with advanced imaging systems; minimally invasive equipment to reduce surgical trauma; a rehabilitation center with underwater treadmills and therapeutic equipment; and pain management protocols to minimize surgical impact and accelerate recovery. • Opened Aug. 11 • 13805 N. FM 620, Austin • www.vroc.vet 4 Wicked Snow The menu features bingsu, a Korean shaved ice dessert. Flavors include strawberry matcha, black sesame, coffee, taro and berry. Also on the menu are croffles, or croissant waffles, with flavors such as cinnamon, chocolate and strawberry Nutella; yogurt smoothies; and drinks such as lattes, teas and sparkling ades. • Opened Aug. 14 • 11301 Lakeline Blvd., Ste. 113A, Austin • Instagram: @wickedsnowatx 5 Austin Adhurs The women-owned Indian restaurant specializing in authentic South Asian flavors, opened its second location, following their current location in Leander. • Opened Aug. 12 • 10621 W. Parmer Lane, Austin • https://austinadhurs.com

Now open

1 Mostacho Arroz Chino The food truck specializes in Venezuelan-style Chinese fried rice made with fillings such as shrimp, chicken or pork, plus soy sauce, green onions and bean sprouts. Also on the menu are savory spring rolls made with Venezuelan cheese, cabbage and ham, or a sweet filling, as well as packaged Venezuelan candy bars such as Cocosette, Cri Cri and Samba. • Opened in June

183A TOLL

AVERY RANCH BLVD.

LAKELINE BLVD.

LAKELINE MALL DR.

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• 7221 McNeil Drive, Austin • Instagram: @mostachoatx

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2 Russian School of Mathematics The after-school math program, which helps students prepare for testing while improving overall mathematics skills, will hold its grand opening this month after relocating from their former location on Research

620

183

Boulevard in May. • Opened Sept. 14 • 9500 Parmer Lane, Austin • www.mathschool.com

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• Relocating Sept. 1 • 7221 McNeil Drive, Austin • Instagram: @wagyuyume

What’s next PERMITS FILED WITH THE TEXAS

DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION

Relocation

6 Peace Family Housing Peace Lutheran Church is partnering with Foundation for the Homeless, HomeAid Austin and more to provide transitional housing for families in the Austin area. The project is expected to begin construction Sept. 1 and conclude in April 2026. The new facility will span 3,368 square feet and include four sleeping units. Through the new housing facility, project partners hope to house around 16-36 families per year. • 10605 N. FM 620, Austin • www.peaceaustin.org/housing

8 NVIDIA The worldwide tech company announced it will be relocating its Austin offices from its current location at the Crossings at Lakeline to 1Uptown near the Domain. NVIDIA was recently listed as the world’s most valuable company, with a $4.1 trillion market cap, according to Alpha Sense. • Relocating 2026 • 11001 Lakeline Blvd., Ste. 100, Bldg. 2, Austin • www.nvidia.com

Relocations

Closings

10 Si Baby-Q The Asian food truck relocated to Pink Flamingo Food Court in July. The menu features barbecue dishes with an Asian twist, such as brisket and ribs with an Indonesian pepper and spice rub. Sides include smoked kimchi; queso noodles made with long peppers from India; street corn; roti, or an Indian bread; and a banana pudding dessert. • Relocated in July • 7221 McNeil Drive, Austin • www.sibabyqatx.com

7 Wagyu yume The Japanese food truck is slated to relocate from its spot at The Domain to Pink Flamingo Food Court in far Northwest Austin next month. The food truck specializes in wagyu beef and serves A5 wagyu rice bowls and gyudon, or Japanese rice bowls. The truck also serves Korean short ribs; street snacks such as takoyaki, edamame and corn; and drinks such as mango cream soda and Jasmine tea. Other menu specials include a wagyu burger, beef bulgogi bowls and Japanese-style pork belly.

