Education

Thrall ISD Interim Superintendent Blake Schneider, Thrall Elementary School principal Sherri Maruska, and students Bree Guajardo, left, and Prestly Pehl, celebrate the school’s third “A” state rating at lunch. A marquee touts the great news.  Photo by Katherine Hamilton

Thrall ISD Interim Superintendent Blake Schneider, Thrall Elementary School principal Sherri Maruska, and students Bree Guajardo, left, and Prestly Pehl, celebrate the school’s third “A” state rating at lunch. A marquee touts the great news. Photo by Katherine Hamilton

Thrall ISD earns ‘A’ State rating for third consecutive year

With the determination of the Little Engine That Could, Thrall ISD in East Williamson County earned its third consecutive “A” rating in the State of Texas Accountability System this year.
 GISD’s Chief Academic Officer Heather Petruzzini visits Wolf Ranch Elementary School the first week of school in the new year. With her are students Emma Hess, Ian Blankenship, Lily Lothringer and Adia Powers.  Photo by Katherine Hamilton

GISD’s Chief Academic Officer Heather Petruzzini visits Wolf Ranch Elementary School the first week of school in the new year. With her are students Emma Hess, Ian Blankenship, Lily Lothringer and Adia Powers. Photo by Katherine Hamilton

Not content with a B state rating, GISD aims for an A in 2027

Georgetown ISD has its eyes on an A state rating in 2027, after receiving a B rating this year — up from Cs from 2022 through 2025. “Earning a B is good.
Landrie Mays, first-year teacher at Purl Elementary School, smiles with her welcome bag that was given to 315 new teachers throughout Georgetown. (Courtesy Georgetown Chamber of Commerce)

Landrie Mays, first-year teacher at Purl Elementary School, smiles with her welcome bag that was given to 315 new teachers throughout Georgetown. (Courtesy Georgetown Chamber of Commerce)

New Georgetown teachers receive welcome bags

About 315 new teachers at Georgetown ISD, GT School and Gateway College Preparatory School received welcome swag bags from the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce that included gift cards, special offers, coupons, useful supplies and more from local businesses.
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.

Photos: Georgetown ISD students head back to school

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

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)

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

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

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

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.

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

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.Located on 90-acres at 1601 DB Wood Road, the school will be GISD’s first...
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.

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

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.