Fort Bend ISD's athletics department has a new name. The district announced Monday, Aug. 10, that its 12-school athletics program will operate as "The Bend - Athletics" starting with the 2026-27 school year, a rebrand that rolls out the day before classes begin.

The change brings a new logo, enhanced athletics website and a pledge to expand coverage of student-athletes, teams and coaches across the district, Fort Bend ISD said on X. For Ridge Point, Elkins, Marshall and other area programs, the new identity will appear on signage, the department website and marketing materials.

The district has described the rebrand as a way to connect all 12 high school programs under one banner while letting each campus keep its own traditions. Executive director of athletics Derick Roberson, who joined FBISD in the spring and is entering his first full year leading the department, has set a broader goal of building one of the strongest athletic programs in Texas, with success measured beyond wins and championships.

"It's not about us as adults," Roberson said in an FBISD profile published Aug. 4. "The sole purpose we're here is to pour into them and make their experience the best it can be at this time in their life."

The timing aligns with a busy stretch for area athletes. School opens Tuesday, Aug. 11, and regular-season football for all four local programs kicks off Friday, Aug. 28. Ridge Point enters the year riding 11 consecutive UIL district championships and a linebacker corps ranked No. 1 in Class 6A by TexasFootball.com. Elkins returns 14 starters after missing the playoffs by one spot last season. Marshall opens on the road at Brenham on Aug. 28, and Stafford's 7-on-7 squad qualified for the state tournament this summer.

FBISD also held a Student Athlete Leadership Summit on Monday, July 27, bringing together athletes from Marshall, Ridge Point, Elkins and other district schools. That gathering now looks like an early signal of the shared-identity push behind "The Bend."