Michael Garcia Staff writer July 25, 2024

Several Montgomery County school districts will begin the 2024-25 school year with some changes, such as new campuses, boundary changes, extended breaks and new superintendents. 

Here’s what to know for the upcoming school year:

Opening new campuses

As districts across the county continue to grow, Montgomery and Magnolia ISDs are will open two elementary schools — Creekside and Audubon. 

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Montgomery ISD’s $43.4 million Creekside Elementary School broke ground in June 2023 behind Lake Creek High School off FM 2854. The school is expected to alleviate overcrowding in the Stewart Creek and Keenan elementary schools — designed for a maximum enrollment of 900 students. The elementary school is part of the district’s $326 million bond package voters approved in 2022, which includes a career and technical center, an agriculture science center, and a junior high school. 

Magnolia ISD’s $41 million Audubon Elementary School is part of the district’s $228 million bond package passed in November 2022. The school in the Audubon subdivision is expected to open with more than 500 students, officials said.  

Boundary and zoning changes

With the opening of the Montgomery and Magnolia ISD elementary campuses comes changes to the districts’ boundaries. 

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For Montgomery ISD, students affected by the new elementary boundary were those zoned at Stewart Creek and Keenan elementary schools, officials said. Incoming fifth graders impacted by the new attendance boundary could remain at their current zoned school for the new school year, however, families would have to provide their own transportation.

At Magnolia ISD, boundary changes include Williams Elementary School boundary, which will avoid buses having to cross the railroad tracks around FM 1488 and FM 1774, officials said. Due to the changes, some students in Magnolia Elementary School are expected to move to Williams Elementary School and vice versa. Some students at Nichols Sawmill Elementary and Ellisor Elementary are expected to be zoned to different elementary schools for balancing.

New Caney ISD has also made changes to its zoning for elementary students. Under the current attendance zone arrangement, Tavola and Valley Ranch elementary schools are projected to be over capacity, according to the district’s website. Officials voted to change the attendance zones for nearly 300 elementary students during a regular board meeting in January.  

Changes in New Caney ISD’s schedule

New Caney ISD is expected to start the 2024-25 school year with changes to its schedule. This includes new start and dismissal times as well as an eight-period schedule.

The district’s new start and dismissal times at all campuses is to create more availability of school buses, reduce the time spent and number of students on buses, according to a release from the district. 

For elementary schools, campus start time will be 8:30 a.m. and the dismissal time will be 3:55 p.m. For middle schools, campus start time will be 7 a.m. and the dismissal time will be 2:25 p.m. For high schools, campus start time will be 7:45 a.m. and the dismissal time will be 3:10 p.m. 

The district is also changing its alternating, block schedule to an eight-period per day schedule .

Different start times and extended breaks 

Several districts have made some changes to their academic calendars as well as schedule for students. Some of these changes include starting school a week later and having extended breaks for students and staff. 

Montgomery ISD students will be starting school a week later and will have an additional holiday. Students will be expected to return to school for the 2024-25 school year on Aug. 15, a change from the current year’s official start date — Aug. 10. There will also be a student holiday on Nov. 5 as officials anticipate some campuses being utilized by the county as polling locations for election day, officials said. 

Magnolia ISD students and staff will once more have an extended break in October and February. The fall break for students and staff will be Oct.7-11, while the extended February break for students will be Feb. 17-18. 

New year, new superintendents 

Several school districts have seen changes to leadership, including Willis and Magnolia ISDs. 

In April, Willis ISD named Kimberley James, former deputy superintendent of curriculum and instruction for Corpus Christi ISD, to serve in the district’s lead role after former Superintendent Tim Harkrider announced that he would be stepping down from his role in June 2023, where he was named the new superintendent for College Station ISD. James officially started her new role in May. 

In the same month, Magnolia ISD announced Deputy Superintendent Jason Bullock would serve in the lead role after Superintendent Todd Stephens announced his retirement in March.

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