News Headlines

Representing some of the nation’s most accomplished high school scholars, 26 Katy ISD graduates were named 2025 College-Sponsored Merit Scholarship winners by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Katy ISD stands ready to help students stay fueled up for summer activities with the Summer Food Service program, providing free breakfast and lunch meals to students, aged 18 or younger, regardless of their enrollment.   

Marking the 10th time to earn the distinction since it launched in 2016, Katy ISD has once again been designated a Transparency Star from the Texas Comptroller’s Public Account Office.

At a special reception tonight, trustees from the Katy ISD board, along with District and city leaders, celebrated the Class of 2025’s 132 graduating seniors who committed to military service. The outstanding students were accepted to attend the nation’s military academies or serve in one of America’s military branches or national/state guards and reserves.

Representing the stellar Class of 2025, Katy ISD is proud to share this year’s roster of  valedictorians and salutatorians. 

Today, as part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, the Katy ISD Police Department collected 18 boxes of unused and expired medication, as the department continues its mission to keep the community safe.

Looking to top last year’s strong third-place national finish, Beckendorff Junior High was named champion in the middle school category, or Division B, at the state Science Olympiad competition this month at Texas A&M University.

Tonight, in an event to honor the many individuals who contribute to Katy ISD's success, the District recognized its ‘Of the Year’ honorees, saluting individuals who shine brightly in their respective roles.

Continuing their commitment to public education during the 89th Legislative Session, Katy ISD Trustees, along with parents and community members, spent the day at the Texas Capitol engaging with legislators and staff on key issues impacting students, families and schools.

Amid stiff competition from across Texas, Katy ISD’s Miller Career and Technology Center (MCTC) students earned nearly two dozen medals at this year’s state SkillsUSA competition.

In the culmination of her four years of involvement with the District’s Navy JROTC unit at Mayde Creek High School, senior Kayla Rinehart received a Navy ROTC Scholarship that will cover her college tuition and guarantee her an officer commission.

Moving through multiple rounds of intense competition, robotics teams from Cinco Ranch, Jordan, Mayde Creek, Paetow, Seven Lakes and Tompkins high schools competed in this year’s UIL State Competition, with Cinco Ranch emerging as division finalist.

Lauded as a strong student leader, Seven Lakes High School senior Avantika Vijayaraghavan is the latest Katy ISD student to receive a Navy ROTC Scholarship, which will cover her full tuition to college.

Advancing from the Destination Imagination (DI) Lone Star Finals, held last month in Arlington, Katy ISD will be represented by 12 teams who earned their way to the international competition to battle some of the world’s creative young minds.

Tonight, in true Katy ISD fashion, the District recognized this year’s retirees and longest-serving staff at its annual Employee Service Awards, celebrating with the theme “Tuesday Night Live.”

In a move aimed at giving staff some extra time off, at this month’s Board meeting, Katy ISD’s Trustees approved amendments to the instructional calendars for the 2024-2025, 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years.

Recognized for their passion, talent and commitment to education, Katy ISD has named its 2024-2025 districtwide Teachers of the Year, representing the cream of the crop among educators.

For families looking ahead to next school year, pre-registration for the 2025-2026 school year will open on Monday, March 31 for new students zoned to Katy ISD.

For the first time in school history, two Mayde Creek High School students have received the prestigious QuestBridge Match Scholarship in the same year, earning full four-year scholarships to top American universities.

Ten of Katy ISD’s budding scientists were recognized for their research and achievement at this year’s Science & Engineering Fair of Houston (SEFH), held last month at the Fort Bend Epicenter.

Among just 63 school districts in the state, Katy ISD has once again been named a Texas Honor Roll District, by the Educational Results Partnership (ERP), for its commitment to narrowing achievement gaps.

An engaged, dedicated group of parents, students, educators and business and faith-based leaders assembled today to shape the future of Katy ISD through intensive strategic planning.

Bringing in more than $125,000 combined at auction, four Katy ISD students’ art was among this year’s 2025 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) School Art Auction.

Business and education leaders from Katy visited state policymakers today to discuss key legislative priorities, including career training, workforce development and funding to support teachers, student safety and other critical initiatives.

Among her class’s top 5% of students, Paetow High School senior Elizabeth Thornton was among this year’s recipients for the Navy ROTC Scholarship, making history as part of the first cohort of students to ever receive this award.

