Find the latest back-to-school news and information for your school district. Districts are listed alphabetically, and this page will be updated regularly as the start of school approaches.

New principals proud of schools they're inheriting
Barbara Barker knows to leave well enough alone. The new principal at Green Elementary has an infectious enthusiasm for the Allen Independent School District. She had been Green's assistant principal since July 2000.
•  Navigating Allen ISD

Arlington ISD aims for safety, success
Amid the search for a new superintendent as well as turmoil over safer playground materials and storm water taxes, Arlington ISD and its nearly 8,000 teachers will open their doors to more than 63,000 students Monday. "Where our children are concerned, we want them to feel safe and to be excited about going to school here," school board member Sherri Wade said. "Any child that comes through our doors, we teach, whether they have special needs or plan on becoming a brain surgeon."
•  Navigating Arlington ISD

08/23/07: Notification system, Web access program to keep parents in touch
When the Carroll school district opens for classes next week in Southlake, parents will find two new initiatives to improve communication. A new, computerized parent notification system and an Internet-based Family Access program will put Carroll school officials and parents in instant contact if needed, said district spokeswoman Julie Thannum.
•  Navigating Carroll ISD

Carrollton-Farmers Branch enacts plan to meet performance goal
As students head back to class at Carrollton-Farmers Branch schools, district officials have a game plan to help improve performance. The district's rating from the state dropped from recognized to acceptable this year. It met the Texas Education Agency's criteria for a recognized rating in 27 out of 28 indicators, but fell 2 percent shy in science scores.
•  Navigating Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD

08/23/07: District kicks off new year with rally, fair for kids, parents
An event that started as a way of helping families meet the ever-rising costs of starting school has evolved into an encouraging and expectation-setting occasion in Cedar Hill. The mayor's office and Cedar Hill school district are expecting hundreds of students and parents at the fifth annual Mayor's Back to School Rally and Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the high school, 1 Longhorn Blvd in Cedar Hill.
•  Navigating Cedar Hill ISD

Some teachers have first-day jitters, too
When Laura Springer walked into Coppell Middle School East during the summer, the campus was in the middle of renovations, including new carpeting and a new air conditioning and heating unit. But Ms. Springer is breathing a sigh of relief. The projects are nearly complete. Teachers are moved into classrooms and she can focus on her first year as principal.
•  Navigating Dallas ISD

08/25/07: At J.L. Long Middle, a familiar name as principal
On Monday morning, two generations of Smiths will ring in the school year in two very different ways. As the new principal of historic J.L. Long Middle School in East Dallas, Jennifer Smith-Jones will have the same role as her father, Larry G. Smith, 16 years before her. Meanwhile, on Gus Thomasson Road, the recently completed Larry G. Smith Elementary School will open its doors.

Parents help make DeGolyer Elementary a success
DeGolyer Elementary was once a school in decline. Because of falling enrollment, the school shut its doors in the early 1980s. But it reopened a decade later, and today, it's become a success story for the Dallas school district, thanks in part to parent involvement. Classes at DeGolyer and other area schools begin Monday.

Retired DeSoto ISD teacher will return to school
Lynne Kornegay is retired from DeSoto school district, but she isn't going away. After 50 years spanning six decades in the classroom, the Amber Terrace Intermediate School teaching veteran can't get enough of the thousands of children she has educated.
•  Navigating DeSoto ISD

08/23/07: Electronic devices off limits to students during school day
Students heading back to school in Duncanville should leave their cellphones in their backpacks or at home. Changes in the district's policy this year will fine violators $15 for using any electronic device during the instructional day, which is basically defined as from the opening bell to the closing bell.
•  Navigating Duncanville ISD

Ennis Intermediate School closed
Nearly 900 students enrolled at Ennis Intermediate School will be sent to other district schools for the start of school Monday after engineers declared the campus for fourth- and fifth-graders is structurally unsafe.
•  Navigating Ennis ISD

Over 3,000 new faces, 5 new schools ready to go
More than 3,000 new students will flood Frisco ISD's already burgeoning schools, where enrollment is growing by about 30 percent annually. It should reach about 27,500 at the start of school next week.Five new schools will open in the district, including the permanent Liberty High School, accommodating ninth through 11th grades. Last year, Liberty students were temporarily housed at Fowler Middle School, which now officially opens as a middle school.
•  Navigating Frisco ISD

