Community Conversations regarding considerations for low-enrolled schools will be held at the following dates and locations:

Monday, August 25 — Cypress / Naumann Elementary Schools
📍 Cedar Park Middle School | 🕠 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, August 26 — Faubion / Westside Elementary Schools
📍 Cedar Park Middle School | 🕠 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Thursday, August 28 — Steiner Ranch, Laura Welch Bush and River Ridge Elementary Schools
📍 Canyon Ridge Middle School | 🕠 6:00–7:30 p.m.

Leander ISD ten-year long-range plan timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions

Exploring Campus Consolidations, Staffing Adjustments to Address Enrollment Shifts

At the May 29, 2025 Board meeting, Leander ISD administration presented a detailed overview of potential facility optimization paths under consideration as part of the district’s Long-Range Planning Framework. 

With several elementary campuses operating significantly below capacity – under 60% – and enrollment trends continuing to shift, district leaders are evaluating how to responsibly use space, support students and maintain financial sustainability. 

The Board reviewed three distinct paths, each offering a different approach to ensuring students continue to benefit from high-quality learning environments. The options are built on top of the foundational work established through the Long-Range Planning Committee, and they use districtwide data on campus capacity, the projected enrollment and per-student expenditures. 

Important Note: No final decisions yet made. All plans involve potential impact starting in the 2026–27 school year.

Path 1: Campus Consolidation & Repurposing

This path involves consolidating under-enrolled campuses with nearby schools to improve efficiency and educational offerings. Repurposed campuses could be used for alternative programs like New Hope High School, tuition-based Pre-K, or professional development hubs for teachers and staff.

Impacted Elementary Schools

  • Consolidating Faubion to Westside
    Under this model, as a combined campus, Westside would be projected at 92% capacity in the 2026–27 school year with a slight downward trend in future years.

    The Faubion building would be repurposed to serve the enhancement of the New Hope High School program starting in the 2027–28 school year.
  • Consolidating Cypress to Naumann
    Under this model, as a combined campus, Naumann would be projected at 98% capacity in the 2026–27 school year with a downward trend in future years.

    The Cypress building would be repurposed to serve the creation of a professional development and administrative support center starting in the 2027–28 school year.
  • Consolidating Steiner Ranch to Laura W. Bush and River Ridge
    Under this model, with the adjusted enrollment, Laura W. Bush and River Ridge would be projected at 67% capacity and 63% capacity, respectively, in the 2026–27 school year with a downward trend in future years.

    The Steiner Ranch building would be repurposed to serve the introduction of a tuition-based Pre-K center or partnership starting in the 2027–28 school year.

Combined, these three moves would result in an estimated $4.15 million of savings.

Path 2: Adjust Staffing Guidelines for Low-Enrolled Elementary Schools

Instead of closing campuses, this scenario proposes updating staffing guidelines for low-enrolled schools to align more closely with actual student numbers. The revised model would maintain current buildings but reduce personnel costs while ensuring that educational services remain intact. The proximity of adjacent campuses can serve additional staffing efficiencies.

Our elementary schools have traditionally been built for roughly 800-850 students. The proposed revised staffing guidelines would create additional enrollment groupings of “Up to 349 students” and “350 to 500 students,” with non-teacher positions adjusted accordingly.

As an example, instead of one instructional coach per school under current guidelines, schools in the 350-500 range may share its instructional coach with another school in the same enrollment range or combine this role with another position. Schools with less than 350 students would not be allocated an assistant principal.

Other scaled positions include the counselor, instructional coach, administrative assistant, registrar, receptionist, P.E. teacher, arts and performing arts teacher, librarian, QUEST teacher, reading specialist, dyslexia specialist, ESL teacher and 504/ARD coordinator.

Note: There would not be an adjustment to general teacher positions as they are tied directly to grade-level enrollment rather than overall school enrollment.

The staffing guideline adjustment would result in an estimated $1.78 million of savings.

Path 3: Hybrid Approach Factoring Unique Circumstances

This approach takes a flexible, case-by-case approach, blending strategies from the first two options depending on the unique needs of our campus communities. This model considers enrollment projections, facility utilization, community context and programming needs to develop customized solutions.

In some cases, campuses could be partially consolidated or co-located with district services,  such as special programs or alternative learning centers. This approach preserves the identity of schools where feasible while optimizing space and staffing where needed. It also allows for the gradual introduction of new programmatic models as community needs evolve.

In the presented version of Path 3, it does incorporate the consolidation of Faubion and Steiner Ranch elementary schools seen in Path 1. Combined, these moves as presented would result in an estimated $3.55 million of savings.