As further evidence of the efforts to be prudent with taxpayer resources, Katy ISD was recently recognized as the Top Performing School District by CenterPoint.

Assembling nearly two-dozen cohorts of the region’s most fertile minds, Katy ISD is sending 23 teams to the 2025 Lone Star Finals, Destination Imagination’s state competition.

Hundreds gathered tonight to pay tribute to the Freeman family and to dedicate Katy ISD’s newest high school, Freeman High School (FHS), in a poignant ceremony highlighting the family’s service to the community stretching back more than a century.

Parents and guardians who wish to get a jump on Prekindergarten Registration for the 2025 – 2026 school year can begin signing up as early as March 31.

Making history, Katy High School senior Joseph Fields was selected for the highly prestigious, highly selective Navy ROTC Scholarship, which provides him with tuition for college, medical school and a guaranteed commission as a Navy officer upon graduation.

The Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) has once again awarded Katy ISD’s Financial Services Department its prestigious Award of Excellence in Financial Management, adding another distinction to the team’s many accolades.

Looking to repeat last year’s success, Texas’ second-ranked Academic Decathlon team from Katy ISD’s Taylor High School will compete in the 2025 Texas Academic Decathlon San Antonio meet this weekend at The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Ranked among the state’s very best, Katy ISD’s Navy JROTC Unit based at Mayde Creek High School earned third place at the 2025 NJROTC Area 17/18 Texas State Academics, Athletics and Drill Championships, held this past weekend at Texas A&M University in College Station.

Following their stellar performance at this year’s Texas Music Education Association (TMEA) Clinic/Convention in San Antonio, Katy ISD’s 2025 All-State musicians were honored by the Board of Trustees and district leaders ahead of the Board’s regular February meeting.

Katy High School’s Emily Beltran clinched this year’s state wrestling title for her weight class, jostling Katy’s girls’ team to 3rd place overall in 6A competition at the state’s 2025 UIL Wrestling Tournament.

This week, for the fourth consecutive year, Katy ISD celebrated female student-athletes with Morton Ranch High School hosting the National Girls & Women in Sports Conference.

Launching for the first time in elementary grades in Katy ISD, Sundown Elementary premiered a robotics club for its students this year.

Despite the rainy and cold weather this week, Katy ISD’s 2025 FFA Livestock Show and Rodeo was a celebration of community, hard work and the District’s enduring connection to agriculture.

In a testament to the award-winning Katy ISD Athletics department, 49 Katy ISD student-athletes have inked agreements with collegiate programs across the country with letters of intent to continue their playing careers on a larger stage.

The dark clouds and rain outside didn’t dampen the joyous spirit inside, as Katy ISD held its Best Buddies Special Rodeo, as part of this year’s FFA Livestock Show.

Repeating their skillfulness at spelling , Beckendorff Junior High sixth-grader Arnav Vijay and Beck Junior High sixth-grader Sahith Iyer will represent Katy ISD at the upcoming 2025 Scripps Regional Spelling Bee. As fifth graders, the pair were named District champions last year.

In a surprise ceremony that included her family near and far, Roosevelt Alexander Elementary teacher Olivia Watson learned she’d been named a finalist for the H-E-B Excellence in Education Award.

Members of this year’s Leadership Katy cohort stepped back in time as they toured cutting-edge career and technical education (CTE) classes at Katy High School, accompanied by Katy ISD administrators, Principal Rick Hull and other district leaders.

Carrying on the legacy of excellence in fine arts, 54 Katy ISD students were selected for All-State honors in band, choir and orchestra, securing the state’s highest honor for students in music.

In a poignant ceremony, hundreds of Katy ISD leaders, teachers, staff, students and community members gathered to dedicate Nelson Junior High School (NJH) and pay homage to the Nelson family for their service to the community and dedication spanning nearly a century.

Reaching upper atmospheric heights in a worldwide competition, Tompkins High School senior Sahus Gupta and junior May Lynn Espinola earned Honorable Mention at the 2024 NASA International Space Apps Challenge.

Katy ISD’s Nutrition and Food Services Department reaped the Texas Department of Agriculture’s “Cream of the Crop” award for the state’s 2024 Farm Fresh Challenge.

Katy ISD has named 34-year law enforcement veteran David Rider as incoming Chief of Police. The new chief will assume Katy ISD’s top law enforcement post on Monday, February 17.

