Wichita Falls ISD board adopts 'Option B' attendance map for McNeil opening

The Wichita Falls Independent School District Board of Trustees on Monday adopted ‘‘Option B’’ for elementary attendance zones to accommodate the opening of McNeil Elementary, approving the plan on a unanimous 7–0 vote.

Supporters said Option B moves all of Jefferson’s students to McNeil and shifts parts of Fowler and West, while leaving Crockett Elementary’s current attendance zone intact. Trustee 14, who made the motion, said the decision reflected projected growth on the city’s west side: "On the basis that our growth in the city is gonna come from the Westside," the trustee said, urging adoption to balance future enrollment. The motion was seconded and carried 7–0.

Why it matters: the change aims to balance enrollments and align feeder patterns as McNeil opens. Board materials and staff presentations noted community engagement that informed the options, including a teacher advisory council, a community advisory council and a district survey. Staff said Option B affects Jefferson, Fowler and West campuses and keeps Crockett’s population and staff unchanged.

Details: Under Option B, everything in Jefferson would move to McNeil; areas south of Kell in West’s current zone and areas west of Barnett in Fowler’s zone would also shift to McNeil. Trustees discussed outreach and emphasized they had held town halls and advisory meetings in the affected neighborhoods before the vote.

What happens next: Staff will implement the zone changes for next school year and notify families and schools about individual assignments, transportation implications and any bus routing or walking‑distance impacts. The board scheduled no further action on the item; implementation steps were left to district staff.