Estimated Cost Savings Recap

  • Path 1: $4.15 million
  • Path 2: $1.78 million
  • Path 3: $3.55 million

Next Steps

In reviewing the presented scenarios and when asked to provide guidance on the strategic direction moving forward, Trustees expressed support for further exploring the hybrid model of Path 3, recognizing it as the most flexible and context-sensitive approach. Many acknowledged that some form of consolidation and updated staffing guidelines will be necessary to address persistent enrollment imbalances and financial pressures. 

Trustees also stressed the importance of transparent, inclusive community engagement, and we know the input of our community is critical as we move forward. Leander ISD invites families and community members to participate in a series of Community Conversations to explore considerations regarding low-enrolled schools. These meetings are part of the district’s continued commitment to transparency, shared understanding and informed decision-making.

Meeting Schedule:

Monday, August 25 — Cypress / Naumann Elementary Schools

📍 Cedar Park Middle School | 🕠 6:00–7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, August 26 — Faubion / Westside Elementary Schools

📍 Cedar Park Middle School | 🕠 6:00–7:30 p.m.

Thursday, August 28 — Steiner Ranch, Laura Welch Bush and River Ridge Elementary Schools

📍 Canyon Ridge Middle School | 🕠 6:00–7:30 p.m.

Each meeting will include a presentation outlining the key challenges—such as declining enrollment, financial constraints and facility utilization—and a summary of potential considerations. These may include campus consolidations, updated staffing guidelines, or a combination of the two. In the true sense of community conversations, staff members will facilitate discussions, answer questions, take notes and be available to listen and learn.

At the close of each evening, facilitators will share common reflections, and district leaders will outline next steps in the process—including how feedback will be used to inform future decisions.

We encourage all stakeholders connected to the listed campuses to attend and share their voice.

Important Note: No final decisions yet made. All plans involve potential impact starting in the 2026–27 school year.

Previous Updates

Frequently Asked Questions

Has a decision been made about closing or consolidating my campus?

No. As of now, no final decisions have been made. The Board is reviewing multiple potential paths, and community input—including from principals, staff, and families—will shape future decisions.

What are the possible options being considered?

The district is evaluating three potential paths:

  • Path 1: Combining certain campus communities with a nearby school, allowing for repurposing to meet district space needs
  • Path 2: Implement updated staffing models at low-enrolled campuses
  • Path 3: Hybrid approach tailored to address unique circumstances
Some of the low-enrollment campuses were closed to intra-district transfers for the 2025-26 school year. Why would this be the case if growth may be able to help the current enrollment?

For the 2025-26 school year, elementary campuses were available for intra-district transfers by grade-level. Meaning that a campus grade-level may be closed to transfers due to the projected students would efficiently maximize the current staffing without adding another section.

Why are the estimated renovation costs for repurposing scenarios not included in the presentation of the different paths?

Associated repurposing costs will be part of the continued conversation, but when looking at the estimated cost savings for each path, the focus was on general fund costs. Repurposing would utilize portions of the 2023 Bond Funds allocated for these purposes, not general fund dollars.

Will staff lose their jobs if a campus is repurposed or consolidated?

Staffing adjustments, if needed, would primarily be managed through the district’s surplus process. Our goal is to support all employees with advance notice, clear communication, and thoughtful transition planning. No changes tied to paths 1-3 would be made prior to the 2026- 27 school year. The district will provide clear timelines and support. The district remains committed to providing stability and transparency throughout this process.

How will families and staff be informed and involved?

Engagement efforts include:

  • ThoughtExchange (May 2025)
  • Community Forums for those affected by consolidation or repurposing efforts (August 2025)
What does it mean if a campus is under 60% capacity?

This is a data indicator, generated through the work of the Long-Range Planning Committee. It highlights underutilization that may affect program access, per-student funding, and resource allocation. It is used in combination with other data and community input to inform options.

How is Elementary campus capacity calculated?

The district utilizes the most common method for calculating “Functional Capacity”, based on the Maximum Capacity (Total number of classrooms provided in each school building multiplied by school district’s average elementary student-teacher-ratio (22:1)) and then by an efficiency factor (85%). This takes into account needs for specialized programs and principal autonomy.

Maximum Capacity X Efficiency Factor (85%) = Functional Capacity

To decide the best practice for determining this Functional Capacity, the district worked with an educational facility planning consultant firm, thinkSMART Planning Inc. This was reviewed by the Board at the February 15, 2024 Board Meeting, at 2:52:30 District Administration walks through the adjustment. This was all done for consistency purposes as requested by the Board. There were also two supporting documents which were part of that agenda. New Process and new Capacity Chart

What’s the timeline for decisions and implementation?
  • May–August 2025: Community feedback and analysis
  • September 2025: Final Board vote on optimization actions
  • Fall 2025 and Spring 2026: further planning and communication
  • 2026-27 School Year: Implementation begins (if directed by the Board)