Frisco, Tx Schools- Updates on new school openings, small-school size and growth plans

Frisco schools: FISD is a destination school district for relocating families

Many families moving into the DFW area have decided to make Frisco, TX, their home.

Many reasons may factor into this. Frisco boasts a family-centered and inclusive culture, a mecca of world-class sports, shopping, and dining facilities, and a rich history of economic growth. Or, even the city’s easy access to major airports.

But one reason consistently cited for the move to Frisco is the Frisco Independent School District. Here are a few factors why Frisco schools are such a sought-after destination for parents of school-age children:

• Consistently rated high quality of academics, student activities and college readiness by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and numerous other agencies, including GreatSchools.org and Niche.com
• FISD ranked #8 of 985 as Best School Districts in Texas, and #60 of 10,574 in the United States
• Approved as a District of Innovation in 2017 through House Bill 1842, allowing FISD to access options available to charter schools
• Frisco is also ranked #20 out of 984 districts for the Best Teachers in Texas, with an average of 9.4 years of experience, and is considered one of the safest districts in the US, coming in at #330 out of 10,576
• Excellent success rates of 97% attendance and 98.2% 4-year graduation rate
• Access to world-class athletic and training facilities, including Ford Center at The Star and the recently opened Baylor Scott & White Sports Therapy & Research facility
• Special program centers, including the renowned Career and Technical Education Center (CATE Center), as well as the Early Childhood School and Student Opportunity Center
• Small-school model dedicated to creating small, personalized learning environments to help students reach their full potential

At the end of the 2017-2018 school year, Frisco had 68 schools (plus 3 special program schools) and a total enrollment of over 58,000 students K-12.

Frisco typically adds 2,500 – 3,500 new students each year, and current projections put enrollment at FISD at 73,000 by 2027.

FISD Historical & Projected Enrollment Growth 1991-2022

New Frisco schools opening this fall

For the 2018-2019 school year, Frisco is opening four new schools, including:

• Talley Elementary
• Liscano Elementary
• Lawler Middle School
• Memorial High School

These new schools will add $18 million to the district’s annual operating budget ($473.5 million for 2017-2018) and 347.5 new staff positions.

With the new school openings, Frisco’s network of schools will stand at:

• 10 high schools
• 17 middle schools
• 42 elementary schools
• 3 special program centers

Is the small-school model for high schools still in play in Frisco?

As mentioned above, the FISD small-school model is one of the primary reasons why many families choose Frisco for their new hometown. Frisco adopted the small-school model more than two years ago with the intention of providing a more personalized approach to education for students.

Challenges for the small-school model

But the small-school model comes with some drawbacks. Rezoning is an annual event in Frisco. And, each year, families are faced with the possibility of switching schools as new schools are built to accommodate the growing enrollment.

Additionally, the small-school model takes a toll on FISD’s operating budget. The model can add 3-5% more when compared to larger campus districts such as Allen, according to FISD’s chief financial officer, Kimberly Pickens. In August of 2016, Frisco voters chose not to ratify a tax increase of .13 cents to support rising operational costs for FISD. Soon after, the district began tightening its financial belt.

Potential changes to Frisco’s small-school model

FISD’s continued growth, combined with tighter budgets, has caused the city to consider possible changes to its small-school model. A long-range planning committee made up of residents was formed at the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year to engage the community and help determine what is best for the city.

A survey of community members about the size of Frisco ISD high schools included over 4,100 respondents and showed 80% in favor of wanting to keep the small-school model. Reasons for those in favor included “more opportunities for extracurricular activities” and “the student feeling more connected to the school” as primary factors.

The start of the 2018-2019 school year is the first time in over 20 years that the district has no new schools under construction. This comes with Frisco’s ‘wait and see’ outlook on starting new school construction and the balance of its small-school model with operating costs.

Some potential upcoming changes under Frisco’s new philosophy could add more temporary buildings on high school campuses to accommodate growth, as well as larger class sizes. Since the 2016-17 school year, class size has increased. At the high-school level, the percentage of core content classes having more than 30 students rose from 13% in the fall of 2016 to 19% in the fall of 2017.

FISD’s bright future continues

The long-range planning committee and FISD are still working on solutions to help keep Frisco and FISD a top destination for families. FISD has stated that determining the best school model for Frisco is its top priority.