By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal
Enrollment numbers turned in by Austin-area schools to the University Interscholastic League for the 2026 redistricting and realignment reveal a clear trend – the suburbs are booming.
From Hutto to Buda and Liberty Hill to New Braunfels, the latest UIL snapshot data shows that suburban expansion is driving some of the largest enrollment shifts in the state.
New Braunfels Long Creek High leads all area schools with a 450-student increase since 2024, followed by Liberty Hill’s new Legacy Ranch campus with a gain of 400. Both are new high schools that will field their first varsity football teams in 2026.
Among existing campuses, growth largely mirrors Central Texas’ broader population trends, where northern Williamson and Hays counties continue to experience rapid expansion. Hutto’s enrollment jumped by 385 students, while Rouse and Cedar Park grew by 372 and 338, respectively. Other schools with notable gains include Jarrell (+196), Buda Johnson (+161), Hays (+150), Dripping Springs (+142) and East View (+128). Eastern Williamson County towns such as Thrall (+19) and Thorndale (+18) also saw modest but steady increases.
Much of that growth follows the region’s commuter corridors. Williamson County communities such as Hutto, Jarrell and Liberty Hill have become magnets for new development, with subdivisions and master-planned neighborhoods feeding directly into local schools. The same pattern extends south along Interstate 35, where Hays County remains one of the fastest-growing areas in Texas.
Those gains stand in contrast to declines seen in several urban districts. Schools such as Manor (–361), Stony Point (–350) and Lake Travis (–346) all reported significant drops since 2024, a trend that reflects families moving farther from city centers in search of affordable housing and newer facilities. Lake Travis ISD is already planning to open a new high school in 2028 to address population growth. Even with 3,428 students, Lake Travis is still one of the largest high schools in Central Texas.
The changes could have major implications when the UIL releases its next classification cutoffs in December and realignment maps in February 2026. Cedar Park, Rouse and Hutto could soon rank among the largest 5A or smallest 6A programs, while new schools like Long Creek and Legacy Ranch may trigger boundary adjustments within Comal and Liberty Hill ISDs.
The UIL’s enrollment snapshot represents a single number that will shape competition for the next two years. This year’s figures make one thing clear – the map of Central Texas high school sports is evolving as quickly as the communities it represents.
