KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
August 14, 2024
By Natalie Cook Clark
Katy ISD welcomed students back to school today. The District opened a new junior high and high school.
Photo credit: Rebecca Fox
Katy ISD welcomed more than 96,000 students back to school as the 2024-2025 academic year started today. Today also marked opening day for two new KISD schools, Nelson Junior High and Freeman High School.
Katy ISD Superintendent Dr. Ken Gregorski and other administrators were at Nelson Junior High this morning welcoming students to their new school.
“We remain a destination district because of our families, teachers, staff, and community’s continuous vision to provide world class resources and educational experiences at every Katy ISD campus,” says Dr. Ken Gregorski. “Our newest campuses are supporting the rapid growth in the northwest quadrant, and we’re excited to see the learning that will take place in these schools.”
Dr. Gregorski recently spoke on the vision for the year as the District continues to strive to bring top education to Katy students.
“Through continued investments in academic supports, staff development, and classroom resources that include our 1:1 student to device implementation, our goal will always be to continuously fulfill our mission of providing ‘unparalleled learning experiences’,” says Dr. Gregorski. “We remain focused on providing our students, all our students, with a world-class education.”
Katy ISD Opens Two New Schools
Both Nelson Junior High and Freeman High School welcomed thousands of students to their brand-new buildings today. Each new school boasts impressive architectural features that will create unique learning experiences and opportunities for students to thrive and grow, including a Makerspace, dedicated to student innovation and creativity, and learning stairs, which provide learning space outside of the classroom.
Katy ISD is known for putting much thought and care into naming their schools after local namesakes.
Nelson Junior High was named after the Nelson family. For five generations, the Nelson family has played a major role in making Katy the community that we all know and love today. Nelson Junior High, the District’s 18th junior high, is located at 25747 Longenbaugh Road, Katy, Texas 77493. This junior high provides enrollment relief to neighboring campuses in the northwest quadrant of the district that are experiencing fast growth.
Freeman High School is located next door to Nelson Junior High and is named after the Freeman Family.
The Freeman family has a strong civic service connection in Katy that includes deep roots in agriculture and education. W.E. and Mae Belle Freeman, the first generation of Freemans who settled in Katy in the late 19th century, understood the importance of a strong education and sacrificed so their children could attend school. Their children, Mae, Jesse and Dick finished the eighth grade at South Mayde Creek – the highest level offered at the time. Two of their other children, Bill and Buck, later graduated from Katy High School. Five generations of Freemans have graduated from Katy ISD schools and members of the sixth generation are currently enrolled in the district’s schools.
Katy ISD is currently building two new elementary schools that will open next academic year to help provide relief to the growing Northwest quadrant of the District. Stay tuned this year for updates on and the naming of elementary schools #46 and #47.
Katy ISD covers more than 181 square miles and has more than 96,000 students. It continues to grow by nearly 2,000 new students each year. The District has 78 schools, including their newest campuses, Nelson Junior High and Freeman High School.
Katy ISD earned an A+ rating from Niche and listed as the #1 Best School District in the Houston area.
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