Historic Pease Elementary to Reopen as Childcare Center
The 120-student facility is expected to begin welcoming local children in 2028.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Child Care
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Austin ISD families will soon see the historic Pease Elementary school site transform into an early childhood education center by 2028. Managed by United Way for Greater Austin, the facility aims to provide affordable childcare for 120 infants and young children through a new 50-year lease agreement.
Why it matters
This project repurposes a vacant 2.2-acre historic landmark to address the local demand for early learning and essential family support services like housing and healthcare. It marks a shift for the campus, which closed in 2020, by integrating public educational land with private nonprofit management.
The $18.8 million renovation budget covers the 2.2-acre site, which will serve 120 students under a 50-year lease agreement. While funding includes a $3 million Congressional appropriation and $1.8 million from the Moody Foundation, the full operational budget remains subject to ongoing fundraising.
The players
Austin Independent School District
The local public school system that retains ownership of the Pease Elementary land.
United Way for Greater Austin
The nonprofit organization that will operate and manage the new early childhood facility.
Moody Foundation
A philanthropic organization that contributed $1.8 million toward the campus renovation project.
The details
Under a lease approved in 2025, Austin ISD retains ownership of the land while United Way assumes responsibility for operating the center. The nonprofit plans to break ground on the renovation next year to prepare the facility for opening. Beyond early education, the campus will function as a resource hub, connecting participating families with support for food, housing, and healthcare.
Timeline
1876: The original Pease Elementary facility opened.
2013: The campus received historic landmark status.
2020: The elementary school officially closed.
2025: Austin ISD trustees approved a 50-year lease for the site.
2028: The new early childhood center is scheduled to open.
The Texas Context
The redevelopment respects the 2013 historic landmark designation that protects the site of the original 1876 campus. This adaptive reuse strategy repeats a growing trend across the city of converting shuttered district assets into specialized community-focused facilities.
Families in the area will gain access to 120 spots for children aged six and younger starting in 2028. The site will provide a centralized location for both early learning and essential community health and housing resources.
The takeaway
The reuse of the Pease campus signals a significant expansion of regional early childhood support infrastructure. Parents should watch for future announcements regarding enrollment application timelines as the 2028 opening approaches.
Further reading
You can find more updates on local preschool initiatives in our Child Care section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Austin American-Statesman.
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