9 Best Pawn The pawnshop, located at The Meadows shopping center, closed its doors permanently in August. The store bought and sold items including jewelry, electronics, musical instruments, tools and more. • Closed August • 10313 Lake Creek Parkway, Austin • No website or phone number available

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CEDAR PARK - FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

Government

BY SAM SCHAFFER

Cedar Park authorizes spaceport development corporation aerospace-friendly environment, said Daniel Sousa, assistant director of communications and engage- ment for the city.

Spaceport development corporations 1 Blue Origin Launch Site 1 2 SpaceX Starship Orbital Launch Pad 3 Midland International Air & Space Port 4 Houston Spaceport 5 Cedar Park

Cedar Park City Council voted Aug. 7 at a special meeting to authorize the establishment of the Central Texas Spaceport Development Corporation in partnership with Williamson County. The corporation will be a nonprofit focused on infrastructure and development in specialized launching and landing facilities for spacecraft, rock- ets and satellites, according to agenda documents. What you need to know There are currently five other SDCs, which are eli- gible to apply for state and federal grants to support the spaceport industry, in Texas. Cedar Park is home to Firefly Aerospace, which operated the first commercial mission to success- fully land on the moon earlier in 2025. The company has since secured hundreds of millions of dollars toward a future lunar landing and other projects. What they’re saying Cedar Park has intentionally created an

“By joining the Williamson County SDC, Cedar Park aims to further bolster its aerospace infra- structure, foster economic growth, and solidify its reputation as a hub for cutting-edge aerospace innovation,” he said. What’s next? A seven-member volunteer board of directors will be appointed by the county and city. The board will serve as the governing body for the corpora- tion, according to the documents. Once the SDC’s bylaws are approved by the Wil- liamson County Commissioners Court, a certificate of formation that will lead to the formal estab- lishment of the SDC will be filed with the Texas secretary of state, according to the documents.

Midland

Cedar Park

Houston

Van Horn

Brownsville

SOURCE: STATE OF TEXAS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Government

BY HALEY MCLEOD, SAM SCHAFFER & GRACIE WARHURST

Cedar Park delays gas rate increase Cedar Park City Council on Aug. 7 voted to delay the implementation of an increased gas rate proposed by Texas Gas Service Company, so the city can evaluate the merits of the price increase. The 90-day delay pushed the imple- mentation of the rate that was supposed to take effect Aug. 19, according to agenda documents. The city will evaluate how to proceed in regard to the increased rate in the meantime. The gist During the delay, Cedar Park will work with other cities to decide how to proceed. The cities will examine whether the increase is legal among other things, and if it is, the cities will discuss their options for moving forward. TGS seeks to increase its revenue by $41.1 million, according to the documents. What they’re saying “To ensure a thorough evaluation of the proposed rate adjustment, the City has requested a 90-day suspension of the rate increase implementation, pending a compre- hensive review by the relevant authorities,” said Daniel Sousa, Cedar Park’s assistant director of communications and engagement. What else? TGS serves Cedar Park residents in Travis County. Williamson County Cedar Park residents are served by Atmos Energy Corporation.

Central Health proposed budget

Total revenue

Total expenses

Property taxes: 90%

Health care delivery: 77% Dell Medical affiliation agreement: 6% Other: 7% Administration: 9% Restricted expenses: 1%

Interest & other income: 6%

$424M

$544M

Tobacco settlements: 1% Lease revenue: 3%

NOTE: THE DIFFERENCE IN PROJECTED REVENUE AND PROJECTED EXPENSES WILL COME FROM CENTRAL HEALTH'S CONTINGENCY RESERVE FUND.

SOURCE: CENTRAL HEALTH, TRAVIS COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Travis County facing another healthcare tax hike Central Health, Travis County’s taxpayer-funded hospital district, has proposed a 9.3% property tax rate increase for fiscal year 2025-26. If approved, the average homeowner will pay about $608 annually, up $64 from last year. A public hearing is scheduled for Sept. 3, with a vote on Sept. 16. The big picture • Expand health insurance coverage for more patients • Close gaps in care Quote of note

“When the federal government is cutting access to health care, we are increasing it,” Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea said. A closer look Central Health is working closely with partners CommUnityCare and Sendero Health Plans on a joint budget focused on primary and specialty care, including a record $98 million for CommUni- tyCare services. Both Central Health and CommUnityCare leaders are bracing for impacts related to the One Big Beautiful Bill, which was signed into law July 4. The bill includes cuts to premium tax credits, affecting many with health insurance through the Affordable Care Act or Medicaid.