Katy ISD’s Navy JROTC Unit based at Mayde Creek High School bested the competition at the 2025 Magnolia High School JROTC Drill Competition held this past weekend, earning top marks on a journey to this year’s state championship meet.

Hundreds of “Creechers,” Creech Elementary former and current students and staff, attended a reception this evening to celebrate the school’s 25th anniversary and honor those who have made the school a home for students, staff and families.

Setting the bar high in its inaugural season, Freeman High School’s softball team has been named the sole statewide recipient of the 2025 Grant Teaff Beyond the Game Team Award, given to the Texas high school team each year that exemplifies outstanding service to the community.

At this month’s Board meeting, Katy ISD’s Board of Trustees approved the instructional calendar for the 2026-2027 school year.

Hundreds of hopeful candidates attended Katy ISD’s Operations Job Fair this morning, hoping to join the city’s #1 Public School District, according to Niche.

In a first for the district, Katy ISD earned the top three spots in the UIL 6A Division I Spirit State Championship, held this month in Fort Worth, TX, with Mayde Creek High School earning first place, Seven Lakes High School earning second and Jordan High School earning third at the highly competitive event.

Katy ISD celebrated commencement for 2025 winter graduates tonight, proudly honoring 112 students as they move forward into their bright futures in careers, higher education or military service.

Hundreds of Katy ISD students and parents attended a Legacy Parent Academy, “Moving Up to Junior High or High School,” session, gaining invaluable information as they prepare to successfully move from one level to the next.

Cinco Ranch High School senior Suhhyun Kim earned third place in this year’s Congressional App Challenge (CAC) for Texas’ 22nd congressional district, for her app A+tendance.

This month, nearly 100 candidates began their teaching journey as part of the first cohort in Katy ISD’s innovative alternative certification program (ACP), Katy ISD TEA+CH.

Continuing its collaborative relationship with parents and families, Katy ISD invites community members to provide their input on instructional materials scheduled to be implemented in the 2025-2026 school year.

Looking for a class to learn something new in the new year? Katy ISD’s Community Education Spring 2025 courses may be just the thing.

Six Katy ISD counseling programs have been recognized as winners of the prestigious Counselors Reinforcing Excellence for Students in Texas (CREST) award for the 2024-25 school year!

Reflecting Katy ISD’s commitment to safety for students, staff, and visitors, the district today hosted the U.S. Department of Justice for a comprehensive, critical incident review of the tragic May 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas.

Amber Tripp, a kindergarten teacher at Schmalz Elementary, joins the ranks of a select group of educators nationwide, earning her National Board Certification in Early Childhood.

The FFA chapters from Katy and Tompkins high schools walked away state champions at this year’s State Leadership Development Event, held earlier this month at Sam Houston State University.

Hundreds of our phenomenal student-athletes have scored big, earning a place on the Texas High School Coaches Association Academic All-State list for fall sports.

Six Katy ISD high schools have been named to the 2024 Advanced Placement (AP) School Honor Roll, with four schools receiving AP Access Awards.

Katy ISD continues preparing for the upcoming rodeo season and will host the Rodeo Art Open House this Thursday, December 19 at the Merrell Center, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The event is open to all families and community members.

Seven Lakes High School’s Symphony Orchestra has been named winner of The American Prize in Orchestra Performance for 2024 in the high school division.

Last week, the Katy ISD Police Department helped to make holiday dreams come true for hundreds of students and families as part of the Santa Cops program.

Katy Independent School District is excited to welcome Miranda Cummings as the new principal of Mayde Creek Elementary.

Katy Independent School District (Katy ISD) is excited to announce the appointment of Krista Gillaspia as the new principal at Nottingham Country Elementary.

As Katy ISD prepares for the upcoming Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR), families and community members are invited to attend the upcoming FFA Progress Show, scheduled for December 12-13.

Katy ISD’s Navy JROTC Unit stormed to victory, claiming first place overall at this year’s thrilling “Admiral Classic” Drill Meet!

At its December 9, 2024, Regular Board Meeting, the Katy ISD Board of Trustees approved the namesakes for two new schools, opening in fall 2025, as recommended by their respective School Naming Selection committees.

At the December 9, 2024, meeting of the Katy ISD Board of Trustees, Katy ISD police officers Lt. Glenn Cloud, Sgt. Jeffrey Martinez, and Officers Matthew Graham and Jason Ryan received the district’s Meritorious Service Award for their service above and beyond the call of duty.

