Severe overcrowding WoodCreek Junior High (Houston, Spring: real estate, 2014, cheap apartments)

[Rip808]

A couple of days ago I saw a report on how overcrowded Woodcreek Junior High is and how builders will keep adding students.

Katy ISD Battles Real Estate Explosion - Hopes Voters Will Approve November Bond

WCJH has 17 portable buildings, at a cost of $92,000 per building. This past weekend I got to thinking and I wondered how you all would feel about moving some of the 8th graders, who are already zoned to Tompkins, into Tompkins next year? (So, it would be the current 7th graders). Tompkins currently only has 2 grades (9, 10), so that school is half empty. Next year they will only have 3 grades (9, 10, and 11). I remember back in 1999-2000 that Cinco Ranch high took some students from a local junior high to help with the overcrowding. WCJH is expected to add another 500 students within the next 2 years...

So we wasted $1.564MM when a school 2-3 miles down the road is sitting half-empty.

For people affected by this (like I am), what do you think?

[Meyerland]

I doubt it will happen. At least you are not having kids shuttled to less "prestigious" schools in Katy. They do that in other districts.

Katy teachers and staff are used to dealing with overcrowding and handle it pretty well. Many campuses across Houston are bursting at the seams.

I actually prefer teaching in portable buildings. You are a bit isolated and it makes your class more tight knit.

[Kiovo]

WCJH has been overcrowded for years. The elementary schools are not even able to keep up with the growth so it's not surprising that the JHs are not able to. All the portable buidlings are an eyesore but it could be worst (like Meyerland stated kids being bus to further less "prestigious" schools). The administrations at these schools do run a tight ship and I've been impressed with how well it flows. The classrooms itself are not too overcrowded, IMO. The growth in the area has just been crazy, but it's not the builders adding students, it's the families all moving to the area. But that just means more tax revenue for the district, which means they can build more schools. Of course, the district will always be behind on the building.

I thought I read somewhere a new junior high is being built near Hawk's Landing/PMR area? Either way, whether the bond passes or not, they will build another junior high.

[Rip808]

The junior high land is in the Hawks Landing community right next to Silver Ranch. Intersection of Spring Green and Hawks Prairie Blvd.

[timtemtym]

It's the cycle of school districts in high growth cities. Decades later you can go to most school districts and see when their big booms came. Alief was growing so fast they used the same already paid for blueprints for many of its schools. There is the 70's blueprint schools (from when it was nice swanky suburbia), the 80's blueprint schools (when the apartments went south and filled in with large families) and then 90's blueprint schools (the six intermediates and a few elementary schools when the cheap apartments kept going up).

Now it's Katy's turn and they're going to deal with these growing pains in the outer areas until the areas get built out and Katy passes more bonds to catch up in building. Then, once it's all built out, the growth dragon will move on to Royal ISD and SealyISD.

The school board will review zones likely over the summer. It would help if you show up and bring your ideas and bring a ton of parents who think like you do. Some of those board members are parents as well or they have grandkids in the schools and they will understand your concerns. Show up!

[usc619]

I think the bond will pass, The new school couldn't come soon enough.

[Social D]

They will probably include the gold plated football stadium again along with the new schools in the bond. Basically telling us that we can't get one without the other.

[1girln3boya]

Originally Posted by Kiovo

WCJH has been overcrowded for years. The elementary schools are not even able to keep up with the growth so it's not surprising that the JHs are not able to. All the portable buidlings are an eyesore but it could be worst (like Meyerland stated kids being bus to further less "prestigious" schools). The administrations at these schools do run a tight ship and I've been impressed with how well it flows. The classrooms itself are not too overcrowded, IMO. The growth in the area has just been crazy, but it's not the builders adding students, it's the families all moving to the area. But that just means more tax revenue for the district, which means they can build more schools. Of course, the district will always be behind on the building.

I thought I read somewhere a new junior high is being built near Hawk's Landing/PMR area? Either way, whether the bond passes or not, they will build another junior high.

The bond has to pass in order to build the Jr High. It's slated to be built there but if we don't pass the bond it won't. Don't believe any rumors you here. Go to the Katy ISD Bond info page and read facts. Also if you have time attend a bond meeting.

[usc619]

FYI Next bond meeting will be held on 5/15/24 6:00pm @ ESC