Developments boost Alvin ISD enrollment
Enrollment in the Alvin Independent School District is projected to increase by 60 percent in 10 years as the district’s west side continues to grow, according to a demographer’s projections.
In a bi-annual presentation at the district’s most recent board meeting, demographer Bob Templeton said Alvin ISD’s enrollment of 22,158 is expected to grow by 6,087 students over the next five years and by 13,286 to 35,444 in the next 10.
The district is growing at a consistent pace despite effects on Houston from the oil industry downturn, he said.
The district’s west side has experienced significant growth this year, Templeton reported.
Last year, the Sterling Lakes, Savannah and Southlake subdivisions — all west of Texas 288 — each had at least 135 closings on home sales. Other fast-growing areas are around the Meridiana,
Duke and Savannah Lakes communities. Alvin-Manvel area popular with families
The Alvin-Manvel area is a magnet for families wanting to live along the Texas 288 commuter route to Houston as well as families moving from the south to be closer to other parts of the Greater Houston area, Templeton said.
“Alvin is doing good job passing bond elections pretty quickly and working to open schools over the next few years,” Templeton said.
“It’s just going to be a continual cycle. They must be ready to open a new school every year or maybe every other.”
The demographer’s findings, district spokesperson Daniel Combs said, “just largely affirmed the rate of growth we have been experiencing for a number of years.” Grand Parkway to spur more growth
That growth will be spurred by the development of the Grand Parkway, which Templeton expects will also draw new businesses to the area although he doesn’t see district schools being impacted until around 2020.
A planned section of the parkway will stretch 28 miles from Interstate 45 west to Texas 288 near Rosharon, Templeton said.
“The district has been buying land —about 5,400 acres — in an area that the parkway will go right through,” Templeton said. “It’s important that they’re getting it before the land is unavailable or too expensive.”
Alvin ISD acquired land last year in the Meridiana area for a stadium and transportation center and purchased property in Pomona for an elementary school.
“Alvin ISD has owned an elementary and junior high school site in Shadow Creek Ranch,” he said,
“These sites will all be used for school facilities that will be constructed with funds provided by the 2015 Alvin ISD bond election.”
Templeton emphasized that planning is critical for fast-growth districts such as Alvin to avoid classroom crowding that can prompt families to turn elsewhere when buying homes.