Katy High School student Aiza Saad Farooqui was awarded Best of Show at this year’s Katy Rice Harvest Festival Art Contest, one of more than a dozen awards given to district students.

This week, 12 Katy ISD student-athletes signed their letters of intent for their respective collegiate athletic programs, committing to universities across the country.

In a festive celebration, hundreds attended Katy ISD’s annual Brick Unveiling ceremony, honoring campus Teachers of the Year for the 2023-2024 school year.

The start of school can be a stressful time for students and families, with many new things to learn. But no parent expects for a new diagnosis to be part of that equation, or in one so young as Nottingham Country Elementary (NCE) third-grader Braylee Ingvoldstad.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has awarded Katy ISD an “A” (Superior) rating in the School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST).

Continuing their year of growth and learning, students in Katy ISD’s Student Athlete Leadership Team (S.A.L.T.) cohort spent the day stuffing more than 4,500 packets for participants in the 22nd annual Turkey Dash, benefitting the Monty Ballard YMCA at Cinco Ranch.

At tonight's Board Work Study meeting, the proposed names for elementary schools #47 and #48, as recommended by two separate naming advisory committees, were presented for Trustees' consideration.

At tonight’s Katy ISD Board meeting, the district’s demographic partner, Population and Survey Analysts (PASA), presented the 2024 Demographic Update, projecting steady growth over the next 10 years, especially in the northwest quadrant.

Katy Independent School District (Katy ISD) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Grant Smith as the new principal at Beckendorff Junior High.

Katy ISD’s Navy JROTC Unit, based at Mayde Creek High School, placed second overall at the 2024 George Bush “President’s Own” JROTC Drill Meet, held this past weekend.

Lisa Kassman, Executive Director of Facilities, Planning, and Construction for Katy ISD, has been named the 2024 Director of the Year by the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE).

Katy ISD is proud to announce that 51 student-athletes signed letters of intent to play at the next level on National Signing Day.

Katy ISD Superintendent Dr. Ken Gregorski announced the principals for the district’s newest schools, Elementary #47 and #48.

In observance of Veterans Day, Katy ISD proudly honored the service and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans through a series of heartfelt events across the district.

Seven Lakes High School’s Marching Band will represent the school and district at this year’s UIL State Marching Band Championship, after progressing through regional and area competition.

Katy ISD's Navy JROTC unit, based at Mayde Creek High School, achieved an impressive third-place overall finish at its first drill meet of the season.

In a celebratory evening befitting their accomplishments, twenty individuals were inducted into the Katy ISD Athletic Hall of Honor as part of the Class of 2024.

Faldyn Elementary hosted Katy ISD’s 2024 National School Lunch Week luncheon this month, welcoming several special guests to campus.

Katy ISD’s Police Department collected more than 20 boxes of medication at this weekend’s Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, continuing its mission to keep our community safe.

More than 200 Katy ISD students and graduates earned AP (Advanced Placement) distinctions in the 2023-24 school year, with 51 of them being 2024 graduating seniors.

In recognition of their impressive accomplishment, Katy ISD’s National Merit Semifinalists were honored by Trustees and leaders ahead of the Board’s regular October meeting.

During tonight’s Regular Board Meeting, the Katy ISD Board of Trustees voted to approve Attendance Boundary Modifications (ABM) for the district’s next elementary schools, #47 and #48, to be located in the district’s northwest quadrant.

At tonight’s Regular Board Meeting, the Katy ISD Board of Trustees approved legislative priorities for the upcoming 89th Texas Legislature, which begins in January.

Tompkins High School’s Sabrina Smith was named Reserve Champion at the 2024 Fort Bend County Fair School Art Auction for her creativity, shown in her piece Rodeo Reverie.

Katy ISD’s 2024 State of the District was a celebration of excellence, collaboration, and appreciation for the many stakeholders that continue investing in the future of students.

This month, in observance of Unity Day, the Wilson Elementary Wolfpack staged a school-wide photograph to show its culture of kindness.

Parents of students in grades 1-4 who are interested in having their child screened for the district's Challenge (Gifted and Talented, GT) program must submit a referral by October 25.

Morton Ranch High School science teacher Philip Gustafson has been named a T.E.A.C.H. (Texas Educators Achieving Classroom Honors) Award winner by the Texas chapter of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD).

