High Island and UIL?????

[AggiesAreWe]

I received word that High Island is choosing to not compete in UIL next season. Have not confirmed just yet if it's all sports (which I believe will be the case) or if it's certain sports.

I do know for a fact that HI will not play UIL basketball next season.

High Island struggled in every sport last few years.

[1KatKiller]

It would be a shame, but certainly understandable. I believe their numbers have decreased steadily & see no change coming soon.

[Big Daddy Cool]

Is this an enrollment issue or participation thing?

[Separation Scientist]

14 minutes ago, Big Daddy Cool said:

Is this an enrollment issue or participation thing?

Enrollment. Its a tiny community right on the coast. They graduate about 10-15 students per year, IIRC. 

[AggiesAreWe]

1 hour ago, Big Daddy Cool said:

Is this an enrollment issue or participation thing?

Both.

The enrollment has been basically the same over the last several years.

[pine curtain]

Some of these small schools need to merge with the next closest town.

[Mr. Buddy Garrity]

12 hours ago, pine curtain said:

Some of these small schools need to merge with the next closest town.

I'm starting to agree with this. 

[Separation Scientist]

On 5/1/2026 at 7:37 PM, pine curtain said:

Some of these small schools need to merge with the next closest town.

Why? Its their prerogative. If their ISD is sound, they are financially secure and their academics are good, there is no pressing need to merge with anyone else for the sake of sports. Its has a very solid B rating (86). Some outside opinions may think otherwise, but its a decision left solely up to their community. If its a successful ISD, they know what's best for them.     

[pine curtain]

12 minutes ago, Separation Scientist said:

Why? Its their prerogative. If their ISD is sound, they are financially secure and their academics are good, there is no pressing need to merge with anyone else for the sake of sports. Its has a very solid B rating (86). Some outside opinions may think otherwise, but its a decision left solely up to their community. If its a successful ISD, they know what's best for them.     

Who said it was for sports reasons?

[Separation Scientist]

No one exactly said it was, but its right in the middle of a sports discussion on SETXSports. Its very plausible that sports is driving this narrative. 

[Matthew328]

I get it....High Island is really on an island for a school that size...the travel is insane....it might just be better for their budget to play small charters etc in the Houston area 

[JSnipes]

I do not think they have any intentions of consolidating with anyone anytime soon. I believe they are building a new school/schools soon.

[wbfan]

Some schools in other states do a co-op team with the nearest school if numbers are too small 

Doing a co-op with East Chambers isn't a bad idea imo, of course UIL prohibits co-op athletics, HOWEVER with the new rule change, High Island kids can transfer to East Chambers for athletic reasons without having to sit out.

That way they can keep their schools and district but if they wanna play sports join up with East Chambers. 

I'm sure having an extra 10-20 players (depending on the year) wouldn't be a bad thing, at worst it gives the Bucs some more depth

 

 

 

[pieman3700]

Well  this issue goes all the way back to covid, with several factors at play.

1, Declining enrollment and no new people moving in the district because all new houses being built are air bnbs 

2, This was a projected problem with the hopes that move ins would come the the district, but at this point until "the ike group" gets thru you still have those low numbers because those kids never came back. (only 4 graduating seniors this year.

3. The strongest athletic group is in 6th grade so numbers will rise again, and a new school building with a gym ect will help. Also in the next year or two new football stadium and softball/baseball fields will attract kids to come play, hopefully. 

Hope this helps y'all,  Also the jump to t-cal will be done in two year cycles and reevaluated.

[pine curtain]

1 hour ago, pieman3700 said:

Well  this issue goes all the way back to covid, with several factors at play.

1, Declining enrollment and no new people moving in the district because all new houses being built are air bnbs 

2, This was a projected problem with the hopes that move ins would come the the district, but at this point until "the ike group" gets thru you still have those low numbers because those kids never came back. (only 4 graduating seniors this year.

3. The strongest athletic group is in 6th grade so numbers will rise again, and a new school building with a gym ect will help. Also in the next year or two new football stadium and softball/baseball fields will attract kids to come play, hopefully. 

Hope this helps y'all,  Also the jump to t-cal will be done in two year cycles and reevaluated.

Instead of spending all that money on new schools and sports facilities they should just bus them 15 miles to East Chambers

[pieman3700]

4 minutes ago, pine curtain said:

Instead of spending all that money on new schools and sports facilities they should just bus them 15 miles to East Chambers

Will not work because too much bad blood between the communities, also two different counties. Now some possible solutions would be merge with Galveston isd, that way all the kids on BP can go to the same school and not cross the ferry to go to ball high school. if that happened High Island would be 2a.  possibly small 3a, But i'm sure none of that would happen knowing this community. 

[pine curtain]

4 minutes ago, pieman3700 said:

Will not work because too much bad blood between the communities, also two different counties. Now some possible solutions would be merge with Galveston isd, that way all the kids on BP can go to the same school and not cross the ferry to go to ball high school. if that happened High Island would be 2a.  possibly small 3a, But i'm sure none of that would happen knowing this community. 

What does two different counties have to do with it?

Ever heard of a school named Hardin Jefferson in Sour Lake?

[pieman3700]

1 hour ago, pine curtain said:

What does two different counties have to do with it?

Ever heard of a school named Hardin Jefferson in Sour Lake?

Hardin/Jefferson hence they are already merged and have been forever. east galveston/chambers dosen't even have a ring to it. but in all seriousness that tax money not getting divided that way. 

[pine curtain]

24 minutes ago, pieman3700 said:

Hardin/Jefferson hence they are already merged and have been forever. east galveston/chambers dosen't even have a ring to it. but in all seriousness that tax money not getting divided that way. 

High Island has a total of 120 students. that is less than 10 students per grade.

They could be assorbed with little to no change in the school other than added bus routes too High island.

The state pays 6200 per student so without county or local funding EC would receive almost 750,000 a year for those kids.

The cost of building and running a new school is some of the reason some of the small schools should be shut down.

Small schools like that cost the tax payers lots of money with little return.

Lots of towns already bus kids more that 15 miles everyday and it works just fine.

[bullets13]

1 hour ago, pine curtain said:

High Island has a total of 120 students. that is less than 10 students per grade.

They could be assorbed with little to no change in the school other than added bus routes too High island.

The state pays 6200 per student so without county or local funding EC would receive almost 750,000 a year for those kids.

The cost of building and running a new school is some of the reason some of the small schools should be shut down.

Small schools like that cost the tax payers lots of money with little return.

Lots of towns already bus kids more that 15 miles everyday and it works just fine.

High Island must want their own school in their community, and having sports doesn't sound like as big of a priority. 

[Separation Scientist]

4 hours ago, pine curtain said:

Instead of spending all that money on new schools and sports facilities they should just bus them 15 miles to East Chambers

I guess outsiders always knows what's best for High Island???

I guess they are incapable of knowing how to manage themselves so they really need others help? Do tell. 

[AggiesAreWe]

I have zero problem with HI moving from UIL to TCAL. Got to do what's best.

Also, HI has really no reason to consolidate with any other ISD. They operate in the black and just passed a bond to improve facilities on all fronts.

Are they experiencing growth problems? Yes. But there are many school districts existing in the state of Texas that have fewer students than HI.

It certainly isn't necessary to participate in UIL for a school to exist.

High Island ISD has it's purpose for it's own community. That's all that matters.

[pine curtain]

1 hour ago, Separation Scientist said:

I guess outsiders always knows what's best for High Island???

I guess they are incapable of knowing how to manage themselves so they really need others help? Do tell. 

HI doesn't have the tax base to be self sustained so the state has to make up the difference.

So yes.......