The Open
Morning, Georgetown. 👋
First day of school. If you are reading this while sitting in a drop off line that is not moving, welcome, you are exactly the person I wrote this for. Big news out of the district this week, plus budget season is officially upon us at both the city and the county. Let's get into it.
The Big Thing: Georgetown ISD earned a B, up from a C
Good news to start the school year. Georgetown ISD earned a B rating in the 2026 Texas accountability system, up from the C it has held since 2023.
The specifics: GISD scored an 80, up from a 76 last year. The state grades districts on three things, student achievement, school progress, and how well schools serve students who are behind, and the ratings for every district and campus went live on TXschools.gov on Aug. 14.
For context on how that stacks up locally: Round Rock ISD earned a B at 89, Leander ISD a B at 87, Hutto ISD a C at 75, and Pflugerville ISD a B at 81. Statewide, 24 percent of districts improved their rating compared to last year.
Why the timing matters. This lands in the same month the district has been making its case for a tax rate election built on the argument that it cannot pay teachers competitively without new revenue. Superintendent Devin Padavil has pointed to improving academic outcomes as evidence that GISD teachers are delivering. Whatever you conclude, you now have a real number to plug into that debate, and you got it before the first bell rang.
You can look up any individual Georgetown campus at TXschools.gov.
The Week Ahead
Wed 8/19 · First day of school, Georgetown ISD. New bell times this year: elementary starts at 7:30 a.m., high school runs 8:20 a.m. to 3:35 p.m., middle school 9:10 a.m. to 4:25 p.m. School zones are live again, so add ten minutes.
Now open · The Junction, 210 Blue Springs Blvd. It opened Tuesday the 18th. Food hall, three bars, pickleball courts, live music stage, and a speakeasy called The Nest. Expect a crowd for the next couple of weekends.
The library is back. Georgetown Public Library reopened Monday after being closed the previous week for ID tagging.
Through 8/30 · "42nd Street" at the Palace, Doug Smith Performance Center. Showtimes vary.
Ongoing · the chlorine rinse runs through Sept. 3.
Coming up: early voting locations for the November 3 election are already being set. More below.
Something we missed? Hit reply. The tip line is always open.
Eat and Drink: The Junction's first week
It is open. As of Tuesday, Georgetown has a 60,000 square foot food and entertainment complex at 210 Blue Springs Blvd., and the food hall lineup is worth a printout: Sweet Lemon Kitchen (the Square favorite's third location), Dough Go Pizza, King's Chicken Wings in its first move outside Waco, Taconmaye, JABS Smashburger, and Shawarma Point. Three full bars, plus The Nest.
If you have been, I want to hear about it. What did you order, how long was the wait, and is the pickleball actually bookable? Hit reply and I will run the crowd report next week.
Local Spotlight: Berry Springs has donkeys, and they have friends
A palate cleanser after all that budget talk. Out at Berry Springs Park and Preserve, the resident donkeys Pedro and Lil Bob have their own fan club, in the form of the Friends of Berry Springs volunteer group that helps look after the park.
If you have not made it out to Berry Springs, it is one of the quieter, prettier corners of Williamson County, and a genuinely nice place to take kids who need to burn off energy on a Saturday morning before it gets too hot. The donkeys are a bonus.
Know someone, or something, quietly making Georgetown better? Hit reply and nominate them.
The Roundup
City budget season: City Manager David Morgan presented the FY27 property tax rate and budget at an Aug. 11 council workshop. The headline from the Sun's coverage: the tax rate rises, but average homestead bills are expected to stay flat. Public hearings are the part to watch.
County budget too: Williamson County commissioners are reviewing a $411 million proposed FY27 budget, presented Aug. 11 in the new Administration Building.
75 places to vote: ahead of the November 3 election, Williamson County has selected 75 polling sites, including 24 early voting locations.
$2 million in grants: commissioners approved distributing $2 million in federal grant money to groups serving local communities.
Tax abatement in the works: council took the first step toward a tax reinvestment zone near the SE Inner Loop, which usually signals a large employer is circling.
A Little Good News
Before the students arrived, the adults did. Georgetown ISD staff and teachers filled the Klett Performing Arts Center on Aug. 10 for convocation, the annual all hands pep rally before the year begins. Then they went back and finished setting up their classrooms. Whatever else is being debated about school funding this fall, that part is not complicated: a few thousand people spent their August getting ready for your kids.
Your Turn
Last week I asked whether GISD should put the tax increase on the November ballot, and you did not hold back. Thank you, sincerely, for the thoughtful replies on both sides.
This week, two asks. Been to The Junction yet? Tell me what to order. And the teacher nominations from last week are still open: name a Georgetown teacher who made a difference for your family, and I will run them in an upcoming issue. Hit reply.
The Sign-off
That's the Buzz. If this was useful, forward it to one neighbor. That is genuinely how this thing grows. And if someone sent it to you, you can subscribe free at gtownbuzz.com.
See you on the Square, Armand
GTown Buzz, your weekly buzz on Georgetown, TX Got a tip? Just hit reply.