Bastrop - Cedar Creek Edition | May 2025

Education

BY AMANDA CUTSHALL & BROOKE SJOBERG

Bastrop ISD is outpacing statewide trends, adding nearly 2,000 students since 2019— accounting for 20% of all growth in Central Texas’s Region 13—while many Texas districts see enrollment decline. In a nutshell A quarterly update from demographics rm Zonda Education shows BISD’s student popula- tion is growing while many independent school districts around the state are experiencing a decline in enrollment. Rocky Gardiner, director of school district consulting for the rm, said business activity and housing developments are instrumental in driving enrollment. The details Between the 2019-20 and 2024-25 school years, BISD enrollment increased by about 1,936 students, Gardiner said in an April 15 presenta- tion to the district’s school board. This accounts for about 20% of all growth in Region 13, which covers most of Central Texas. The region added 8,561 students in that time, he said. For the region, that’s about a 2.3% increase. “The challenge that we’re seeing is the enrollment change,” Gardiner said. “That’s what the state’s seeing right now. [BISD is] all enrollment growth.” Gardiner attributed the slowed statewide trend Bastrop ISD dees trend, drives 20% of region’s growth

Enrollment projections Zonda Education demographers estimate BISD could enroll close to 20,000 students by the 2034-35 year.

19,741

20K

15K

10K

2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 2027-28 2028-29 2029-30 2030-31 2031-32 2032-33 2033-34 2034-35

SOURCES: BASTROP ISD, ZONDA EDUCATIONCOMMUNITY IMPACT

in recent years to charter and virtual education opportunities. In the 2024-25 school year, Texas ISDs added 13,000 new students to their rolls, while charter schools enrolled 18,000 new students. “Last year was about the same,” he said. “Pre- COVID, we were adding 50,000 students a year statewide. There’s a lot of students [that] just haven’t come back.” Some context The district has 31 actively building subdivisions within its bounds, he said, accounting for about 4,800 lots that future homes can be built on. These projections, also known as “housing futures,” are one of the factors that help the rm make projections about school enrollment. He added that 18 more subdivisions are in various stages of planning and will make about 21,700 lots available for future homes. There are also many multifamily developments in the works, he said. What’s next? BISD Superintendent Barry Edwards said the

Rocky Gardiner, director of school district consulting for Zonda Education, shared an April 15 district update.

BROOKE SJOBERGCOMMUNITY IMPACT

2021 and 2023 bonds—the rst to pass since 2007— were necessary to keep the district strong while enrollment continues to grow. Lee Raspberry, BISD director of construction and planning, said the $500 million bond projects should be completed by fall 2026; however, it is likely that a new bond package will be proposed sometime soon. Edwards said that as this need gets stronger, ocials will continue to engage with families, sta and the community to determine priorities.

Large Enough for Real Insurance, Small Enough for Real Service

Let us help you protect what matters most to you

Connect with us today insurance4texas.com 512-303-3008

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM