Education

6-year-old Camden Velez happily settles into his kindergarten classroom on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, the first day of classes at George Washington Carver Elementary School.

6-year-old Camden Velez happily settles into his kindergarten classroom on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, the first day of classes at George Washington Carver Elementary School.

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Photos: Georgetown ISD students head back to school

Andy Sharp
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Georgetown families lined up for the first day of classes at George Washington Carver Elementary School Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Carver begins the school year with 672 students.Photo by Andy Sharp

VFW sponsors student essay and art contests

Brad Stutzman
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
With a new school year underway, Georgetown VFW Post 8587 and its Auxiliary are sponsoring essay and art contests open to students in Georgetown, Jarrell and Florence.The local VFW essay contests are part of larger nationwide competitions, ongoing since 1947.
From left, Keith Parker, JISD Communities in Schools site coordinator; Evelyn DeJesus, JISD social worker; Jane Medema, Purl Elementary School counselor; Gloria Casso, Family Support Specialist at Mary Bailey Head Start; Carl Illig, executive director of the W.D. Kelley Foundation; and Shannon Illig, operations manager of the W.D. Kelley Foundation, at the check presentation on August 17. (Photos by Kaitlyn Wilkes)

From left, Keith Parker, JISD Communities in Schools site coordinator; Evelyn DeJesus, JISD social worker; Jane Medema, Purl Elementary School counselor; Gloria Casso, Family Support Specialist at Mary Bailey Head Start; Carl Illig, executive director of the W.D. Kelley Foundation; and Shannon Illig, operations manager of the W.D. Kelley Foundation, at the check presentation on August 17. (Photos by Kaitlyn Wilkes)

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Uplift Wilco receives $100,000 from W.D. Kelley Foundation

Kaitlyn Wilkes
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
As school starts back up, children in Georgetown and Jarrell ISDs will head to class showing off their newest clothes and shoes. Some of the outfits came together thanks to vouchers from Uplift Wilco’s Ready for School program, which allows students to show up dressed for success.
Staff and teachers file into the Klett Performing Arts Center for the Georgetown ISD Convocation on Monday, August 10, 2026. First day of classes is August 19. Photo by Andy Sharp

Staff and teachers file into the Klett Performing Arts Center for the Georgetown ISD Convocation on Monday, August 10, 2026. First day of classes is August 19. Photo by Andy Sharp

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Georgetown ISD celebrates B rating, progress in campus 2026 State accountability scores

Katherine Hamilton
Friday, August 14, 2026
Georgetown ISD is celebrating notable progress in its scores based on the 2026 Texas accountability system. GISD earned a rating of B in 2026, up from the C rating it’s had since 2023.
Georgetown ISD’s new high school is under construction on DB Wood Road. Not yet named, it’s slated to open in 2028. The project was funded through GISD’s 2024 voter-approved bond.

Georgetown ISD’s new high school is under construction on DB Wood Road. Not yet named, it’s slated to open in 2028. The project was funded through GISD’s 2024 voter-approved bond.

Exclusive Subscriber Content

New GISD high school scheduled to open in 2028 near Lake Georgetown

Katherine Hamilton
Sunday, August 9, 2026
Trees along DB Wood Road near Lake Georgetown conceal much of Georgetown ISD's newest high school, but the district's $365 million campus is taking shape as construction continues toward its planned fall 2028 opening.
A rendering of Jarrell ISD’s next campus, Atlas Ranch Elementary School, expected to open in 2028. The school is designed by the Huckabee architectural firm.

A rendering of Jarrell ISD’s next campus, Atlas Ranch Elementary School, expected to open in 2028. The school is designed by the Huckabee architectural firm.

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Jarrell ISD to add Atlas Ranch as fifth elementary campus in 2028

Katherine Hamilton
Sunday, August 9, 2026
Jarrell ISD has received a 13.69-acre donation of land for a future elementary school to be named Atlas Ranch. It is expected to open in 2028.The school will be located in the Atlas Ranch subdivision on County Road 344.

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Simple make-ahead lunches for the busy school year

Laurie Locke
Friday, August 7, 2026
As sure as the sun will rise each morning, the school year rolls around each August, and the task of making healthy school lunches that kids will actually eat is put back on the daily to-do list for parents.

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Texas sales tax holiday is August 7-9

Katherine Hamilton
Friday, August 7, 2026
Back-to-school shoppers can save money on clothes, shoes and school supplies during the state’s sales tax holiday that begins Friday, August 7, and goes through midnight, Sunday, August 9.This will be the 28th year of Texas’ oldest sales tax holiday.
Jarrell ISD’s 1916 Building — its exterior a replica of the original structure — will host the district’s 110th anniversary August 10. The building is now home to JISD’s administration offices.

Jarrell ISD’s 1916 Building — its exterior a replica of the original structure — will host the district’s 110th anniversary August 10. The building is now home to JISD’s administration offices.

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Jarrell ISD will link past and future during 110th birthday celebration August 10

Katherine Hamilton
Friday, August 7, 2026
Jarrell ISD will honor its past — and celebrate its future — August 10 when the district marks its 110th birthday and cuts the ribbon of its new Paw Prints Early Childhood Center.The celebration will kick-off at 7 p.m. at JISD’s 1916 Building, 504 North 5th Street.
Subscribe to