Dubbed the “year of access” by Central Health officials, the additional funding would expand and speed up health care options for low-income residents. “Access to care is not just a goal—it’s a lifeline,” Central Health President and CEO Dr. Pat Lee said. “For many in our community, timely and equitable care can make all the difference.” At a July 31 community meeting, Central Health leaders outlined “patient-first” priorities for the coming year: • Reduce appointment wait times to under two weeks • Curb avoidable hospital readmissions and emergency room visits

WilCo funds staff, infrastructure in 2025-26 budget Williamson County commissioners discussed possible additions to the county’s proposed $671.1 million budget during workshops Aug. 12 and Aug. 19.

Williamson County's proposed FY 2025-26 budget During an Aug. 5 Williamson County Commissioners Court meeting, budget officer Ashlie Holladay recommended a $671.1 million FY 2025-26 budget.

item from County Judge Steven Snell to hire a preparedness and mitigation specialist in the Office of Emergency Management to help “the strain on [the] OEM department” from disaster and recovery efforts. Commissioners voted to add county positions, including an additional Precinct 1 constable and deputy constable, an information tech- nology analyst and an elections/ballot by mail coordinator.

Road and bridge $72.73M

The additions are focused on new staff and compensation for county employees, including cost-of-living adjustments, as well as road improvements and future planning for water. What’s new Commissioners unanimously supported an

Debt service $222.7M

$375.66M General fund

SOURCE: WILLIAMSON COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

CEDAR PARK - FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

Development

BY GRACE DICKENS AND SAM SCHAFFER

16-field baseball/softball project in Cedar Park gets new timeline Perfect Game, which is expected to add 16 baseball and softball fields to host tournaments at a facility in Cedar Park, was approved for a new project timeline Aug. 12. Cedar Park’s Community Development Corpo- ration Type B Board approved an amendment to the city’s community and economic development performance agreement and ground lease with PG Cedar Park Group, LLC. The gist The approved amendment established a new construction timeline, commencing Jan. 1, 2027 and wrapping Jan. 1, 2029, according to agenda documents. Previous Community Impact reporting showed the project was once set to be complete in 2024.

Apple investment to benefit Austin area An Aug. 6 announcement from Apple details plans for a $100 billion investment increase in the U.S., bringing the total to $600 billion over the next four years. These investments include efforts to accelerate manufacturing, bridge gaps in the silicon supply chain and expand facilities, according to a news release. What else? Beyond partnerships, Apple is also still building its second $1 billion Austin campus, according to the release. Investment in the second site was announced in 2018, according to previous reporting. The new site will include a research and development lab for Apple’s Hardware Engineering, Hardware Technology, and Software Engineering teams, the release states.

Perfect Game Sports Complex

1431

The 80-acre project is expected to bring in over 500,000 visitors annually and is located northeast of RM 1431 and Ronald Reagan Boulevard, accord- ing to previous reporting. What else? The city will push job creation and hotel occu- pancy deadlines in the agreement to account for the delays, according to the documents. Additionally, the amendment stated Perfect Game will occupy the property for a 22-year lease beginning Jan. 1, 2026.

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Education

BY DACIA GARCIA & BROOKE SJOBERG

Education Edition

2025

Readers, welcome to your annual CI Education Edition! Education in Texas has undergone some signicant changes over the last few months. As the landscape in Texas and beyond continues to evolve at a rapid pace, our team of local reporters is looking at how those changes will aect you, your family, and the Cedar Park/Far Northwest Austin community. This month, we’re taking an in-depth look at the changes and challenges facing the Leander Independent School District, as well as digging into some statewide coverage that will aect all Texans in the coming months. We’re catching up on the A-F accountability ratings from the Texas Education Agency, which have been held up in legal battles for the last several months. And we’ll be reporting on updates from Austin Community College and Round Rock ISD to provide comprehensive coverage of the education news that matters in your community.

