How North Texas School Systems Leverage Infrastructure Investments to Improve Student Outcomes

Across North Texas, school districts are reimagining what it means to support students—not just in classrooms, but in the spaces and systems that surround them. In May of 2025 voters in both DeSoto and Mesquite Independent School Districts approved major bond packages focused on expansion, safety, and future readiness, signaling a strong commitment to student success.  

DeSoto ISD passed a $200 million bond package with approval from over two thirds of local voters, marking the district’s first successful bond in two decades. This long-anticipated milestone is a powerful reflection of the trust the community has in the district’s direction and leadership. With an average campus age of 38 years, this investment arrives at just the right moment to modernize learning spaces, support the evolving needs of students, and begin a new chapter of progress.  

This investment lays the foundation for safe, modern learning environments. Aging campuses will be transformed with updated roofs, HVAC systems, and other essential infrastructure—improvements that contribute to healthier, more comfortable spaces for learning and teaching.

But the bond also goes beyond basic infrastructure and contributes directly to high-quality instruction. It does so, in part, by enhancing Science, Technology, Engineer and Mathematics (or STEM) and Career and Technical Education (CTE) facilities. These promise to offer students a launchpad towards stable, rewarding careers as they provide access to the hands-on experiences they need to succeed in the workforce.

In Mesquite ISD, a bond for $600 million was approved with over 63% of votes in support. The bond addresses both immediate needs and long-term goals, guided by recommendations from a community-led Facilities Planning Committee made up of parents, educators, and local business leaders.  

At the heart of this investment is a new Pre-K Center to accommodate enrollment growth. This campus will serve as a central location for early childhood learning while also creating space on elementary campuses.  

Research indicates that children who attend high quality pre-K are more likely to arrive to kindergarten ready to learn. Kindergarten readiness is a strong predictor of third grade academic outcomes, and success in third grade predicts lifetime outcomes like high school graduation. In this way, the path to postsecondary success begins when a student enters a pre-K classroom.

These efforts reflect a proactive investment in building forward. DeSoto and Mesquite ISD are making bold community-backed investments to provide students with the necessary resources to thrive – and they aren’t the only ones. This November, voters in Richardson ISD will consider a bond package that similarly leverages infrastructure improvements to drive student outcomes, chiefly through the creation of a new career-technical education center.  

These school districts, and their peers across Dallas County, are working to ensure students graduate ready to not only enter college or a career but truly thrive in the 21st century economy. A world-class education doesn’t just involve quality instruction, but also the spaces, tools, and technology to make learning possible.