Rewarding but Challenging… Destination-District Tomball ISD’s Student Population Boom

There are 21,426 students enrolled in PK-12 classes in Tomball Tomball Independent School District. The district ranks eighteenth among the Best School Districts in Texas for 2025. Tomball ISD high schools are among the top 10% in the nation. Tomball ISD is an A+-school offering advanced placement (AP) courses, gifted/talented programs, and superior special education programs including special services for autism-challenged students.

The district’s “report card” grades are:

A + Academics, college prep, teachers
A- Administration, clubs/activities, diversity, sports
B Food, resources/facilities

Northwest Harris County is experiencing a population boom. Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research says the rush from urban Houston to the northwest suburbs is driven by a family-oriented population seeking larger homes and better schools, “…with this trend particularly pronounced in areas like Cypress, Klein, and Tomball.” While Harris County’s population increased by 2.13%, Tomball, 30 miles northwest of Houston, had a population increase of 15.1%.

More than 60 school districts in Texas are considered “fast-growing.” These schools are often financially challenged to accommodate the rapid increase of students and families in their communities. Tomball ISD is included among Texas’ destination school districts.

(Our) member districts experience tremendous population growth as businesses
relocate or expand into these communities, creating both challenges and opportunities
for these destination districts.
-Dr. Greg Smith, Executive Director & former Clear Creek ISD superintendent

2025: More Schools & District Realignment for Tomball

“More” and “better” are appropriate words that describe 2025-2026 educational opportunities for our public-school students in Tomball. Two new schools opened during the 2023-2024 academic year: Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-Tech) for Healthcare/Tomball Star Academy and West Elementary School. West Intermediate School is scheduled to open for the 2025-2026 and a fifth-grade section will be added to Creekside Park Junior High, 2026-2027.

In November 2024, new attendance boundary alignments for West Intermediate were configured. Some residents were concerned that West Intermediate’s first year will see low enrollment, but school board President John McStravick said delaying the opening was not what the majority of stakeholders wanted. “Our community…wanted relief at Tomball Intermediate School. I think we need to give that relief at TIS without the burden of some type of rezoning again and again and again,”

The first day of school for Tomball ISD’s 2025-2026 academic year is August 12, 2025.

TEF Eases Tomball ISD’s ‘Growing Pains’

Tomball Education Foundation is a primary source of charitable funding for Tomball schools. There have always been many ways for community caregivers to help TEF achieve its goals (donating, sponsoring, and/or volunteering), but now there’s another way to ensure our students won’t suffer the effects of Tomball’s current population boom.

Donation 4 Innovation (D4I)

TISD employees are now able to donate using automatic payroll deductions. “We are grateful for ANY donation you make!” says TEF leadership. Donations are tax-deductible. (Be sure to consult with your tax professional.)

Benjamin Franklin said an investment in knowledge pays the best interest. Thanks to your donation, you’ll be funding grants, filling backpacks, and more. The #1 benefit of the D4I campaign for you is helping children and their teachers make Tomball, Texas, our country, and our world a better place to live, work, and play.

To become a TEF supporter:

  1. Sign up – Complete the campaign form. Click on: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfLnMrdclwEGG5ipkCVSYYoRI1DF7ARwzAW0p1ekbYq3fxHHg/viewform?pli=1 to submit your information.

  2. Pick a perk – Donors will be entered in an Apple watch drawing and every month, other prizes will be awarded from random drawings.

  • Campus/department with 50%+ enrollment can receive a “sweet treat.”

  • Campus/department with the highest D4I enrollment gets a special luncheon and free grant sponsorship. (Any employee of TISD is eligible to apply for a grant. Maybe this will be the year your grant has your name!)

  • If you donate $5+ per pay period, we’re proud of you! Wear a Foundation t-shirt on the first Monday of every month.

Tomball students are your kids, too. Contact the Tomball Education Foundation to learn ways you can help.

FAQs

One of the frequently asked questions about Tomball schools are:

There are several reasons why Tomball schools start and/or end at different times, which are called “bell schedules.”

  • Accommodate before & after-school programs

  • Better transportation options, especially schoolbus scheduling

  • Easier for parent work schedule alignment

  • Management of area traffic

  • Meet teens’ needs for more sleep

  • Tomball bell schedules are:

    • 6:50am-2:20pm – Tomball Star Academy

    • 7:00am-2:00pm – Tomball High School

    • 7:00am-2:30pm – Grand Lakes Jr. High

    • 7:05am-2:30pm – Connections Academy, Tomball Jr. High, Willow Wood Jr. High

    • 7:20am-2:35pm – Tomball Memorial High School

    • 7:35am-3:10pm – Creekside Academy Jr. High

    • 7:40am-3:10pm – Northpointe Intermediate, Oakcrest Intermediate, Tomball Intermediate

    • 8:10am-3:50pm – Canyon Point Elementary, Creekside Forest Elementary, Decker Prairie Elementary, Lakewood Elementary, Rosehill Elementary, Timber Creek Elementary, Tomball Elementary

    • 8:25am-4:05pm – Creekview Elementary, Grand Oaks Elementary, West Elementary, Wildwood Elementary, Willow Creek Elementary

    • 8:45am-4:05pm – Early Excellence Academy

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