Rapid growth across Williamson County is reshaping the once-rural town of Liberty Hill, bringing a surge in development, new residents, and pressing challenges for local schools. “When I moved out here 5 years ago, it was very calm, very country,” said Natalie Menteer, a Liberty Hill resident. “Now, apartments going up, homes going up, a lot of businesses it’s growing fast.” That growth is being felt acutely in Liberty Hill ISD (LHISD), where student enrollment is increasing at an unprecedented pace. According to Interim Superintendent Travis Motal, the district is seeing an average growth rate of 12 to 15% each year, with approximately 900 to 1,000 new students annually.
Currently, LHISD serves 9,991 students, but recent demographic studies suggest that number could nearly double to over 19,000 within the next decade. One school already feeling the crunch is Santa Rita Middle School, which is expected to host 1,450 students in the upcoming 2025-26 school year well above its designed capacity of 1,200.
District Plans Portable Classrooms and New Campus to Manage Overcrowding
In response to the growing numbers, Liberty Hill ISD is taking a multi-step approach to manage its expanding student body. The immediate solution includes installing portable classrooms at Santa Rita Middle. “We have elected to put some portables over there for this next year to help with that growth temporarily,” Motal said. “We’re adding three portables, each with two classrooms, to accommodate the overflow.” While portables offer a quick fix, the district is planning for long-term sustainability. By August 2026, Middle School No. 3 is scheduled to open, and attendance boundaries will be redrawn to redistribute the student population more evenly across campuses.
“Once that campus opens, everyone is going to be well within their capacity for the next several years,” added Motal. The district’s expansion plans come amid broader discussions on adapting educational models to rapid suburban growth. LHISD is also exploring structural changes such as moving toward a four-day school week starting in the 2025–26 school year, which could help with staffing, transportation, and operational efficiency.
The proactive approach by LHISD highlights how Texas school districts must quickly adapt to population booms triggered by regional economic and residential growth. What was once a small community with rural charm is now becoming a hub of suburban activity, bringing both opportunity and logistical challenges. As Liberty Hill continues to grow, residents and administrators alike are working to ensure that the educational infrastructure keeps pace with the rising demand so that schools remain safe, accessible, and effective learning environments for all students.