What's inside

See how local districts fared in the latest TEA accountability ratings (Page 16)

Steve Guntli Editor sguntli@ communityimpact.com

Catch up on the latest statewide education laws (Page 18)

Get college admission tips from CollegePros (Page 20)

Sponsors:

Austin Community College enrollment rises Current Austin Community College enrollment is nearing 44,000 students, showing a near 10% growth from fall 2024’s enrollment numbers. The details According to a news release, more than 10,300 students are using the college’s Free Tuition Pilot program, which allows students to take classes without paying tuition or general fees for up to three years. In fall 2024, only 4,800 students enrolled in the program. The program is open to high school graduates from the class of 2024 and Texas GED graduates from the ACC service area. Digging deeper The news release stated the college is witnessing growth in various areas of study, with the largest growth in health sciences, up in enrollment by 19%.

ACC awarded $3.6M semiconductor grant Austin Community College received a $3.6 million grant from the state of Texas in August. In a nutshell Per an Aug. 14 news release from Gov. Greg Abbott’s oce, the grant is part of the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund, an incentive program to encourage semicon- ductor research, design and manufacturing in Texas. The fund grants state and higher educa- tional institutions money for manufacturing and design projects. How we got here ACC received the grant based on a semi- conductor manufacturing lab and precision welding program at its Round Rock campus.

Enrollment in ACC's Free Tuition Pilot Program

12K

10K

10,300

4,800

2K 0

Fall 2024

Fall 2025

SOURCE: AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGECOMMUNITY IMPACT

“The enrollment surge is proof that more students are choosing ACC as their pathway to a better future,” ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell Low- ery-Hart said. “That doesn’t happen without the dedication and teamwork of our faculty and sta. This is what it looks like when a college commu- nity comes together to put students rst.”

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Education

BY BROOKE SJOBERG

Round Rock ISD ocials approved updates to a policy guiding how the district purchases library materials, what qualies as such, as well as how and who might challenge these materials. The update includes among its proposed changes: • Public input and board adoption of a list of materials planned for procurement for the district’s libraries, or to receive as donations. • Expanding the scope of who can challenge library materials to once again include residents. The board updated its policy last year to limit challenges to parents, guardians and employees of the district. The policy update was approved 6-0, with Board Secretary Amber Landrum abstaining. RRISD begins new book policy

What’s next?

“I feel that it is grossly inappropriate to put this back on the board and to take that responsibility away from our highly trained librarians who have master’s degrees in this area.” AMBER LANDRUM, RRISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES SECRETARY

RRISD General Counsel Cindy Hill said additional updates for dierent district policies will be brought to the board at future meetings. The new policy went into eect on Sept. 1.

A district employee, parent or guardian of a district student, or a district resident may challenge material in RRISD’s library system. What is a book challenge?

Landrum expressed concern about the policy changes, which would have the board approve new acquisitions for the district’s catalog of library materials, which previously was the responsibility of administrators and library sta. The policy would have administrators recommend books for procurement and make this list available to the public for 30 days before going to the board for approval.

Challenge submitted

The Challenge Committee will determine whether the material conforms to district policy. Books being challenged will not be available to students. The decision to remove it from the catalog can be appealed to the school board. If the board nds the book to conform to district policies, it can’t be challenged again for two years.

