Del Valle ISD's new high school now has a name
Editor’s Note: The video above is from November 2023, when Del Valle ISD broke ground on its new high school.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Del Valle ISD’s new high school officially has a name: North Del Valle High School.
The district’s board of trustees approved the name in a meeting Tuesday. The district received more then 240 submissions from the public — everything from Trump and Obama to Whisper Valley, the neighborhood where the new school is located.
A naming committee narrowed the choices to four options for the board:
- Barbara Jordan High School: Named after the first African-American woman elected to the Texas Senate and the first African-American woman from the South elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Eva Mireles High School: Named after a teacher killed in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.
- Andrew Zuniga High School: Named after a Del Valle High School teacher who died in 2024.
- North Del Valle High School: Named due to the school’s location at the north end of the district.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the board voted 5-2 to name the school North Del Valle High School.
“Naming a new high school is a significant milestone for our district,” Superintendent Dr. Matthew Gutierrez said in a statement after the vote. “North Del Valle High School reflects our commitment to our growing community and to educational excellence. We are excited to move forward with this name and identity for our newest school.”
Board Vice President Susanna Ledesma Woody, one of the two who voted against the name, said she wanted to name the school either North Valley High School or North Valle High School, saying the use of “Del” in school names in the district was “overkill.” The district already has Del Valle Elementary School, Del Valle Middle School and Del Valle High School.
Ledesma Woody also explained her reasons for not wanting to name the school after a specific individual, adding the public nominated several people, including teachers.
“I just felt like it wasn’t really fair to pick one over the other because they’re all really amazing people,” Ledesma Woody said.
What will the new school be like?
Whatever name is chosen, the new school is set to open in the fall of 2027. The 430,000-square-foot building is being built in the Whisper Valley neighborhood off Taylor Lane, north of Webberville Road.
“The new building will use a geothermal energy system and is solar-ready — an energy-conscious design compatible with Whisper Valley’s focus on environmental responsibility,” Pfluger Architects said in a press release. “Additionally, condensation from the HVAC system will be collected and reused on-site for irrigation, reducing water demand on city infrastructure. Pfluger sourced local and naturally occurring materials for the structure, including Texas limestone and locally manufactured brick.”
The school’s design is shaped around open courtyards and promenades, meaning all classrooms will have “ample natural light and outdoor views,” Pfluger Architects said.
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Rendering of the new high school under construction at Del Valle ISD. (Courtesy Pfluger Architects) -
Rendering of the cafeteria at the new high school under construction at Del Valle ISD. (Courtesy Pfluger Architects) -
Rendering of the courtyard at the new high school under construction at Del Valle ISD. (Courtesy Pfluger Architects) -
Rendering of the auditorium at the new high school under construction at Del Valle ISD. (Courtesy Pfluger Architects) -
Rendering of the gym at the new high school under construction at Del Valle ISD. (Courtesy Pfluger Architects) -
Rendering of the stadium at the new high school under construction at Del Valle ISD. (Courtesy Pfluger Architects)
“Central to the whole design is the Learning Courtyard that creates both visual and physical connections — encouraging interaction and supporting a sense of belonging across campus,” Heather Rule, senior project manager, said. “The design was inspired by vibrant city centers where people naturally gather, connect, and learn from one another. This vision aligns with the diverse Del Valle community and reflects a desire to create a welcoming environment where different cultures, experiences and voices are celebrated equitably.”
Why is a new school needed?
After several years of decline, enrollment in Del Valle ISD has been increasing steadily since 2020, spurred on by new development in the southeastern portion of Travis County. As of the 2024-25 school year, 11,715 students were enrolled in the district, according to data from the Texas Education Agency.
Del Valle High School, currently the district’s only high school, has a capacity of 2,700, but enrollment in the school is closer to 3,600. District leaders have been pushing for funding to build a second high school to alleviate capacity concerns for years.
In 2022, voters approved a $300 million bond to help pay for the new school. The district then broke ground on the new campus in November 2023.
“This is going to be a world-class facility. What you’ll see in this new building is that it’s every bit as equitable as the current comprehensive high school,” then-Superintendent Annette Tielle said at the groundbreaking. “We will be able to offer a
