Good morning, Justin!

Fall may be “around the corner,” but here in Texas it still feels like summer in shoulder pads. The kids are back in school, football season kicks off August 30, and Friday night lights are about to make these hot nights a whole lot more fun.

THE DIGEST

Back to School Growth in Northwest ISD

The 2025–26 school year is off to an exciting start in Northwest ISD, which serves Justin, Roanoke, Trophy Club, Northlake, and parts of Flower Mound, as students return to brand-new facilities and major campus expansions.

Justin Elementary
Justin’s newest campus officially opened its doors this fall in the Timberbrook community. The school was built to hold 850 students and opened with about 750 enrolled.

Northwest High School
Northwest High students returned to class with a campus in the middle of a major renovation and expansion project. When complete in 2025, the school will have capacity for about 3,200 students—matching Eaton and Byron Nelson. This fall, enrollment is already nearing 2,700 students.

Active Projects

  • Renovations and expansions at Northwest High School: new classrooms, athletic facilities, and gym enhancements.

  • Justin Elementary: fully operational with additional classrooms to accommodate growth.

  • Technology upgrades across the district to support classrooms and student learning.

  • Planning and design for the new High School #4, opening in 2027.

  • Ongoing updates to athletic fields, fine arts facilities, and support spaces at multiple campuses.

How It’s Funded
These projects were made possible through the 2023 NISD bond program, which covers new schools, major renovations, and facility upgrades across the district. Bond money can only be used for things like buildings and construction projects—it cannot be used to pay teacher salaries or everyday school expenses. This bond was designed to create space for more than 8,000 additional students as our district continues to grow.

What’s Next
Looking ahead, NISD will continue upgrades to aging facilities, add new athletic and fine arts spaces, and expand technology district wide. The new high school on the Fort Worth side of the district will open in 2027 to help accommodate continued growth.

District wide Growth
Northwest ISD now serves 33,000+ students, and the district’s demographer projects steady growth of 1,100–1,300 students each year, reaching 46,000 by 2034.

How We Compare

  • Northwest ISD (~30,700 students, ~1,990 teachers)
    • Elementary ~24 per class; Middle ~26; High School ~30.
    • Prop A may help add staff and reduce class sizes.

  • Denton ISD (~32,900 students, ~2,499 teachers)
    • Elementary averages under 13 per class.
    • Teachers average ~11 years of experience.

  • Argyle ISD (~5,400 students, ~355 teachers)
    • Smaller district with strong balance of staff to students.

  • Krum ISD (~2,480 students, ~171 teachers)
    • Small-district feel but growing quickly with new housing.

  • Keller ISD (~33,250 students, ~2,380 teachers)
    • Stable staffing; average teacher tenure ~12 years.

  • Birdville ISD (~22,200 students, ~1,485 teachers)
    • Steady staffing; teachers average ~11 years of experience.

  • Carroll ISD (~8,300 students, ~542 teachers)
    • Southlake’s district; maintains stability with experienced staff.

As our area grows, so does the need for schools that can keep up—making it all the more important to stay connected, involved, and ready to support the next generation of Justin students. For additional information and photos check out NISD website.

August 14 City Council Meeting Recap

At the recent City Council meeting Council:

  • Approved the Consent Agenda

  • Set the property tax rate at $0.67 per $100 valuation, reducing the proposed budget by $375,000

  • Ordered a bond election for November 2025

Council also heard updates and presentations:

  • A biannual report from the Parks & Recreation Board, highlighting projects like the new Peterson Park, pollinator gardens, and future trail planning.

  • A presentation from FGMA Architects on renovations for the Joe Merle Morris Community Center and plans for a new gymnasium.

  • A workshop discussion on creating a no-parking zone around the new Justin Elementary School.

Special recognition went to two outstanding staff members:

  • Communications Manager, Krystal Haynes, honored for her leadership in social media, the City website, and community outreach.

  • Customer Service Specialist, Laura Wilkerson, celebrated for making the front office a welcoming and friendly space.

View the recorded meeting here: Meeting Video

LOCAL BUSINESS

What’s New Around Town

Exciting things are happening in Justin and nearby! Dive into the latest openings and what’s coming soon:

Justin

  • 427 Boss Range Rd.

