Irving ISD Students Deserve Schools Built for Today

Irving High School has climbed from a D to a B in the state’s accountability ratings in just three years, and it has done it in a building that opened in 1959.

On Nov. 3, Irving voters will decide whether to give Irving High, and four other aging campuses, buildings designed for how students learn today.

The Students Inside

More than eight in 10 come from low-income families, and about half are learning English. Irving High’s roughly 2,200 students reflect those same numbers.

Irving High shows what’s possible. Its rating has risen every year since 2022–23, from a D to a C to back-to-back Bs. This year the campus scored 84 out of 100 overall and 88 out of 100 in School Progress, which measures how much students grow.

Why Buildings Matter for Learning

A building doesn't teach a child to read. But it shapes nearly every hour of the school day. At Irving High, problems behind the walls have forced classrooms and restrooms out of use. The campuses on this ballot average 68 years old, and their plumbing, HVAC, and wiring show it.

Aging buildings also cost more to keep running, which pulls money away from activities that drive student outcomes. Old wiring, roofs, and HVAC systems need constant repair. 

Newer buildings are also easier to secure, with controlled entries, clear sight lines, and up-to-date communication systems built in from the start. For students like those at Irving High, the bond means classrooms that stay open, comfortable, and safe, so the progress they’ve made can keep going.

What the Bond Would Do

Irving ISD's bond is split into four separate propositions, and voters decide each one on its own:

• Proposition A ($552.2 million) replaces Davis, Lively, and T. Haley elementary schools and Travis Middle School. It also funds safety and security upgrades, career and technical education, and fine arts across the district.
• Proposition B ($300 million) replaces Irving High School.
• Proposition C ($40 million) updates student and staff devices, network infrastructure, and cybersecurity.
• Proposition D ($60.2 million) builds indoor, climate-controlled spaces at Irving, MacArthur, and Nimitz high schools for athletics, fine arts, and JROTC. These spaces would help students practice safely under UIL heat-safety rules.

The package came out of a Facilities Planning Committee of Irving parents, students, staff, and residents. They weighed building conditions, enrollment projections, and safety needs. The district has also delivered on its last bond: the 2023 program replaced Barton and Farine elementary schools and Crockett Middle School, and funded renovations at 32 other campuses.

If all four propositions pass, the district estimates a typical homeowner would pay about $20.83 more a month on a $340,000 home with the standard homestead exemption.

Homeowners 65 and older, or disabled, have a school tax ceiling that the bond doesn't change. Irving's tax rate has fallen from $1.35 in 2015 to about $1.02 today and has the second-lowest rate among surrounding districts.

Frequently Asked Questions: Irving ISD Bond

Why are there four propositions?

Texas requires certain types of projects to appear as separate propositions, and each one is voted on separately. You can vote for or against each one.

How much would it cost me?

If all four propositions pass, about $20.83 a month for a $340,000 home with the standard $140,000 homestead exemption. That's a 12.5-cent increase in the tax rate. By proposition, the estimated rate impact is 7.2 cents for A, 3.9 cents for B, 0.5 cents for C, and 0.8 cents for D. Figures are rounded.

I'm 65 or older or disabled. Will my school taxes go up?

No. Homeowners with the over-65 or disability exemption have a school tax ceiling, and the bond doesn't change it, as long as you don't make major improvements to your home. If you qualify but haven't applied, you'll need to apply through the Dallas Central Appraisal District.

Will Irving High keep its traditions?

Yes. The alma mater and fight song stay the same, it will still be Irving High School, and students will still be the Tigers. The district will preserve the artifacts and traditions that matter most, as it did at Crockett Middle School.

Can bond money pay teachers?

No. Bond money can only pay for buildings, land, technology and similar long-term investments. It can't be used for salaries or daily operating costs.

What happened with the 2023 bond?

Voters approved three of five propositions in 2023. That money replaced Barton and Farine elementary schools and Crockett Middle School, which all opened in new buildings in 2026, and funded renovations at 32 other campuses.

When and where do I vote?

Early voting runs Oct. 19–30, and Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dallas County voters can vote at any county polling place. Find locations at https://www.dallascountyvotes.org/. The bond propositions will be near the bottom of your ballot.