Juniper Springs takes shape as Lockhart ISD plays key role 

By Anthony Collins

LPR Editor    

Above, Superintendent Dr. Mark Estrada, Board President Michael Wright, Board Secretary Dr. Barbara Sanchez, Trustee Rene Rayos, and Trustee Chris Charles receive a generous donation from Hometown Heroes in support of Wildflower at Juniper Springs.                    

   As Lockhart continues to grow, one of the biggest signs of change can be found on the west side of town, where the Juniper Springs neighborhood is quickly becoming more than just another housing development. Juniper Springs, a new Perry Homes community located near Borchert Loop, is being developed as a large master-planned neighborhood with homes, trails, green space, and direct ties to Lockhart ISD. The project is expected to bring roughly 1,400 homes to the area once fully built out, making it one of the larger residential developments connected to Lockhart’s current wave of growth.

   For families moving into the neighborhood, one of the biggest pieces of the development is education. Borchert Loop Elementary School, Lockhart ISD’s sixth elementary campus, is located right in the area and became part of the district family in Fall 2025. The campus serves kindergarten through fifth grade and gives the neighborhood something many new developments hope for, a school close to home. That connection makes Juniper Springs a little different from a typical subdivision. Instead of families moving in and waiting to see how schools catch up, Lockhart ISD is already part of the neighborhood’s foundation. The district has been preparing for growth across the community, and Borchert Loop Elementary is one of the most visible examples of that planning.

   The neighborhood itself is being marketed with a focus on small-town living, outdoor space, and easy access to Lockhart. Perry Homes lists several home collections in Juniper Springs, including 45-foot, 50-foot, and 60-foot homesites. Current home prices are being advertised from the $360s to the $510s, depending on the collection. The community also includes trails, a creek, preserved green space, and a welcome center on Melody Road. But Lockhart ISD’s involvement does not stop with student growth. One of the most current pieces of news tied to Juniper Springs is the district’s new staff housing partnership.

   Earlier this year, the Lockhart ISD Board of Trustees approved a public-private partnership with Upward Communities and Public Private Development Corporation to create Wildflower at Juniper Springs, a rental home community designed specifically for Lockhart ISD employees. The project will include 117 homes, with about 90 percent planned as single-family residences. Most of the homes are expected to offer three- and four-bedroom options.

   The goal is simple: help teachers and district staff live in the same community where they work. District leaders have said housing costs across Central Texas have made it harder for educators and staff members to live in Lockhart. According to the district, about 70 percent of Lockhart ISD teachers currently commute from outside the district. Wildflower at Juniper Springs is designed to help reduce that burden by offering below-market rental options, with estimated savings of about $400 to $800 per month compared to typical Central Texas housing rates.

   Superintendent Dr. Mark Estrada has described the effort as “more than housing,” saying the partnership is also about supporting employees, cutting down long commutes, and strengthening the district’s connection to the Lockhart community. The Wildflower community is expected to include walking trails, green spaces, a pool and sundeck, fitness center, resident gathering areas, and other amenities. Homes will be built by BOSC Construction, a Perry Homes company. Model homes are expected to be available for viewing and pre-leasing in August 2026.

   As more rooftops arrive in Lockhart, Juniper Springs shows how growth is reaching beyond housing numbers. For Lockhart ISD, the neighborhood represents new students, new families, a new elementary school, and a new way to support the teachers and staff who serve the district every day.