Education
BY CHLOE YOUNG
Local districts exceed state average on STAAR Leander ISD and Liberty Hill ISD students were approaching grade level at a higher rate than state averages across the board in the spring 2023 administration of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, according to results released Aug. 16. Approaching grade level is equivalent to passing and indicates a student is likely to do well in the next grade level. The overview The most notable disparities between local and state scores were in seventh and eighth grade math. LISD and LHISD students scored 30 percentage points or more better than the state on these tests. Additionally, average passing rates were the same or better year over year in both districts except for LISD’s seventh grade math score, which went down one percentage point.
LHISD adopts budget with 3% funding gap Due to Liberty Hill ISD receiving less state funding than anticipated and experiencing increased costs due to growth and ination, the board of trustees adopted a budget with a 3% general fund decit. “This is the largest decit that LHISD has ever prepared and proposed,” LHISD Chief Financial Ocer Rosanna Guerrero said, referring to the last 15 years. The breakdown The budget projects general fund revenue at $84.9 million and expenses at $87.4 million, resulting in a $2.5 million decit. Also of note The board adopted a $0.6692 tax rate per $100 valuation for scal year 2023-24, which is a $0.175 reduction from last year.
Leander ISD and Liberty Hill ISD students surpassed the state average by more than 10 percentage points in ve subject areas. Standout scores
Leander ISD Liberty Hill ISD State average
88% 88%
7th grade reading
77%
67%
7th grade math
65%
35%
88% 87%
8th grade math
44%
86% 86%
8th grade science
72%
78%
8th grade social studies
76%
60%
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCYCOMMUNITY IMPACT
LISD sets capacities for upcoming elementary schools Leander ISD trustees voted to continue design- ing future elementary schools to accommodate 800 students instead of opting to expand the capacity to 1,000 students at an Aug. 10 meeting. The approach discussed building new elementary schools to accommodate 1,000 students instead of 800, which is the standard, LISD Chief Communications Ocer Crestina Hardie said.
10-year construction plan • Elementary School No. 30: opening in 2024-25 to relieve Bagdad and Plain elementary schools • ES No. 31: opening in 2025-26 to relieve Tarvin Elementary School • ES No. 32: opening in 2028-29 to relieve Mason Elementary School • ES No. 33: opening in 2029-30 to relieve ES No. 31, Pleasant Hill and Akin elementary schools
District sta recommended the board continue with the 800-student capacity design based on zoning projections, nancial impact and feed- back from elementary school principals and the planning committee.
As LISD has experienced fast-paced growth, specically in the district’s northern portion, the LISD Long-Range Planning Committee has
SOURCE: LEANDER ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
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