SUGAR LAND, Texas – The Fort Bend Independent School District is preparing to redraw its school boundaries, a move that could shift students to different schools and potentially impact property values in the area.
The district says the rezoning initiative aims to balance enrollment between overcrowded and underutilized schools while planning for future growth. However, the announcement has already drawn concern from parents and homeowners across the district.
“Nobody likes the word rezoning, nobody,” said Elisa Hrachovina, a resident of the Harvest Green community.
District leaders report stable enrollment trends over the next decade, but emphasize the need for efficient campus utilization.
The boundary planning process involves analyzing multiple factors, including student enrollment data, projections, school capacity, financial information and academic program placement.
The potential changes could affect families in various ways.
Streets that currently send all students to the same school might be split, with children on opposite sides attending different schools.
For parents like Hrachovina, who made housing decisions based on school assignments, the prospect of change is particularly concerning.
“I built my home while I was still pregnant with my son with the idea that he would go to a certain school,” she said.
The rezoning’s impact extends beyond current students to property owners whose home values are closely tied to school assignments.
In communities like Quail Valley, where students currently attend Elkins High School, residents worry about potential changes affecting their property values.
“People want good schools, and if you don’t have a good school, they’re gonna go to another neighborhood,” said Barbara Thompson, a Quail Valley resident who has witnessed the region’s growth. “This was a two-lane road here. This was just cow country.”
The district’s School Boundary Advisory Committee (SBAC) will play a key role in the process, providing input before final recommendations are presented to the Board of Trustees.
Fort Bend ISD has emphasized that community feedback will be an essential part of the decision-making process.
“I think there has to be a change somewhere,” Hrachovina acknowledged, reflecting an understanding of the district’s challenges while expressing concerns about the impact on families.
The district has not yet released maps showing proposed boundary changes.
Parents and residents will have their first look at potential changes during Monday’s meeting.
Parents seeking additional information about the boundary planning process can email boundaryplanning@fortbendisd.gov or visit the district’s website for updates.