Several new schools are more than halfway complete and others are preparing to open in Northwest ISD in the coming months.
The construction is tied to a nearly $2 billion bond program approved by voters in 2023 to keep up with the fast-growing district that currently serves more than 32,000 students across Tarrant, Denton and Wise counties.
“We kept all current projects on our construction update just to keep you guys aware of where we are,” Sarah Stewart, interim chief of facilities, told trustees during the board’s March 9 meeting.
The projects include new schools, stadiums, transportation facilities and renovations that create space for about 8,400 additional students.
Here’s where things stand.
Barksdale Middle School nears completion
Construction on Floyd Barksdale Middle School — one of the district’s newest campuses — is nearing the finish line ahead of its planned opening next school year. The Barksdale campus will relieve overcrowding at Gene Pike Middle School in the northern portion of the district, officials said.
The school is about 88% complete. Outside, turf is being laid. Inside, flooring and other finishes are being installed.
Located near the Pecan Square community in Northlake, the campus is designed with collaborative learning spaces and a layout that separates academic, athletic and fine arts areas , Stewart said.
The school is named after Floyd Barksdale, a former Northwest ISD trustee who served as a football announcer and was active in local youth sports.
Davis High School takes shape
Northwest ISD’s fourth high school is under construction, with the campus about a third complete.
During the March 9 meeting, trustees named Ron Myers as the school’s first principal.
The campus is named after longtime Northwest ISD trustee J. Fred Davis Jr. The community leader, who died in 1998, helped guide the district through its period of early growth from 1964 to 1976, including the acquisition of land that now houses several districtwide facilities, Northwest High School and Pike Middle School.
The new high school is being built along North Riverside Drive near Interstate 35, on land once owned by the Davis family as part of their dairy farming operation. The campus, which has a capacity of 3,200 students, will open in August 2027 with freshmen and sophomores before expanding to additional grades.
Early childhood center reaches midway point
An early childhood center is about halfway complete.
The campus — located off Farm to Market Road 156, south of Hillshire Drive and north of East Bonds Ranch Road — is scheduled to open in August and is part of a broader effort to accommodate growing numbers of preschoolers.
The center is the first of four dedicated to early childhood that are planned for the north, east and west portions of Northwest ISD.
The centers are designed reduce crowding at elementary schools. Pre-K enrollment has increased significantly in recent years, rising from about 565 students in 2022-23 to more than 900 this school year.
Romer Elementary heads for August opening
Dr. Leigh Anne Romer Elementary School is about 70% complete, with visible progress inside classrooms, office areas and common spaces.
Crews are finishing wall work and preparing to install flooring, while design elements — including color selections chosen by campus leadership — are being added throughout the building.
The campus, located in the Madero community in Fort Worth at 15201 Wagon Train Trail, is scheduled to open in August with capacity for about 850 students.
Byron Nelson High School Performing Arts Center opening this spring
At Byron Nelson High School, the first phase of renovations — including a new performing arts center — is about 40% complete and expected to open in May.
The upgraded facility features expanded seating, improved acoustics and additional spaces for fine arts.
The school will be able hold larger events and reduce overcrowding during performances, officials have said.
Eaton High School updates
Construction at Eaton High School in far north Fort Worth is about 35% complete. Improvements to its performing arts center include enclosing the expanded building.
Unlike Byron Nelson, the Eaton project required expanding the center’s exterior footprint, which slowed progress slightly, Stewart said. The school serves more than 3,200 students from north Fort Worth, Haslet and Newark.
Administrative building, transportation facility underway
The district’s administration annex building is about 50% complete, while the relocation of its central transportation facility is in earlier stages at 10% complete, Stewart said.
Both projects are part of broader upgrades that include improvements to operations, logistics and support services.
Matthew Sgroi is an education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at matthew.sgroi@fortworthreport.org or @matthewsgroi1.
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