SOURCE: ROUND ROCK ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

CommunityImpact-print-9.1837x5.5416.pdf 1 13/8/2025 22:48:43

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Education

Leander and Round Rock ISDs receive latest TEA ratings

out by Aug. 15 each year. However, 2023-24 ratings were blocked following a lawsuit filed by 33 Texas school districts. The districts argued that the agency’s system made it impossible for some schools to earn a high score.

individual campuses. Ratings are based on student academic achievement, test results, graduation rates and distribution of grades among different groups. According to state law, A-F ratings must be sent

Yearly accountability ratings have been released by the Texas Education Agency, highlighting the performance of Texas public schools in the 2024-25 school year. The scoring system provides an overall grade for school districts as well as grades for

Round Rock ISD

Reading Math This shows how well a district is ensuring that all student groups are successful. Closing the gaps

District score

Percent of students per rating

67%

2023-24

2024-25

71% 60% Two or More Races 43% 32% African American

49% 41% Hispanic

79% 70% White

19%

B B

55% 62% American Indian 54% 43% Pacific Islander

45% 41% High Focus* 68% 62% All Students

87/100

88/100

90% 91% Asian

School scores

School

2023-24

2024-25

*HIGH FOCUS INCLUDES ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS, ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS AND THOSE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSES

Anderson Mill Elementary Deerpark Middle School

D C A A B C B A B A A

F C A B A A A A B A A

Percentage of students approaching grade level or above on STAAR tests

Four-Year Graduation Rate

England Elementary

Forest North Elementary Grisham Middle School

State

District

State

District

Live Oak Elementary McNeil High School

Pearson Ranch Middle School Pond Springs Elementary

Purple Sage Elementary Westwood High School

Reading

Math

Science

Social Studies

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Leander ISD District score

Percent of students per rating

School scores

School

2023-24

2024-25

62%

2023-24

2024-25

Canyon Ridge Elementary

24%

Cedar Park High School

Cedar Park Middle School

Cox Elementary

88/100

Cypress Elementary

Deer Creek Elementary

Reading This shows how well a district is ensuring that all student groups are successful. Closing the gaps

Math

Faubion Elementary

51% 33% African American 74% 60% Two or More Races

56% 41% Hispanic

75% 59% White

Four Points Middle School

Grandview Hills Elementary

67% 51% American Indian 64% 59% Pacific Islander

48% 38% High Focus* 71% 58% All Students

Henry Middle School

Laura Welch Bush Elementary

88% 86% Asian

Naumann Elementary

Reagan Elementary

Reed Elementary

*HIGH FOCUS INCLUDES ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS, ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS AND THOSE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSES

River Place Elementary

Percentage of students approaching grade level or above on STAAR tests

Four-Year Graduation Rate

River Ridge Elementary

State

District

State

District

Rutledge Elementary

Steiner Ranch Elementary

Vandegrift High School

Vista Ridge High School

Reading

Math

Science

Social Studies

Westside Elementary

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Education

BY HANNAH NORTON

Teachers now have more disciplinary authority House Bill 6 gives public school teachers more discretion to remove students from the classroom if they are repeatedly disruptive or threaten the safety of others. The change comes after nearly half of Texas public school teachers cited discipline issues as a top workplace chal- lenge in 2022, according to the Texas Education Agency. What you need to know The law, which took eect immediately when Gov. Greg Abbott signed it on June 20, allows schools to suspend students of any age who engage in “repeated or signicant” disrup- tions, reversing a 2017 state law that generally prohibited schools from suspending students in pre-K through second grade. If students in

Districts to level-set high school GPAs Texas school districts will soon be required to use a standard system to calculate high school students’ grade point averages. At a glance Senate Bill 1191, which became law June 20, directs the Texas Education Agency to create a new GPA standard “as soon as practicable.” The system must give equal weight to advanced placement, international baccalaureate and dual enrollment courses. “It most likely won’t impact kids that are currently enrolled in high school, … because it’s going to take a while to make sure every- one is on the same page,” said Bob Popinski, who leads the policy team for public school advocacy group Raise Your Hand Texas.

“A lot of the problems we see with our kids in high school is because they did not have consequences, none whatsoever, when

they were younger.” BILL AUTHOR REP. JEFF LEACH, RPLANO

kindergarten through third grade are sent home for behavioral issues, schools must provide documentation explaining their decision. HB 6 gives schools the option to place students in an in-school suspension for as long as they see t. State law previously mandated that students could not be suspended for more than three school days, whether they were inside a school building or at home. The three-day time limit on out-of-school suspensions remains unchanged.

