Lamar CISD undergoing period of ‘hypergrowth’
Lamar Consolidated ISD expects to open more than 20 new campuses, including four new campuses this fall, driving numerous job opportunities for all campuses to meet the “hypergrowth” the nearby suburban communities are experiencing.
According to a presentation by Zonda Education representative Bob Templeton, Lamar CISD saw its total school-age population increase by more than 10,000 within district boundaries from 2020 to 2024. The district also saw its total enrollment increase by more than 8,000 within the same period, with a consistent capture rate of 81%.
“I’ve seen this (for) about ten of our clients right now, and I can tell you out of the 10 that I’ve seen, this is the highest capture rate,” Templeton said. “For most of them have seen a drop from that 2020 capture rate to the 2023 capture rate. It’s dropping because of the increase in home school enrollment. It’s also dropping because of what’s happening with charter school enrollments.”
Zonda Education offers enrollment projections, attendance zone planning and other services to school districts.
Templeton referred to parts of Lamar CISD as hypergrowth areas when discussing homes being built within elementary school zones. Lamar CISD is considered a hypergrowth district due to 400 to 700 homes being built within several elementary school boundaries in the third quarter of 2023
Zonda Education considers 100 to 300 homes being built within a school boundary within a year to be fast growth for a district. For example, Tamarron Elementary had 768 home starts in the third quarter of 2023. Lamar CISD had the most annual new home starts at 3,818 and closings at 4,110 in the third quarter.
“(Lamar CISD) feels like (it is) four districts in terms of size and where the growth is happening,” Templeton said. “A lot of our fast growth districts might be 40 to 50 square miles and they’re building 1500 homes a year. (Lamar CISD) is the equivalent of three to four of those. ”
To meet the demands of four campuses opening this fall and future growth predicted by Zonda Education, Lamar CISD is now hosting a job fair March 2.
The district has positions available for more than 50 campuses and departments from teaching to counseling.
“The more we grow, the more we need good people to fill teaching positions across the district,” Lamar CISD Superintendent Roosevelt Nivens said. “We are proud to develop leaders that inspire innovation and foster growth to support and celebrate every student’s success.”
Jose Sanchez-Garcia, human resources recruiter for Lamar CISD, said the district is looking forward to meeting applicants face to face.
“It will also give us the opportunity to provide guidance, recommendations, and insight to educators interested in joining our team as it continues to grow.”
The Lamar CISD Job Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 2 at Foster High School. For more information, or to register, visit the Lamar CISD site..