Hays CISD is projected to cross a major milestone at the start of the 2025-2026 school year. Student enrollment is expected to exceed 25,000 for the first time in district history. Last year, student enrollment was around 24,400, which was an increase of approximately 900 students from the previous year. If the enrollment projections hold for the 2025-2026 school year, the district will see enrollment reach 25,590 students. Hays CISD has entered a phase of exceptionally fast growth.

In 1967, when Hays CISD was formed by merging the Kyle, Buda, and Wimberley school districts; the new consolidated district had a total of 1,157 students. It took ten years for the student population to double, crossing the 2,000 mark in 1977. The district reached the 5,000-student mark in 1994. In 2005, Hays CISD welcomed more than 10,000 students. Fifteen thousand and 20,000 student milestones were reached in 2010 and 2019, respectively.

In July, the Hays CISD Board of Trustees granted superintendent Dr. Eric Wright an extension of his five-year contract which now takes him to the year 2030. Recently, Dr. Wright became the district's second longest serving superintendent after Moe Johnson, the founding superintendent of Hays CISD and namesake for Johnson High School. Moe Johnson served from 1967 until 1984. Dr. Wright has served as Hays CISD's superintendent since January 2018, which is - so far - 7.5 years.

"Half of our campuses are rated A or B which was definitely not the case when Dr. Wright took over the helm at Hays CISD. In fact, he inherited three failing campuses. Since he has been our superintendent, none of our campuses have failed," said Board President Byron Severance. "We put eight new principals in leadership positions and they all increased their campus scores. Our student achievement continuously outperforms the region and state."

Some additional achievement highlights noted by the Board include:

• A 14% increase in students enrolled in advanced academics and significant improvements in their performance on advanced placement (AP) tests.

• A 95.2% graduation rate, beating the state average.

• Moving Hays CISD teacher and staff salaries from the bottom of the list in the Austin region to a much more competitive position.

• The creation of the most employee-friendly district in terms of policy in Texas.

• Decisive and exceptional leadership through two the most serious crisis situations the district has ever faced - the global pandemic and the fentanyl crisis that claimed the lives of seven Hays CISD students.

• An increase to 87% of Hays CISD students participating in career and technical education (CTE) courses with more than 2,000 of them earning an industry certification in just the past school year.

"The list of tangible achievements is considerably longer," said Severance. "These measurables are important. But, something you don't really see on paper, but that we all feel, is that Dr. Wright is involved, present, and genuine. He's at most campus, district, and community events and he encourages everyone - students, staff - even Board members - to be their best."

"His charisma, compassion, and humility fosters trust and inspires all of us," said Board Trustee Esperanza Orosco. "It's important to have the right leader in place as we work together to achieve success and make all things 100% possible for our students."

In Texas, if a school district adopts a budget and corresponding operations tax rate that is above what the state calculates for the district, voters must approve the higher operations rate in order for it to take effect. With the conclusion this summer of the 2025 legislative session, Hays CISD has a clearer picture of the operating revenue that will be provided to the district under the state’s basic funding formula. In that context, the district will likely ask voters in November to consider a tax rate ratification election (TRE).

 School Funding in Texas

Texas schools are funded primarily through two taxing streams – (1) the interest and sinking (I&S) tax and (2) the maintenance and operations (M&O) tax.

The I&S tax is generally reserved for debt service issued on bonds to finance capital expenses like buildings, buses, equipment, and tangible long-term assets. Most voters are familiar with I&S funding through school bond elections. In fact, Hays CISD voters just approved a bond in May to build the district’s fourth comprehensive high school, among other important projects. The Hays CISD I&S tax rate would not increase, as promised, with a TRE.

The M&O tax covers the operating expenses for the district – teacher and staff salaries, insurance, utilities, bus fuel, supplies, student activities and projects – everything paid for by the district’s general operating fund. The M&O rate is calculated for Hays CISD by the Texas Education Agency through a series of funding formulas that take into account student attendance and the different needs of certain student groups.

Operational Funding Pressures in Hays CISD

Because state funding has not kept pace with inflation since 2019, Hays CISD expects to consider setting a higher M&O tax rate than the state has determined for the district. Many other districts in Texas in recent years have employed this funding approach in order to maintain operations, attract and retain valued teachers and staff by continuing to offer competitive salaries and benefits, and to continue to provide important educational services for students.   

