By Vanesa Brashier, editor@bluebonnetnews.com
Growth in Liberty County continues to put the greatest pressure on Cleveland ISD based on the most recent student enrollment figures. Since the end of the 2018-19 school year, Cleveland ISD – the fastest-growing school district in Texas – has added 677 students as of Aug. 27, equivalent to 27 additional classrooms based on 25 students per classroom.
Cleveland ISD’s end-of-year enrollment last May was 6,719 students. On the first day of school this August, Cleveland ISD welcomed 7,003 students, and since then, the number has jumped to 7,396 students.
School district officials from around the county say they will continue to see jumps in student enrollment until after Labor Day, when the numbers begin to level off.
Cleveland ISD’s growth was predicted by Superintendent Chris Trotter in July when the school board announced it was calling a $198 million bond election for the upcoming Nov. 5 general election.
If passed, the bond will provide funding for improvements and renovations to Northside Elementary, improvements to the existing baseball and softball fields at Cleveland High School, two new elementary campuses that will relieve overcrowding at Eastside Elementary and address continued growth, one new middle school to relieve overcrowding at Cleveland Middle School and address continued growth, and improvements to the new administration building.
Without the bond, Cleveland ISD will continue educating students in an ever-growing number of portable buildings, which the district leaders argue are not in the best interests of the students.
Last May, Cleveland voters rejected a proposed $250 million bond. Since that time, however, the Texas Legislature passed school finance reform that, in combination with a property tax reduction, means voters will not see an increase in property taxes should they choose to pass the $198 million bond this November.
Liberty County Schools’ Enrollment by the Numbers
DAYTON ISD
- End of 2018-19 school year: 5,095
- First day of 2019-20 school year: 5,209
- Current enrollment: 5,480
- An increase of roughly 385 students
DEVERS ISD
- End of 2018-19 school year: 181
- First day of 2019-20 school year: 198
- An increase of 18 students
HARDIN ISD
- End of 2018-19 school year: 1,396
- First day of 2019-20 school year: 1,414
- An increase of 18 students
HULL-DAISETTA ISD
- End of 2018-19 school year: 503
- First day of 2019-20 school year: 510
- An increase of 7 students
LIBERTY ISD
- End of 2018-19 school year: 2,189
- First day of 2019-20 school year: 2,237
- An increase of 48 students
TARKINGTON ISD
- End of 2018-19 school year: 1,811
- First day of 2019-20 school year: 1,824
- Second day of 2019-20 school year: 1,849