Katy ISD Superintendent Dr. Ken Gregorski has named Kathryn Leeper as the new principal of Faldyn Elementary. She will officially assume the role on Tuesday, October 15.

Parents and community members are invited to learn about the comprehensive safety and security measures in place across the district at this month’s Legacy Parent Academy session.

Katy ISD is steeped in a long history of agriculture, and this year’s FFA State Convention, held this summer in Houston, gave District students and teachers an opportunity to shine on their home turf.

Katy ISD’s Cardiff, McDonald and Morton Ranch junior high schools have been named Promising Practices Schools by Solution Tree, for their implementation of successful campus professional learning communities (PLC).

Katy ISD has once again been named the top-ranked public school district in Houston and Texas, according to Niche ratings released today.

Fourteen Katy ISD ensembles have earned the 2024 Mark of Excellence recognition from The Foundation for Music Education, continuing the District’s stellar reputation in fine arts.

Starting this week, the Katy ISD Police Department is partnering with Covenant K9 Detection Services, adding another layer of security to district schools.

Taylor High School teacher Heather Burgess has been named the 2024 awardee of the Excellence in High School Chemistry Teaching award by the Greater Houston Section of the American Chemical Society.

Dozens of Katy ISD students have been named 2025 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®), out of more than 16,000 students from across the nation.

This week, Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones celebrated five Katy ISD students for their creativity, debuting a newly wrapped precinct bus featuring their artwork.

On Saturday, August 31, before the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City Royals at Minute Maid Park, several Houston area teachers were honored for their commitment to students and STEM education. Among them was Jordan High School’s Divya Kaushal, who teaches algebra and physics, and coaches the school’s Academic Decathlon team.

Parents of kindergarten students interested in having them screened for the District’s Challenge (Gifted and Talented, GT) program have until September 19 to complete their referral.

Since its launch in September 2018, the Katy ISD Legacy Parent Academy has been empowering parents with the knowledge and resources to more effectively support their children on current issues.

More than a dozen future entrepreneurs and leaders from Katy ISD earned awards at this year’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) National Leadership Conference, held this summer in Orlando, Florida.

Ready to embrace a new challenge or pick up a new hobby this fall? Registration is now open for Katy ISD’s Community Education classes, offering a wide array of opportunities for personal growth and enrichment.

Today, Katy ISD kicked off its 2024-25 school year, a year that will be filled with “unparalleled learning” for the District’s more than 96,000 students.

With just a week remaining until students return, Superintendent Dr. Ken Gregorski warmly welcomed over 13,000 staff to the 2024-25 school year, anticipating a year brimming with "unparalleled learning" and endless possibilities for growth and achievement.

All current Katy ISD families are required to complete the Annual Student Update for the 2024-25 school year, which can be accessed through PowerSchool.

New this school year, Katy ISD will launch its CLASS 1:1 Student to Device Implementation, equipping each student in grades 3-12 with a Chromebook for school and home use.

Katy ISD families may now apply for free and reduced-priced meals for the 2024-25 school year, receiving access to more than just healthy, delicious meals.

Kicking off a year of “Unparalleled Learning,” Katy ISD held its 2024 Administrative Conference today as more than 300 District and campus leaders met in advance of the 2024-25 school year.

This school year, the SMART Tag web-based Parent Portal will be replaced by the SMART Tag app, which will send push notifications to registered mobile devices and tablets, providing parents with instant updates about delays, route alterations, or emergencies.

At its June 24 Regular Board Meeting, the Katy ISD Board of Trustees honored one of its own, board member Lance Redmon, for earning the Master Trustee designation from the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). Redmon was among this year’s cohort for the highly selective program that elevates school board members from across the state of Texas.

Sixty-one Katy ISD secondary students have advanced to the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition — the nation’s longest running and most prestigious recognitions program for creative teens.

Katy ISD’s Morton Ranch High School is excited to host the National Girls and Women in Sports Day Conference (NGWSD on Monday, February 19, marking the school’s third consecutive year as the chosen venue for the event.

Several Katy ISD Destination Imagination teams showcased their imagination and creativity at the annual Destination Imagination Gulf Coast Regional Tournament.

Katy ISD will offer a CDL Student Training and Licensing Program to students turning 18 and interested in obtaining their commercial driver’s license (CDL).