District overview
Waller ISD
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
How Waller ISD is paid for and who decides
Waller ISD covers 328 square miles in Waller County and northwest Harris County and had about 10,870 students in fall 2025, up 9.7% in a year. Like most Texas districts, its day-to-day money comes from a state formula that mixes local property taxes and state aid, so more students and higher property values bring more money. New schools are paid for separately with bonds that voters approved in 2019, 2022 and 2024; a separate debt tax pays them back. A seven-member Board of Trustees, elected at large to three-year terms in May elections, sets the budget and tax rate and hires the superintendent, Bennie Mayes.
Operating money
The 2026-27 general fund plans $138.9 million in revenue: about $68.9 million local (mostly property tax) and $68.8 million from the state. Its spending is $138.8 million, up 11% from 2025-26.
Tax rate
The 2026 rate is $1.0528 per $100 of value: 61.28 cents for operations (the lowest the state allows plus five extra cents) and 44 cents for bonds. That is down from $1.0626, but rising values mean the median homestead bill is estimated to go up about $75.
Debt
The district owes about $1.08 billion in bond principal and plans $63.8 million in 2026-27 bond payments. In January 2026 it refinanced older bonds to save about $4.4 million.
Who decides
Seven trustees (Positions 1-7) are elected at large. Positions 5, 6 and 7 are on the ballot May 1, 2027.
The debt mostly pays for new schools that voters approved for a fast-growing district. The 2024-25 audit was clean with no findings, the state's school financial rating (FIRST) presented in December 2025 was an A (92 points), and the 2026-27 operating budget is balanced. None of this settles whether the growth plans are the right ones.
Where the district stands
$138,772,046 divided by 12,231 projected students. Includes transportation and maintenance; excludes bond payments and food service.
Major projects
Warren Ranch High School (second high school)
under constructionStewart Builders is building the district's second high school. The board approved its guaranteed maximum price in November 2025, which staff said was under the bond budget. The mascot is the Brahmas.
- Construction price approved
- Brahmas mascot revealed
- Building pad and piers complete
- On schedule for 2028
Funding
2024 voter-approved bond
Marilyn Godwin Elementary (Elementary No. 9, Cypress Green)
under constructionDrymalla Construction is building Elementary No. 9 for $49,563,844. The board named it for Marilyn Godwin, who served 43 years in the district.
- $49.6 million price approved
- Dirt work started
- Named Marilyn Godwin Elementary
Funding
2024 voter-approved bond
Three-point seat belts on every school bus
planningA new state law requires three-point seat belts on all buses by Sept. 1, 2029. About 54 buses lack them; options cost about $1 million to over $7 million. The district bought its first 15 new buses in early 2026.
- Requirement presented
- Board feasibility vote
Funding
Bond money for buses; no guaranteed state funding
Planning for future schools
planningDemographers project roughly 40,000 students within 10 years. The board bought land for future campuses (about 15.3 acres in June and about 47.5 acres in July 2026). Johnson Junior High is planned for 2029, and staff have said another bond election may come in the next couple of years.
- Land for a future elementary approved
- 47.5 acres for a future campus approved
- 10-year demographic forecast
Funding
Future bond election (not yet called)
Recent news
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Practical guides to school phone policies, district budgets, and administrator hiring.
Explore resources →Official Waller ISD board meeting recordings (YouTube playlist linked from the district's Board Meetings page, Oct. 30, 2025 to Oct. 8, 2026, reviewed from auto-captions) plus budget, audit, tax-rate, check register and student handbook documents posted on wallerisd.net.
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