Dripping Springs ISD is officially on the clock for a second comprehensive high school, a 2,500-student campus the district aims to open for the 2028–29 school year. The project is the largest in district history and arrives as enrollment has climbed sharply across Dripping Springs classrooms. Families are staring down several years of construction, plus renovation work at the existing high school and multiple elementary campuses.
How the project is funded
Per the district's 2025 bond packet from Dripping Springs ISD, Proposition A sets aside $298,783,000 for the construction of High School No. 2 and related campus improvements. Voters cleared the way in May 2025, with more than 70% supporting the bond measures, according to Dripping Springs ISD. The funding is intended to cover the new campus and upgrades that district leaders say will relieve overcrowding at Dripping Springs High School.
Enrollment trends driving the timetable
A demographic study by Population and Survey Analysts, presented at a recent State of the District update, found the district added more than 1,500 students in the past five years and roughly 3,000 since 2015. The report projects that about 78.6% of additional housing in the district over the next decade will be single-family homes and outlines 10-year enrollment scenarios that guide DSISD's long-range planning. Those projections underpin the decision to move ahead with a second comprehensive high school now instead of waiting.
Site and schedule
The new campus is slated for Darden Hill Road near Cypress Springs Elementary and is planned as a two-story, roughly 482,800-square-foot facility built for about 2,500 students. State project records list the Darden Hill site and show a projected completion date of July 15, 2028, which aligns with the district's goal of opening the campus for the 2028–29 academic year. Per the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation project record, the design includes a band practice field and a junior varsity stadium that is set up for later expansion.
Planned learning spaces
"[In] the new high school, collaborative spaces are emphasized," DSISD Chief Operations Officer Scott Berry told Community Impact. District leaders say the layout is designed to protect existing programs by expanding elective classrooms, arts spaces, and athletics facilities so the current high school can preserve its course offerings. Over time, they expect the added footprint to translate into more elective options and smaller class sizes for students.
Renovations and near-term work
The bond program also funds major upgrades at the existing high school and at Rooster Springs Elementary. Planned work includes HVAC replacement, library renovations, and new collaborative learning areas. Much of that renovation activity is scheduled to begin this summer. The district plans to use portable buildings where necessary to manage capacity while construction is underway. Officials say the combination of a new campus and targeted modernizations is intended to expand available seats and program options across DSISD.
Local concerns and timing risks
The Darden Hill project has already stirred local debate over tree removal and site mitigation. The city considered and approved a waiver request for heritage trees at the new high school site, a step that drew scrutiny from some community members. Hays Free Press reported that district officials warned that any late changes to site plans or additional permitting could delay the opening and increase costs. DSISD leaders say they are working with city and county officials, including on roadway improvements to Darden Hill, to keep the project on schedule.
What parents should know
Even as construction ramps up, DSISD officials point to strong academic performance. The district reports a mean SAT score of 1,125 and a mean ACT score of 24.4, and leaders say students "regularly outperform" region and state averages on STAAR, according to Community Impact. For families, district leaders say the construction period will be paired with program planning aimed at preserving course choices and extracurricular opportunities. DSISD plans to post ongoing bond-project updates and future attendance-zone details as work moves forward.
