Apollo Junior High Expansion Approved by Commission, Heads to Council

Richardson’s City Plan Commission unanimously recommended approval Dec. 16 of a rezoning application that will permit major renovations to Apollo Junior High and its conversion into a middle school. The decision advances a project that planners say will nearly double the school’s footprint and raise enrollment capacity to serve more students, while requiring City Council approval to move forward.

Under the proposal, total building area would grow from nearly 127,000 square feet to about 206,220 square feet, an increase of roughly 79,220 square feet or 62.4 percent. Enrollment capacity would expand from about 594 students to an eventual 1,000, a rise of roughly 68.4 percent. Construction is scheduled to begin in June 2026, with the school projected to open as a middle school in fall 2028.

Planned work includes full interior renovations, an expanded north classroom area, and a new southern wing that will add gymnasiums, a media center, a cafetorium, and Career and Technical Education space. The campus will also receive a new main entrance on the east side, a storm shelter, a running track and practice fields. Those additions aim to modernize the facility and accommodate a broader program mix appropriate for middle school grades.

Local residents and commissioners flagged traffic and neighborhood impacts during the planning process. To limit offsite congestion, the plan includes a traffic-management package intended to keep drop-off and pick-up queues on campus. Measures consist of new turn lanes, restriping and parking restrictions designed to contain vehicle queues within school property rather than spilling into surrounding streets. The commission recommended approval with modifications that reflect those concerns and adjustments to the traffic plan.

For Collin County families near Richardson, the expansion will affect school capacity, daily travel patterns and potentially local real estate dynamics as a larger school can shift demand for nearby housing. The addition of Career and Technical Education and expanded athletic and arts facilities may also influence program offerings and after-school activity options for middle school students.

Next steps require City Council consideration of the rezoning recommendation. If council approval follows the commission’s modified plan, construction would begin next summer under the current schedule and the district would proceed with phasing to meet the targeted fall 2028 opening. The project represents a significant capital investment in local education infrastructure and highlights ongoing planning trade-offs between school growth and neighborhood impacts.