Education
BY BRADLEY DOUNTZ
Fort Bend ISD will launch seven new programs in the 2026-27 school year as a part of its Fort Bend Redesigned program aimed at retaining and recruiting students, officials announced at a Feb. 23 board meeting. The programs come after the district launched its premier opportunities at elementary campuses offering low-cost field trips, student-led projects and community partnerships with a focus on renewable energy, biodiversity, leadership, digital media literacy and transportation, Superintendent Marc Smith said. The fast growth in the district’s student enrollment over the past decade will likely stabilize in the next decade as most residential communities reach build-out, officials previously said. FBISD to add 7 new programs
The details
Employee child care Select parents and grandparents who are employed by FBISD can take advantage of a full-time child care initiative for kids who are at least 2 years old. It will be tuition-based. district, said Jaretha Jordan, FBISD’s deputy superintendent of teaching and learning. The school will be hosted by Kempner High School and will offer approximately 100 seats. High school virtual learning The completely online program will be open to any student previously enrolled in a Texas school
Two-way dual language program The program will teach students in English and Spanish, Jordan said. The program will be open to 44 incoming kindergarten students at Colony Bend and Barrington Place elementary schools. Middle school choice programs The programs will implement a “school within a school” model letting a certain population of students get “exposure early” on subjects that correspond to their interests, talents or career aspirations, Jordan said. • Coleman Middle School: aviation and aerospace • Crockett Middle School: artificial intelligence • Garcia Middle School: creative arts and innovation • Sartartia Middle School: leadership and civic engagement • Two additional programs will also be offered. Mandarin immersion program The program will give students the opportunity to be taught in English and Mandarin, Jordan said. The program will be open to 22 incoming kindergarten students at Colony Meadows Elementary.
Limited open enrollment The district will open enrollment for any programs or campuses with additional space.
Leadership pipelines The district is looking to expand its leadership advancement procedures by offering job-embed opportunity pathways for teachers and administrators looking to move to higher roles.
Fort Bend ISD projected enrollment through 2034-35 school year
Reduced growth projection Accelerated growth projection Projected enrollment
85K
80.2K 83.2K
79.7K
Stay tuned
80K
75K
74.5K
Jordan said the seven programs are the first phase of a multi-year process directed towards “rethinking what education looks like in 2026.”
The district will publish academic criteria and available seats for open enrollment for the 2026-27 school year in March, followed by an application window from March 23-April 24, officials said.
70K
0 2024-25
2029-30
2034-35
SOURCE: POPULATION AND SURVEY ANALYSTS/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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