More than 1,500 high school students could change campuses under proposed Fort Bend ISD attendance boundary changes now open for public comment through Sunday, Aug. 30.
The district released two high school scenarios and one middle school scenario aimed at relieving overcrowding at Austin, Travis and Elkins high schools while improving feeder-pattern alignment, KPRC 2 reported. No final changes have been approved; the proposals remain in draft form.
The rezoning affects Fort Bend ISD campuses, not Lamar CISD schools. Fulshear families zoned to Lamar CISD went through a separate, already-completed boundary process earlier this year.
Two high school scenarios on the table
Under Scenario 1, part of the Elkins High School zone would shift to Clements High School, affecting roughly 1,050 students. Scenario 2 is broader: students in the Quail Valley Middle School area who currently feed into Elkins would instead attend Dulles High School, and another area around Commonwealth Elementary would align with Clements. That plan would affect approximately 1,561 students.
Both scenarios would also move about 464 students from Travis High School to Bush High School.
Dr. Stuart Keough with Zonda, the district's external boundary planner, presented the student-impact projections at a Tuesday, Aug. 18 board meeting. The district's School Boundary Advisory Committee was nearly evenly split on the two plans, voting 52% to 48%. The disagreement centered not on whether Elkins needs relief but on how much.
Middle school changes
Fort Bend ISD is also considering one middle school scenario with nine proposed adjustments focused on feeder-pattern alignment. The changes would affect students at Crockett, Hodges Bend, Garcia, Sugar Land, Dulles, First Colony, Fort Settlement, Baines, Lake Olympia and Coleman middle schools.
Grandfathering policy
Students affected by rezoning would have options to stay put. Rising eighth-graders could remain at their current middle school, and rising sophomores, juniors and seniors could stay at their current high school. The district would not provide transportation for students who choose to remain.
Superintendent Dr. Marc Smith acknowledged the district cannot guarantee families won't face another boundary change. "We cannot assure that. Cannot. And I'd say 100% cannot assure," Smith said in response to a trustee's question at the Aug. 18 meeting.
Lamar CISD's Fulshear rezoning already settled
Fulshear families in Lamar CISD already have their answer. The Board of Trustees voted 7-0 on May 19 to approve attendance boundaries for Secondary Complex #8, which includes Williams High School, Urbanski Junior High School and Dresner Middle School. Those campuses, under construction off FM 359 near Twinwood Parkway in Cross Creek West, are scheduled to open for the 2027-2028 school year.
Williams High School will open with grades 9 through 11. Seniors zoned to the new campus in August 2027 will remain at Fulshear High School. The board also approved a UIL Legacy Provision allowing eligible student-athletes and performers to stay at their current campus if they meet criteria and provide their own transportation. The provision does not extend to siblings.
How to weigh in on Fort Bend ISD's plan
The Fort Bend ISD community survey closes at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 30. After it closes, feedback goes back to the advisory committee before administrators bring final recommendations to trustees, expected by the end of September. Families can find the survey at fortbendisd.com.
