Northwest schools prepare for growth by putting a $2 billion bond up for a vote

As Northwest schools prepare for growth, officials are asking voters to open their wallets to help the cause.

The Northwest school district has put $2 billion bond on the May 6 ballot to add a high school, a middle school, four elementary schools and four early childhood centers, as well as replace campuses for Justin and Prairie View elementary schools.

The new high school would be built on North Riverside Drive, near Texas 170 in far north Fort Worth. The middle school would be built in Pecan Square. Two elementary schools would be built along the booming U.S. 287 corridor in the Haslet area, and another would be built in Wildflower Ranch, north of Texas 114 in far north Fort Worth. The fourth would be determined when enrollment nears capacity, the district said.

Another proposal would build stadiums at Trophy Club Nelson, Haslet Eaton and the new high school. Texan Field and NISD Stadium would get improvements.

If passed, the funding will allow for an additional 8,400 students in the school district.

The school district improvements were led by a 57-member planning committee.

“Working together, the committee had a lot of spirited conversations about what our district will look like in the coming years and how we do what’s best for kids,” Joe Washam, one of the committee’s members, said in a press release from the school district. “We’re all here because we believe in the students of Northwest ISD and want to continue to provide a top-tier educational environment for every child of our district.”

Northwest serves 14 cities and towns in Denton, Tarrant and Wise counties, and is one of the fastest-growing school districts in the state. Its enrollment is 29,248, with 15,000 of those students arriving since 2010.

And Northwest isn’t the only district preparing for growth. Aledo school board members voted Monday evening to put $123.8 million up for a vote to add elementary and high school space and fund facility repairs. Voters will also be asked to approve $120.8 million in Springtown, $331.2 million in Decatur and $185 million in Bridgeport.