Two new Garland ISD schools look back – and forward
The Garland school district has 57,000 students and so many campuses that, seemingly, it has to recycle school names. But there's a purpose behind the reuse of George Washington Carver's name in the district that serves Garland, Rowlett and Sachse. It honors the man and, in Garland, an era.
•  Navigating Garland ISD

General's namesake school opening
As a boy, Gen T. Michael "Buzz" Moseley was mesmerized by fighter jets flying above his home in Grand Prairie. Today, Gen. Moseley is the chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. To honor Gen. Moseley, the Grand Prairie school district named its newest school after him.
•  Navigating Grand Prairie ISD

08/23/07: Renovated campuses ready for the big reveal
The rewards of a $107.9 million bond package will be evident when students in the Grapevine-Colleyville school district return to their campuses next week.
•  Navigating Grapevine-Colleyville ISD

08/23/07: Fish Camp lets freshmen dive right in
On the first day of a new school year, incoming high school freshmen can feel like fish in a big pond. But ninth-grade newcomers to Highland Park High School will get to test out the waters early during Fish Camp, a special event on Friday designed for freshmen.
•  Navigating Highland Park ISD

Some teachers have first-day jitters, too
School kids aren't the only ones nervously counting the days until the start of the new school year – the anticipation reaches to teachers within the Irving Independent School District as well.
•  Navigating Iriving ISD

Despite turmoil, most are optimistic as school starts
A mixture of excitement and dread surfaces when 15-year-old Brittany Jackson talks about starting her sophomore year Monday at Lancaster High School. She had heard about the financial issues and controversial scheduling proposal that have attracted public scrutiny to the Lancaster school system. But like many students and educators in the district, she chooses to focus on the fresh opportunities of a new school year.

Despite concerns, Lancaster ISD passes budget
The Lancaster school board voted on Aug. 22 to approve a $43.5 million budget and a new tax rate, ending weeks of tight budget negotiations that have drawn increased attention. Board member Carolyn Morris voted against the budget, because she said she was uncomfortable with the numbers, and abstained from voting on the tax rate.

Lewisville school district ready for opening day
Come Monday morning, Lewisville school district teachers will be ready to greet students on the first day of school. Last year the district served more than 47,000 students. This year it estimates enrollment at 50,671. To accommodate the district's growing needs, a number of additions to existing schools are in the works, including a new science and fine arts wing at Lewisville High School.
•  Navigating Lewisville ISD

New faces, places for McKinney ISD
With two new elementary schools and numerous principals retiring or moving to different districts, McKinney ISD parents and students will see many new faces on the first day of school.
•  Navigating McKinney ISD

Pleasant surprises await Mesquite students, teachers
Sean Hipp, 10, is ready to get reacquainted with his friends and teachers. But the fifth-grader also will discover a new look at Hodges Elementary. After nearly two years of renovation, the school will show off $9.5 million in new or upgraded classrooms, along with improvements to its labs, library, gym, and cafeteria.
•  Navigating Mesquite ISD

District unveils Web site to get students college-ready
Last week, all teachers returned for professional development training and convocation with Superintendent Doug Otto. The biggest item on his agenda: the districtwide launch of the University Ready program and Web site, ur.pisd.edu.
•  Navigating Plano ISD

Earning recognized rating just the start for Richardson ISD
In addition to maintaining its recognized rating, the district also increased its number of campuses that were rated exemplary, the highest possible rating, by 50 percent. Overall, 81 percent of rated RISD campuses are either exemplary or recognized, compared with 79 percent a year ago.
•  Navigating Richardson ISD

Rockwall welcomes 2 elementaries, senior class for Heath
Rockwall school district elementary students may get a new building – or a longer look at an old building – as the district opens its doors next week. This year, the district fulfills its plan to provide all-day kindergarten at all campuses, and rwo new schools that broke ground in February 2006, Sharon Shannon Elementary and Celia Hays Elementary, will welcome their first students.
•  Navigating Rockwall ISD

New Waxahachie high school going Global
Waxahachie Global High School is one of about three dozen schools in the Texas Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (T-STEM) initiative, a $70 million project to help prepare students for life after high school, including college and the workplace.
•  Navigating Waxahachie ISD

08/23/07: Dress code bans hoodies, allows jackets
A dress code approved by Wylie school board members settles widespread confusion over what students can wear to school next week, even if it doesn't make them happy. Under the new policy, students cannot wear hooded sweatshirts in school. But school trustees decided students should be able to wear lightweight jackets and sweaters to keep warm in air-conditioned classrooms.
•  Navigating Wylie ISD