By David Taylor / Managing Editor
The Barbers Hill ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously to call a $95 million bond election in May, aiming to renovate and expand athletic facilities in response to continued enrollment growth and the district’s recent transition to Class 6A—the state’s largest school classification. Notably, passage of this bond would not result in an increase to the Barbers Hill ISD tax rate.
The proposed bond would fund the construction, acquisition, and equipping of a multipurpose athletic fieldhouse, along with additional stadium improvements, including expanded fieldhouse capacity and new locker room facilities. The district’s current fieldhouse, built in 1980 and paid off by 1998, has served generations of students. The new facility is designed to be multipurpose, capable of hosting convocations and graduation ceremonies during inclement weather.
Enrollment at Barbers Hill ISD has surged from fewer than 1,500 students in 1980 to more than 8,100 today, with projections indicating annual growth rates of 3 to 4 percent over the next decade. This sustained growth has prompted the district to compare its athletic facilities to those of other Class 6A districts, leading to the current initiative.
Historically, the community has shown strong support for school improvements. Since 1998, Barbers Hill ISD has held eight bond elections, all passing by wide margins. The most recent bond, totaling $378 million and approved by voters in 2024, funded the construction of two new campuses and districtwide improvements, receiving support from 82 percent of voters. This legacy of successful bond measures underscores the district’s commitment to providing quality facilities for its growing student population.
Election Day for the $95 million fieldhouse bond is set for May 2, with early voting beginning April 20. The district’s move to Class 6A was confirmed in December by the University Interscholastic League (UIL), with Barbers Hill High School’s enrollment exceeding the 2,215-student cutoff for the state’s largest classification.
On Monday, the UIL announced the Eagles will join District 18-6A with Deer Park, Dickinson, Clear Brook, Clear Lake, Clear Creek, Clear Falls, and Clear Springs.
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