The Specifics Being Considered for a Hays CISD TRE

In August, Hays CISD leadership, in consultation with the district’s financial advisors, will calculate whether a TRE is something worth asking voters to consider. The TRE could include an increase of up to 12 pennies on the M&O tax rate that could generate as much as $24 million in additional operational revenue. This money could be used for items such cost-of-living raises for employees who were not included in this year’s legislative funding, maintaining educational programming, and other costs to support operating schools.

The process would involve: a notice in the newspaper, a public hearing on the matter, and a Board of Trustees vote on whether to call for a TRE election based on the tax rate they choose to set. The deadline to call for this election for the November 2025 ballot is August 18, 2025. If the proposed higher tax rate goes to voters to consider, voters would cast their ballots for or against the tax rate on November 4, 2025.

Additional Information

In addition to potentially raising more operational revenue, should voters approve a TRE, the district intends to continue to find ways to cut operational expenses. Examples include eliminating additional positions through attrition, selling surplus district property, increasing capacity at our current campuses, and possibly delaying opening future schools to postpone the impact adding new campuses has on the operating budget.

Back-to-school means a long to-do list in a short time. That’s why it’s smart to make an appointment to get your child immunized now. Not having the right shots or appropriate immunization exemption documentation can mean your child won’t be able to go to school on the first day. Ask your healthcare provider about your child’s protection against vaccine-preventable diseases including diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, and others. Proof of immunization or valid exemption documentation is required for students to come to school on the first day. When your child is immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases, it helps prevent outbreaks in their schools and contributes to better health for all children in Texas.

View the state’s required immunizations for 2025-2026.

Hays CISD Back-to-School Vaccine Clinics

• August 5, 2025, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Simon Middle School (Information and Eligibility Flyer English) (Spanish)

• August 10, 2025, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Camino Real Elementary School (Information and Eligibility Flyer English) (Spanish)

Hays County Back-to-School Health Fair

• August 2, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 120 Stagecoach Trail, San Marcos, TX 78666 (See the event flyer in English or Spanish.)

Vaccines, hearing and vision screening, free backpacks with school supplies, free haircuts, free booster seats, food, games, activities, and much more!

Medication safety is of the utmost importance to Hays CISD. The district provides registered nurses on each campus to provide care for students including medication administration. In the event that a nurse is not available, trained school staff are available to provide medications per policy. Medications should be given at home whenever possible, such as those medications that are administered once or twice per day. 

However, we know that some medications have to come to school with students. In those cases:

• All medication (including over the counter and prescription) must be in the originally marked labeled container and must be provided by the parent or guardian.

• All medications must be kept in the nurse’s office unless the student is cleared by both the physician and school nurse to self-carry.

• All narcotics/controlled medication must be kept in the nurse’s office at all times.

View the complete listing of rules and necessary medication forms for Hays CISD online at: https://www.hayscisd.net/page/medications-at-school.

Hays CISD is proud to continue the district’s Clothes Closet and HaysHope2Go supplemental nutrition program this year. Both of these transformational social service initiatives are invaluable in the district’s efforts to eliminate socio-economic barriers that prevent students from succeeding. The Hays CISD Clothes Closet, founded by Board Trustee Esperanza Orosco, provides no cost new and gently used clothing to Hays CISD students. Additionally, in recent years, the Clothes Closet has also become a hub for students who need backpacks and school supplies. The HaysHope2Go project, co-founded by Orosco and local pastor Trey Williams, works to alleviate hunger among district students who are most in need. Food insecurity is a major barrier to having students focus on their work in class and reaching their full academic potential. Clothing insecurity can negatively affect self-esteem. All of these activities are funded entirely through donations and volunteers. To donate, volunteer, or access services, visit: www.hayscisd.net/clothes or https://www.hayscisd.net/hayshope2go.

Do you enjoy working with children? Interested in being more involved in our schools? Want to make a positive difference in the education of our children? Substitute teaching may be the answer! As a substitute, or guest teacher, you can set your own schedule and work at the locations of your choice.

For more information and to apply, please visit our website.