Lamar Consolidated ISD high schoolers will have access to nursing labs, automotive bays, culinary kitchens and drone-piloting courses when the district's new $174.8 million Career and Technical Education center opens Aug. 29 in Rosenberg.

The 236,211-square-foot facility at 1155 Hartledge Road will serve 1,100 students districtwide in its first year, according to Community Impact Newspaper. That includes students from Fulshear High School and other Lamar CISD campuses. District officials cut the ribbon Friday, Aug. 7, two years after construction began in August 2024.

"This center was built for students," Kayse Lazar, executive director of CTE and career readiness, said at the ceremony. "It was built for the young person who dreams of becoming a nurse, the young person who dreams of becoming a dental assistant, an electrician, a chef, a cosmetologist, a drone pilot, an automotive technician or an entrepreneur."

Voters approved the project as part of Lamar CISD's $1.52 billion bond in November 2022. The center accounts for roughly 11.5% of that total bond package. Construction wrapped in May 2026.

What students will find

Programs span architecture and construction, engineering, manufacturing, transportation and logistics, and arts and audio-video technology. Students can also pursue certifications in dental assisting, electrical trades, cosmetology and entrepreneurship, all using industry-standard equipment.

District officials said the center became essential as enrollment grew. Lamar CISD expects its student population to exceed 50,000 in the 2026-27 school year, up from approximately 46,786 across 50 campuses.

What's next for families

The 2026-27 school year begins Tuesday, Aug. 11, but the CTE center's official opening is Aug. 29. Lamar CISD has not specified whether students will begin attending the center on the first day of school or on the later date.

The district operates on a $572.2 million annual budget heading into the new school year as it absorbs the facility into daily operations.