News Summary
The Austin Independent School District has proposed closing 13 schools, including 10 elementary schools, due to a significant budget deficit and declining enrollment. The plan aims to save approximately $25.6 million and will impact over 16,000 students. Community workshops are scheduled for feedback, with a board vote on the final proposal set for November. Concerns persist regarding communication and the transition process during these changes.
Austin, Texas – The Austin Independent School District (AISD) administration has proposed a significant plan to close 13 schools across the district starting with the 2026-27 school year. This decision comes in light of a projected $19.7 million budget deficit and a decline in student enrollment, which has plummeted from 84,000 in 2015 to approximately 70,000 currently.
The proposed closures include 10 elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school program. The elementary schools affected by the proposal are:
- Barrington Elementary School
- Becker Elementary School
- Bryker Woods Elementary School
- Dawson Elementary School
- Maplewood Elementary School
- Oak Springs Elementary School
- Palm Elementary School
- Ridgetop Elementary School
- Sunset Valley Elementary School
- Widén Elementary School
Additionally, the middle schools proposed for closure include Bedicheck Middle School and Martin Middle School, which is set for temporary closure. The high school program identified for closure is the International High School; however, it will continue to support students as a program at Navarro Early College High School.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has mandated that AISD must either close or restart 23 schools with new leadership due to subpar performance, further influencing this recommendation. With these closures, AISD anticipates saving about $25.6 million.
Moreover, it is estimated that 98% of AISD schools will experience substantial changes in attendance boundaries due to the closures, affecting over 16,000 students. In response to this, the district is launching an interactive website where families can enter their home addresses to find updated information about their neighborhood schools. Additionally, a process will be available for families to request exemptions, allowing students to remain at their current schools until they complete their final grade level.
AISD aims to conduct several community workshops on October 14, October 16, October 27, and November 8 to gather feedback on the draft proposal. The board is set to vote on the final proposal on November 20. The process is expected to elicit strong emotional reactions from the community, given the significant changes to neighborhood schools.
The schools indicated for closure are spread across various regions of Austin, with many of them serving a high number of low-income students. Alongside the school closures, the proposal includes relocating dual language programs and educational services to different campuses to ensure that students continue to receive essential services.
AISD officials stress the necessity for transformative changes to address the effects of historical underfunding and adapt to the evolving educational landscape. However, there have been notes of concern among stakeholders regarding communication and the execution of the transition process during this period.
Superintendent Matias Segura has highlighted the importance of evolving educational practices to better meet students’ needs and ultimately improve educational outcomes across the district.
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Additional Resources
- KVUE: Austin ISD School Consolidation and Closure News
- Statesman: Austin ISD School Closure List
- KXAN: 13 Schools Named in Austin ISD Closure Plans
- Austin Chronicle: Austin ISD School Closure Recommendations
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Education
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