  • Best Brains Learning Center Opened Aug 8, 2025
    1114 FM 156, Suite 2
    After-school tutoring and enrichment. Now open and enrolling.

  • The Academy – Justin Town SquareOpening Fall 2025
    413 Tally Blvd
    Childcare facility designed for local families.

  • Action Behavior Centers – JustinNow Open
    501 Justin Lane
    ABA therapy center supporting children and families.

  • LAV Nails & SpaNow Open
    400 Justin Ln, Ste 1
    Full-service nail salon at Justin Town Square.

  • Grapes to Wine+ (Proposed)
    112 N 4th St
    Proposed wine & bourbon bar under City review.

  • PhoComing Soon
    Near Justin Nail Lounge.

  • Justin Sports ArenaOpening Fall 2025
    Sam Reynolds Rd
    New hub with 10 indoor pickle ball courts, kids’ zone, and food truck space.

  • 912 W 1st St

Northlake & Argyle

  • Donut SpaceOpened July 12, 2025
    1633 Robson Ranch Rd

  • Dumont Creamery & CaféOpened June 2025
    1633 Robson Ranch Rd

  • Saha Threading & Hair SalonOpened June 2025
    1633 Robson Ranch Rd

  • StarCare Physical TherapyNow Open
    1633 Robson Ranch Rd, Ste 300

  • Le Rich MedSpaOpen by Appointment
    1633 Robson Ranch Rd, Ste 200

  • Timekeepers Haus (Coffee & Boba)Coming Nov 2025
    1633 Robson Ranch Rd

  • Grapevine Golf CarsComing Soon
    1611 Robson Ranch Rd

  • Tom Thumb GroceryOpening Spring 2026
    Harvest Town Center

  • Chuy’s Tex-MexBreaking Ground Sept 2025
    Harvest Town Center

  • Chadwick Farms DevelopmentETA Summer/Fall 2026
    Near Hwy 114

  • Northlake MultiSport StarCenterOpening Summer 2026
    FM 407
    $94.5M Dallas Stars–operated sports & training complex.

  • Blo Blow Dry BarOpened July 11, 2025
    8131 Gateway Dr., Suite 800

EVENTS

August Adventures: Mid-Month Edition

Looking for fun things to do around Justin and nearby? Check out this week’s local events and activities! Plus, if you’ve ever wanted to bring a character to life, Days of Denton Halloween is looking for roaming characters—sign up by September 15 to join the fun: Register here

Monday~ Aug 18

Tuesday~ Aug 19

Friday~ Aug 22
Saturday~ Aug 23
  • Backyard Chickens at Denton Clear Creek Heritage Center beginning at 9:30AM

  • Hello Kitty Truck at Southlake Town Square from 10AM-7PM

  • Dive & Vibe at the Fort Worth Marriott Hotel, 3300 Championship Pkwy. Purchase $20 pass to come in and enjoy the property and enjoy live music by Jackson Hatch

  • Live Music~ Blake Jackson from 7-10PM at Three Wide Brewing

  • Live Music~ Dax Davis, Free summer series at the Mule Barn from 9-11PM

Sunday~ Aug 24
📅See our online calendar for upcoming and ongoing events

LOCAL HISTORY

From One-Room Schools to a Growing District

Did you know Justin has seen schools come and go for more than a century? Back in 1902, the town passed a $2,000 bond to build a new school. Just a decade later, in 1913, the community opened Pennington College—a big step for education in the area.

Fast forward to 1948, and everything changed. Justin joined forces with Haslet, Rhome, and Roanoke to form the Northwest School District, giving kids more opportunities than one-room schoolhouses could offer. By 1949, Fairview joined in, making Northwest ISD the largest district by square miles in all of Texas. Over time, even more communities became part of the district, and today it stretches across 14 towns (or parts of towns!).

The first school built specifically for the new district came in 1950—a high school that set the stage for big growth ahead.

And just look at where we are now:

  • 6 High Schools

  • 7 Middle Schools

  • 23 Elementary Schools

That’s 36 schools in total—quite the leap from those early one-building classrooms!

Thanks for reading! Got tips, stories, or events? Email us anytime: [email protected]

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