At Melissa ISD, our students, staff, and families are at the heart of everything we do. As we look ahead to 2025, we’re excited to share updates on new schools and facilities designed to empower all students to reach their full potential.
Guided by our core value of integrity, we focus on building spaces that last—thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of our growing student population. These projects strike a balance between sustainability, innovation, and flexibility, ensuring they will serve generations to come.
Melissa ISD is preparing for a significant transformation to support its rapidly growing community with new schools and expanded facilities.
Here’s a closer look at what’s coming:
East Cardinal Middle School
Location: 4390 FM 545
Opening: August 2025
East Cardinal Middle School will become home to all 7th and 8th-grade students in Melissa ISD. This 220,000-square-foot facility is designed for the future, accommodating 1,200 students with the potential for expansion.
The campus combines state-of-the-art classrooms, fine arts spaces, gymnasiums, a media center, cafeteria, and CTE instructional spaces. Sustainability is central to its design, featuring energy-efficient systems, daylighting for reduced cooling costs, and a storm shelter built to ICC 500 standards. Located on an 80-acre site near the Z-Plex and the FM 545 outer loop, this school will provide an environment where students thrive academically and creatively.
Highland Elementary
Location: 4818 Highland Rd
Opening: August 2025
Highland Elementary, Melissa ISD's fifth k-5th grade elementary school, is designed to meet the district's rapid growth with a modern, flexible layout. Spanning over 86,000 square feet on 12 acres, this campus will accommodate up to 750 students in a dynamic learning environment.
The campus features a "main street" corridor connecting the Media Center, administrative offices, fine arts spaces, and gymnasium. With 32,000 square feet dedicated to core curriculum areas, Highland Elementary reflects the district’s focus on building environments where students can thrive and grow together.
Zoning for all elementary schools for the 2025-2026 school year will be announced in April 2025, in conjunction with new student registration and transportation information. Returning student registration will begin in mid-July.
Current and Recently Completed Projects
Melissa High School Phase III Academic Tower, CTE, & IB – Completed August 2024
Phase 3 of Melissa High School, spanning 203,200 square feet, adds a four-level academic and Career and Technical Education (CTE) wing, connecting to the existing academic towers. This expansion includes a renovated library to support the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, a new library/media center, multipurpose dining area, remote administration suites, CTE classrooms, and core subject classrooms. Additionally, the student union area was expanded and renovated to enhance dining facilities for the growing student body. Designed to integrate seamlessly with the existing architecture, the project provides modern, flexible spaces that support academic excellence and career preparation.
Melissa Championship Studio – Estimated Completion January 2025
The 19,500-square-foot Championship Studio is a versatile Fine Arts facility that serves as a rehearsal space for dance, cheer, and color guard programs, while also doubling as a fully equipped ICC 500 storm shelter. This facility includes locker rooms, offices, and support areas, offering a safe, functional environment for student activities. Beyond its primary use for performing arts, the Championship Studio supports fine arts by providing ample space for rehearsals, performances, and creative development across various disciplines. Its design focuses on flexibility, allowing it to accommodate a wide range of extracurricular activities.
Melissa High School Phase IV Arena – Estimated Completion May 2026
The Melissa High School Arena is a versatile, 62,000-square-foot facility designed to serve the district’s growing student population. Seating approximately 2,000 spectators, the multi-story design includes ground-level student areas and a second-floor concourse for spectators. It features flexible seating, equipment storage, classrooms, locker rooms, and a film room for instruction. Equipped with sustainability features like energy-saving lighting and ventilation systems, the arena can host up to six events simultaneously. From academic gatherings to extracurricular showcases, the space ensures all student groups and programs have access to an environment that fosters connection, learning, and growth.
Additional Moves
All 6th Graders will move to the current Melissa Middle School, which will become the new Sixth Grade Center, located at 3150 Cardinal Dr., Melissa, TX 75454.
Pre-K and Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) programs will relocate to the current Melissa Sixth Grade Center at 2950 Cardinal Dr., Melissa, TX 75454.
Melissa ISD Employee Cardinal Childcare will remain at the Melissa Ridge Education Center (MREC), continuing its service to district staff.
Melissa Ridge Education Center (MREC) will transition to house district administrative staff and services, including the Counseling, Dyslexia, Emergent Bilingual, and Special Education departments, while continuing to host the Cardinal Childcare program.
Additionally, the Human Resources department will relocate to the Bird Feeder building at the Melissa ISD Home Office. The Teaching and Learning as well as the Gifted and Talented departments will remain at their current offices in Coach Kenny Deel Stadium.
Looking Ahead
Melissa ISD’s comprehensive approach to addressing rapid growth ensures a dynamic and future-ready learning environment for students of all ages. The "Melissa Move" reflects our dedication to building schools and facilities that last, ensuring our students have the resources and spaces to feel valued, inspired, and supported in every stage of their educational journey.
Stay tuned and head to www.melissaisd.org/growth for more updates as we continue to build a bright future for Melissa ISD!