KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
October 29, 2019
By Jennifer Miko and Katrina Katsarelis
At the Katy ISD Regular Board Meeting Monday, October 28, the Trustees approved attendance boundary modifications (ABMs) affecting several high schools including Katy, Cinco Ranch, Seven Lakes, Taylor and Tompkins, as well as Bethe Elementary and Elementary #43. The boundary changes take effect August 2020.
The biggest changes will be for students in neighborhoods that feed into Katy, Taylor, Tompkins and Seven Lakes high schools.
Easing Overcrowding
“As enrollment increases, ABMs help us to manage that growth in order to ensure we’re keeping our schools at workable capacities that best serve our students and staff,” said Assistant Superintendent for Operations, Ted Vierling, who also presented the final recommendation Monday evening.
REZONING FROM KATY HIGH SCHOOL
From Katy High School to Taylor High School
Land Use Zone 43 (West Memorial Area) is being rezoned from Katy High School to Taylor High School.
From Katy High School to Cinco Ranch High School
Land Use Zone 55, 56A, and 56B (Cimarron Area) are being rezoned from Katy High School to Cinco Ranch High School.
From Katy High School to Tompkins High School
Land Use Zones 60A, 54B, 60C, 52G, 52F (Katy Reserve only) 52E and 52H are being rezoned from Katy High School to Tompkins High School.
REZONING TO JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL
Jordan High School is located in the southwest quadrant of the District, within the Cross Creek Ranch development, at 27500 Fulshear Bend Dr. Fulshear, TX, 77441. The District’s ninth high school will provide enrollment relief to Katy, Tompkins, and Seven Lakes high schools.
Here are the Land Use Zones (LUZ) being rezoned:
From Obra Tompkins to Jordan High School
Land Use Zones 51C, 52C, 52D, 73J, 73C 73B, 73D, 73I 74O, 73L, 73K 74N 74J, 73F, 73E, 73A, 74 P, 74G, 73G, 73H are being rezoned from Tompkins High School to the new Jordan High School.
From Seven Lakes to Jordan High School
Land Use Zones 74A, 74S and 74R are being rezoned to the new Jordan High School.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REZONING
Elementary #43 is located at 6631 Greenwood Orchard Drive within the Elyson development, south of FM 529 and west of Peek Road. Elementary #43 will feed into Katy and Stockdick junior highs, and will be taking on many neighborhoods currently zoned to Bethke Elementary.
The following Land Use Zones will be rezoned from Bethke to the new Elementary #43: 1C, 2A, 2B, 1A, 1B, 2C, 3C, 5C, 4B, 4C, 3B, 5D, 4G, 4F, 4E, 4H, 7A, 2A, 5A, and 5E
Enrollment Projections on the Maps
The numbers displayed in the color blocked attendance zones represent the projected number of students to be enrolled in the campus (by year), after the new attendance boundary modification is established.
Description of the ABM for Elementary #43 The western side of the proposed boundary is Stockdick School Rd., and on the northern side, it is the property line behind King Crossing. The eastern proposed boundary is the Grand Parkway.
Community Input on ABM
Families in Katy ISD had the opportunity to participate in a survey about the growing district. After four months of community feedback and Board discussion, boundary revisions were made to the original high school modification presented this past June.
“I am very grateful that we have parents and community members, who spoke up and helped us flag sections of the ABM that needed a deeper analysis,” says Katy ISD Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Ken Gregorski.
“As enrollment increases, ABMs help us to manage that growth in order to ensure we’re keeping our schools at workable capacities that best serve our students and staff,” says Assistant Superintendent for Operations, Ted Vierling, who also presented the final recommendation Monday evening.
Varied Responses from Parents
The social media comments from Katy ISD families ranged from relief to disappointment. Some were pleased that their children will now join the majority of students in their feeder pattern moving to secondary schools. Dissatisfied families mentioned selling their homes.
“I am confident and hopeful that these new boundaries will help us to balance growth and thus continue to deliver educational excellence and unparalleled learning experiences on all of our campuses,” says Gregorski.
Elementary #43 and Jordan High School are both bond projects that were approved by the Katy community during the November 2017 election.
For more information about the approved ABMs visit the Katy ISD web page.