Frisco was once a small, rural outpost in Collin County. The city had a deliberate plan to keep school sizes small as well. According to the Dallas Morning News, city planners are now reconsidering the most appropriate school sizes as the area continues to add tens of thousands of new residents.

Frisco has historically had an intentional plan to keep school sizes smaller. Their current enrollment is capped at 2,149 students per campus.

The campus size is also in accordance with UIL division rules for the 5A size class, which governs placement in the important competition. UIL is the University Interscholastic League, an annual Texas competition in which students can compete in a variety of subjects, from art to athletics. Rankings obtained in the competition can lead to scholarships and college placement.

Neighboring school districts, such as Allen, have dealt with similar growth in a different manner. Allen ISD opted for one mega-sized school rather than multiple smaller ones. Allen high schools can accommodate 4,500 students, similar to the high schools in nearby Plano. These larger schools are in a different division in UIL competitions. 

Frisco currently has 10 high schools, and the district is trying to decide how to proceed with future schools. The district formed a small group of 50 residents to serve on a long-range committee to plan the future of the ISD.

The district is considering other ways to deal with growth. Plano has separate schools for ninth and 10th graders and 11th and 12th graders. 

Smaller high schools have the benefit of fostering greater social continuity among the students and providing more opportunities for athletics and extracurricular activities. The downside of smaller schools is that the district itself is larger and rezoning is an annual source of anxiety for many students. Rezoning the district can separate students who have attended school together for years.

The residents of Frisco are highly concerned about this matter, as many chose to live there based on school sizes. Expect to read more about it in the future, as it’s far from settled.