Building the Future, One Bulldog at a Time
South Elementary rises on Beltway South, shaped by growth, planning, and community trust
On a stretch of Beltway South where open land once quietly waited, the future of Wylie ISD is taking shape—steel beams rising, walls forming, and a new elementary campus steadily coming to life. With each passing week, South Elementary is moving from blueprint to reality, bringing with it room to grow, safer spaces, and a thoughtful response to a district on the rise.
Located at 5450 Beltway South, just west of Buffalo Gap Road, South Elementary is designed to serve Kindergarten through 5th grade students living west of Buffalo Gap Road. Scheduled to open for the 2026–2027 school year, the nearly 90,000-square-foot campus will be Wylie ISD’s only school dedicated exclusively to K–5, allowing staff to focus deeply on the academic, social, and emotional needs of elementary learners.
Earlier this week, the progress caught the attention of the wider Big Country. KTXS visited the construction site to provide an on-location update to the community, highlighting how the project responds directly to Wylie ISD’s continued enrollment growth. Superintendent Joey Light shared that the campus is part of a long-range plan designed to serve students well into the next decade, easing overcrowding while placing schools closer to where families live.
South Elementary was intentionally designed in a similar style to Wylie East Elementary and Wylie East Intermediate, a decision rooted in both practicality and experience. By building on proven designs, the district was able to control costs, remain good stewards of taxpayer dollars, and make smart upgrades informed by feedback from staff and administrators already working in those spaces. The result is a refined, efficient layout—familiar, yet improved—focused on how students and teachers actually use the building every day.
One of the most significant features of the new campus is safety. South Elementary will include the first storm shelter ever built in Wylie ISD, housed within a large gymnasium designed to accommodate the entire school population. It’s a meaningful investment that reflects both preparedness and peace of mind for families and staff.
Beyond the building itself, South Elementary will help reduce crowding at west-side campuses and improve traffic flow throughout the area. By serving students west of Buffalo Gap Road, the campus will keep traffic from spilling east toward other schools and ease congestion along Beltway South—benefits felt not just at dismissal time, but throughout the community.
2026–27 Attendance Zones (Overview)
South Elementary: Grades K–5, west of Buffalo Gap Road
West Elementary: Grades K–2, between Hwy 83/84 and Buffalo Gap Road
West Intermediate: Grades 3–5, between Hwy 83/84 and Buffalo Gap Road
East Elementary: Grades K–3, east of Hwy 83/84
East Intermediate: Grades 4–5, east of Hwy 83/84
West Early Childhood Center: Pre-K
Junior High Schools: Grades 6–8 (based on Hwy 83/84)
Wylie High School: Grades 9–12
Most importantly, South Elementary stands as a direct result of the community’s approval of the 2023 Wylie ISD Bond. When voters said “yes,” they invested in safer schools, smarter growth, and learning environments built with intention. Every classroom, hallway, and safety feature reflects the trust this community placed in its schools—and the district’s responsibility to honor that trust with careful planning and transparency.
Families can view the full on-site update from KTXS here:
👉 https://ktxs.com/news/local/wylie-isd-launches-major-build-with-new-south-elementary-amid-rapid-expansion
As construction continues and opening day comes into focus, South Elementary is already more than a building. It’s a promise—to growing neighborhoods, to young learners just beginning their journey, and to a community that continues to believe in its schools.
And once again, it reminds us why it’s great to be a Wylie Bulldog. Video and Photos Below
