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Duncanville ISD approves districtwide rezoning affecting about 900 students
Summary
The Duncanville ISD board approved attendance boundary changes tied to the 2023 bond reconfiguration plan, changing feeder patterns, creating an early learning academy and a three-tier bell schedule. The board approved the plan 7-0; transfer and transportation rules and grandfathering were discussed at length.
The Duncanville Independent School District board of trustees voted 7-0 to approve proposed attendance boundary changes intended to implement the district—s Building the Future: Raising Champions bond reconfiguration plan.
District officials said the rezoning is intended to reduce student "islands" who attend campuses far from their nearest school, balance enrollment, and align feeder patterns as the district shifts to PreK-4'05 elementary schools, middle schools that include sixth through eighth grades, and a new early learning academy for three-year-olds. The administration estimated about 900 students would be affected by the changes.
The changes create new feeder patterns (referred to in presentations as Bird, Kenimer and Reed patterns) and remove the Central and Smith elementary attendance zones. Under the plan, the Smith Early Learning Academy would open in 2026 and Central Academy would open in 2027; Brandenburg Middle School Academy is scheduled to open the following year. Mr. Graham, the rezoning presenter, said the plan "streamlines transportation and aligns each campus with a clear feeder pattern" and recommended board approval effective for the 2025'026 school year.
The board and staff also described how the district will manage transfers and transportation after rezoning. Transfer applications will be available beginning Feb. 28. Students in fourth, fifth and eighth grades who are impacted by rezoning may apply for transfer; sibling continuity forms will be accepted so families can request that siblings remain together. Students already grandfathered to remain at their current campus will continue to be permitted to attend that campus but, per district practice described at the meeting, would not be provided district bus service as a transportation entitlement under the new boundaries; trustees were told those families would need to provide their own transportation. The district said eligible K—2 students living more than two miles from their assigned campus or in a TEA-designated hazardous area will continue to qualify for bus service, and choice-program students may request transportation.
District staff detailed the transportation impact: of roughly 3,051 riders routed currently, fewer than 100 students would become ineligible for transportation under the proposed boundaries. The administration also said the start times will move to a three-tier schedule: high school 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (unchanged); elementary schools shifted 15 minutes later to 8:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.; and middle schools 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The board heard that those times must be finalized in a future vote.
Trustees asked for additional community communications and bilingual materials; Mr. Graham and district staff said multiple campus and community meetings were held, an FAQ is maintained online, and the communications team will post maps and details if the plan is approved. Trustees also pressed staff for more detail on hazardous-area designations and crossing-guard plans; staff said transportation has reviewed existing hazardous areas and that the district would follow up on specific locations mentioned by trustees.
Nut Graf: The attendance-zone changes are a central component of the district—s bond-funded reconfiguration that shifts grade spans, repurposes campuses and establishes new choice programs; the board approved the changes unanimously but asked staff for follow-up on transportation exceptions, hazardous-area reviews and bilingual outreach.
Background: The rezoning discussion followed a November 2023 voter-approved $170 million bond package. Presenters said the plan will reduce campus transitions, create signature programs, renovate facilities and aim to reduce overcrowding and underutilization across the district. The board and staff said detailed maps, capacity figures and enrollment projections have been shared in public meetings and via the district website.
Ending: The district will publish updated maps and an FAQ on its website and open the transfer application on Feb. 28. The board ordered staff to return with any additional policy language and a final vote on schedule adjustments at a future meeting.