New law bans cellphone usage in all K12 schools

School districts could:

As Texas public school students return to campus, new prohibitions on using cellphones, smart watches and other personal communica- tion devices throughout the school day will take e ect. The details Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1481 into law on June 20, giving school districts 90 days to adopt new electronic device policies, including disciplinary measures for students who violate

the cellphone ban. “We want our kids to focus on academics, such as math, science and reading, and the reality is, these phones are a distraction. ... Schools cite growing incidents of cyberbullying due to these phones,” bill author Rep. Caroline Fairly, RAmarillo, said in March. HB 1481 includes exceptions for students with medical needs or special education accommoda- tions, and does not apply to devices supplied by school districts for academic purposes.

• Purchase pouches to store devices during the school day • Ask students to keep devices in their lockers or backpacks

Texas’ 2026-27 budget includes $20M in grants to help districts implement the law.

SOURCES: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE, TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY COMMUNITY IMPACT

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Education

BY CHLOE YOUNG

CollegePros consultants share college application expertise CollegePros co-owners Kate Trent and Kim Heffernan assist dozens of Central Texas high school students in determining their next steps after graduation each school year. Trent and Heffernan, who were formerly edu- cators in the Austin area, started CollegePros in 2023 to provide a range of services for students in selecting a career path, successfully finding and applying to colleges as well as receiving financial aid. The Central Texas-based business helps alleviate pressure for families who may not have the time or resources to navigate the increasingly complicated college application process, Trent said. Community Impact spoke with Trent about

what students need to know as they prepare for graduation and beyond. Answers may have been edited or cut for style and clarity. How should students get started in determining their future academic or career path? If they’ve got the choice to take that math or a couple of foreign languages while they’re in middle school, great, because it’s going to give them more freedom ... to continue in some other classes that they might want that should be offered at the high school. One of the things that colleges like is longevity of an [extracurricular or academic] activity. Those volunteer hours [and] the community service are pretty big for the colleges. Looking for leadership is important. Let’s talk about the difference between being a band member and a section leader, because there is going to be a scholarship question about leadership. What are the most important components of a successful college application? Making sure that everything is complete is extremely important on the applications, and

making sure that you have expressed as many sides of you as you can in your essays. Show them what you value. Show them some of your identities. Are you a collaborator? Do you value honesty? Where did that come from? Let them know. What factors should students consider when choosing a college? Going to visit is a big deal. Do they want big, small or medium? Do they want rural or urban? Do they want an Ivy League? A lot of what we have to do on those is manage the expectations because the percentage is so small for getting into those schools. Do you want a place that’s got great weekend activities on campus? There’s so many different aspects that our students have to think about, and they haven’t ever had to think about those things because they’ve been busy in high school. Then, what do you want to study? How do you assist students who don’t know what they want to pursue as a career? We take a look at broad-based careers. They can go in undecided to several schools, so we

take that into consideration when we’re looking at their college list. Who’s going to let them come in and experiment a little bit? When they’re looking for a college, we really say, go visit the school. College fit is pretty important if you’re going to be stuck there for four years. What advice would you give to students who are in the class of 2026? Colleges let you come in at different times. They have an early decision, which we never recommend. It’s a binding contract. Early action is usually what we suggest. You want to get in when those admissions officers are still fresh, because they read thousands of these over the time period. So if you get your stuff in on Dec. 1 or Jan. 1, those poor admissions officers have been looking at stuff for a long time. They’re fresher at the beginning. For some of our schools, it’s important to get in early action if you want to have your best shot at getting a spot.

CollegePros supports high school students with:

College applications

College essays

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Academic resume

College decision

Scholarships

Affordability and financial aid

Student assessment for future academic or career path

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SOURCE: COLLEGEPROS

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com .

COURTESY COLLEGEPROS

HYMEADOW 12611 Hymeadow (512) 506-8401

NORTH 620 10601 N FM 620 (512) 506-8316

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