Education
BY VALERIA ESCOBAR
Fort Bend ISD could consider closing seven campuses, o cials said at a Dec. 15 board meeting. The changes are proposed as a part of a three- year boundary planning process due to stagnant enrollment patterns, resulting in under- and overutilized campuses across the district. However, boundary drafts are subject to change, Superintendent Marc Smith said. “The scenarios that will be reviewed tonight are not nal,” he said. “The feedback of the public will be considered as we move forward in the process.” Beth Martinez, deputy superintendent chief of sta , said demographers decided to focus on the northwest, central and southeast portions of the district rather than feeder patterns to consider neighborhoods, walking distances, bus routes and special programming, while avoiding more than one transfer at each level. The proposed consolidation of campuses focuses on those with enrollment under 600 students as of Aug. 29 and the most recent facility condition scores to identify those that are less infrastructurally stable. FBISD could close 7 schools in 2026 27
Elementary schools considered
59
6
1 Austin Parkway 2 Dulles 3 Arizona Fleming 4 Edgar Glover Jr. 5 Mission West
5
610
59
3
Sugar Land
90
7
6 Ridgegate 7 Sugar Mill
2
99
90
6
59
4
1
BRAZOS RIVER
6
MAP NOT TO SCALE N
Current enrollment
Utilization rate
62%
527 students 609 students 411 students 340 students 482 students 400 students 524 students
Austin Parkway
Dulles Arizona Fleming Edgar Glover Jr. Mission West
77%
52%
40%
57%
50%
Ridgegate Sugar Mill
66%
SOURCE: FORT BEND ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
Going forward
In their own words
How we got here
Final elementary boundary recommendations are scheduled to go before the board in March, with district-wide communication and implementation planned to begin immediately after board action. O cials will begin evaluation of secondary campuses boundary recommendations in subsequent years.
While the population continues to grow in Texas, not all students are attending public schools, with the number of students attending charter schools almost doubling in the past decade, said Stacy Tepara, president of demo- graphic rm Population and Survey Analysts. Compared to 2025 projections, Tepara said more campuses in the middle portion of the district are currently underenrolled.
“If [FBISD] places my child in a school that cannot o er the same level of academic quality, I will have di cult decisions to make.” TERESA NOYOLA, QUAIL VALLEY ELEMENTARY PARENT
Rezoning timeline Jan.
Proposed boundary scenarios with board presentation Community engagement survey
Projected enrollment scenarios vs. actual enrollment
“Every parent wants their child to have a quality and an equitable education. It should not matter where in [FBISD] your child is going if [FBISD] is educating every student.” STEPHANIE BROWN, MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL FEEDER PATTERN PARENT
Reduced scenario
10-year forecast
Accelerated scenario
Actual
Final boundary recommendations board workshop
Feb.
79K 78K 0 80K 81K
80,206
79,663
Mar.
Final boundary recommendations board presentation
2025-26 78,150
SOURCE: FORT BEND ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
2023-24
2024-25
SOURCE: FORT BEND ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
11
SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION
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