The School Bell Rings For Friendswood, Alvin ISD

FRIENDSWOOD, TX — Students in Friendswood ISD and Alvin ISD are one of about six area school districts in the Greater Houston heading back to campus this week.

The 6,100 students in Friendswood ISD went back to school on Wednesday, while students in Alvin ISD will be back in class on Thursday.

While districts in the southern sections of Greater Houston are experiencing rapid growth, Friendswood ISD isn’t, and is actually considered a “slow growth district,” according to the district webpage. (Want to get daily updates about traffic news and other events going on in your area? Sign up for the free Houston Patch morning newsletter.)

Unlike other districts, Friendswood ISD has had difficulty attracting new teachers, especially when the going rate in places like Cy-Fair ISD, Klein ISD, and Tomball ISD in north Houston will pay a starting teacher in excess of $50,000, so in 2016, Friendswood ISD voters approved a nine cent increase in the districts our maintenance and operations tax rate to help increase teacher salaries.

RELATED: Alvin ISD Prepares To Open Two New Campuses For 2017-2018 School Year

This year, Alvin ISD, which starts classes on Aug. 17, will have more than 23,000 students enrolled, and has seen rapid growth in the district over the last five years, which spelled the need for a bond in 2015.

The $245 million bond will fund the construction of new campuses, two of which opened this school year.

In Alvin ISD, Pomona Elementary and Shirley Dill Brothers Elementary are set to welcome their new students.

Brothers Elementary is named for Shirley Dill Brothers, who worked in various positions for more than 40 years in Alvin ISD.

Pomona Elementary is named for the Pomona development in Alvin ISD, where the school is located.

Alvin ISD will host a ceremony after Labor Day to dedicate both campuses.

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