The Austin school district is moving ahead with one of the most sweeping rounds of school closures in its history, and for thousands of families, the future remains uncertain.
In late November, the school board voted to close 10 campuses, including eight elementaries and two middle schools, amid a nearly $20 million deficit. One additional school, International High School, will close as a stand-alone program. As the district rolls out transition plans this spring, families are grappling with what the decision means for their children and their communities.
Here’s how Austin ISD reached this moment, where the consolidation plan stands now and what families and educators can expect in coming months.
Why did Austin ISD decide to close schools?
The decision to close schools grew out of two pressures colliding at once: a major budget shortfall and increased scrutiny from the state.
In October, the school board announced a proposal to close 13 schools, saying it was necessary to address a nearly $20 million deficit. Shortly before this time, the Texas Education Agency flagged a dozen campuses for receiving three consecutive failing ratings under the agency’s accountability system, which largely rates schools based on standardized testing scores.
Three other middle schools -– Dobie, Burnet and Webb — were already on growth plans and dozens of schools across the district were identified this year as failing and needing improvement.
TEA instructed the district at the time to submit improvement plans by November for the 12 schools with three consecutive failing ratings and implement them as soon as they are approved. Another option under state law could be to turn the schools over to a charter operator.
If a school receives five consecutive failing ratings, the state education commissioner can take over the entire district.
Superintendent Matias Segura told families in a September letter that academic ratings were not initially part of the rubric to consider school closures and consolidations to address the budget deficit. However, the release of the school ratings after the process changed that. Now, the ratings would play a larger role.
Seven of the 12 campuses ultimately appeared in the consolidation plan proposed in October.
Board President Lynn Boswell said the closures were also driven by long-term enrollment decline. The nearly 73,000-student district now serves thousands fewer students than it did in the early 2010s, when the district hit a high enrollment moment.
The growth and expansion of charter schools, rising housing costs within district boundaries and families leaving for options such as homeschooling during the pandemic have all contributed to the loss.
With state funding failing to keep pace with inflation and rising costs, Boswell said trustees faced a choice between maintaining underenrolled schools and directing funding toward other student resources.
“It’s the most painful thing I’ve done as a trustee,” Boswell said. “I feel for every single person who’s impacted by this. It’s heartbreaking.”
Where are we now?
After releasing the initial proposal in October, district administrators and the school board hosted community meetings to gather feedback from affected families. Families and students also organized protests in the weeks leading up to the board vote.
After hours of public testimony, trustees approved a revised plan in late November. The approved measure reduced the number of closures but still affects 11 schools:
- Barrington Elementary
- Becker Elementary
- Bedicheck Middle School
- Dawson Elementary
- International High School (housed at Northeast Early College High School, which is not closing)
- Martin Middle School
- Oak Springs Elementary
- Ridgetop Elementary
- Sunset Valley Elementary
- Widen Elementary
- Winn Montessori
The district estimates the closures and consolidations, including eliminating portable classrooms and shifting school police staffing, will save just over $21 million, assuming enrollment remains stable. Three elementary schools originally proposed for closure – Bryker Woods, Maplewood and Palm – were removed from the plan days before the vote. Trustees also delayed until fall 2026 a decision to redraw school boundaries across the district, but families affected by school or program closures or moves may still face reassignment.
Notably, all of the closing campuses had been approved for improvements under the district’s 2022 $2.4 billion bond package. Austin ISD has already spent or committed more than $95 million on those closing campuses.
Families were notified following the board vote, but questions remain.
Henry Rivera, whose child attends pre-K 4 at Oak Springs Elementary, said the news left him unsure how to prepare his son, who has autism, for the change. Oak Springs is also deeply personal for Rivera; his two older children also attended there, and he went there himself. His grandfather once was a crossing guard there as well.
“We already have a routine for my son because he doesn’t like change,” Rivera said. “We got new carpet in my house and he wigged out. He didn’t like the carpet because it was different. So, I don’t know how this is going to affect him.”
What happens next?
District leaders began outlining the transition plan at a December school board meeting.
At the district level, a steering committee will oversee the process. At individual campuses, transition teams composed of teachers, staff and parents will help guide school communities through the changes.
Several dual language programs will be relocated as part of the closures. Families in those programs will have the opportunity to enroll their students at a new campus with dual language.
Students from International High School will become part of Northeast Early College High School, which is currently the school’s host campus.The district will provide transportation to those students not already zoned to that school.
For families, the most immediate steps begin this month. From Jan. 12-23, parents and guardians can complete a survey to rank their preferred campus for relocation. District staff will review responses from Jan. 23 to Feb. 6 and will run lotteries for available seats. Families will be emailed informal assignments between Feb. 9-13.
All families must register in Enroll Austin, the district’s enrollment app, during a designated window to receive official notifications of assignment and complete registration forms.
Staff reassignments will take longer. While staff surveys are still under review, results thus far indicate many teachers want placements based on the location of schools, instructional focus or campus culture.
According to the district’s timeline, staff placements are expected to be finalized in April, after a series of steps, including match fairs.
District leaders said throughout the spring, they will continue working with Education Austin, Austin Association of Public School Administrators, the Austin Council of Parent Teacher Associations (ACPTA), the Austin Ed Fund and other higher education partners and governmental entities.
