Katy ISD to survey families on proposed junior-high rezoning that would move two small neighborhoods to Tyes Junior High

A public appeal and a staff presentation at Katy Independent School District’s March 24 work study prompted the board to consider an accelerated attendance‑boundary modification that would move land‑use zones 60C and 60D from Cinco Ranch Junior High to Tyes Junior High beginning in August 2025.

At the start of the meeting, Amy Coomer identified herself as speaking on behalf of families living in land‑use zones she called “60C and 60D,” and asked the board to rezone those addresses to Tyes Junior High for the 2025–26 school year. Coomer said many homes in the area are 0.3 miles from Tyes while students are currently zoned to Cinco Ranch Junior High, 4.1 miles away, and cited convenience, safety concerns about bus turnaround and roadway crossings, and disruption to social feeder patterns.

Ted Fearling, Katy ISD presenter on attendance boundaries, told trustees the administration will run a 30‑day community survey beginning April 1 and will present the results at the May 5 work study meeting; a board vote could follow at the May regular meeting with any change taking effect in August 2025. Fearling said the requested change affects relatively few junior‑high students — about 65 in 60D and only two in 60C — and would, in practice, move 60C and 60D to Tyes Junior High. He said Westlake (the larger subdivision in 60D) is currently within walk zone to Tompkins High School; the affected Westlake students already have a safe crossing at Gaston Road and would not receive bus service to Tyes if rezoned. By contrast, several homes on Hunter, Tina and Karen lanes are not on a safe walk route across Gaston Road and would continue to receive bus service to Tyes if rezoned. Fearling noted five of the nine junior‑high students residing on the three streets that prompted the request were already attending Tyes on transfer.

Why it matters: Fearling said the timeline for this shift would differ from the district’s usual ABM schedule (which typically begins later in the spring and is implemented a year after final board action). The proposed schedule moves surveying and decision earlier so students would begin at the new school in August 2025 rather than the following year. Fearling emphasized the change would not create operational concerns for transportation or capacity and indicated the net enrollment impact would be small.

Board process and next steps: Trustees asked whether affected students could remain at their current campuses (a question previously handled differently for high schools); Fearling said the district historically does not offer that option for junior high but had made exceptions at the high school level when students had already participated in specific programs. The administration will proceed with the April survey and return results to the board on May 5; any final vote would take place at the May regular meeting.

Provenance: Public comment from Amy Coomer and the subsequent staff presentation by Ted Fearling were recorded at the March 24 work study.