Education
HISD to close 12 schools in June
Eleven out of 12 campuses recommended for closure have seen signi cant enrollment loss in the last ve years. Houston ISD school closure recommendations
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Alcott Elementary (+3%) Briscoe Elementary (-23%)
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Burrus Elementary (-45%) 4 Franklin Elementary (-38%) 5 Henderson Elementary (-3%) 6 Port Houston Elementary (-4%) 7 Betsy Ross Elementary (-14%) 8 Cage Elementary (-33%) 9 Hobby Elementary (-34%) 10 Fleming Middle (-30%) 11 McReynolds Middle (-30%) 12 Gulfton Middle College (-53%)
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With almost 35,000 students leaving Houston ISD from the 2016-17 school year to the 2024-25 school year, enrollment losses have been a persistent problem, local stakeholders said. “When a school district loses … students, they’re also losing funds generated by the state education formulas,” said Toni Templeton, University of Houston senior research scientist, who co-authored a Jan. 15 report on the district’s enrollment loss. “Without funds generated from those formulas, you don’t have money to pay teachers … [or] money to keep the lights on.” Enrollment loss played a large part in why HISD leaders recommended the district’s board of managers close 12 schools in June, Superintendent Mike Miles said during the district’s Feb. 26 special meeting. The same day, HISD’s board of managers unanimously voted
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SOURCE: HOUSTON ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
“It’s a tough decision,” Miles said. “We recognize that, but we got to the point where the school facilities—to repair them is so much more expensive than replacing them at the end of the day ... besides the enrollment problem.”
to close the schools—a choice district leaders said will save HISD between $14.6 million and $20 million. HISD’s 2025-26 school year budget initially included a $39.9 million shortfall.
The cost
What's happening
Besides enrollment loss, Miles said one of the biggest factors in the district’s decision was the increasing cost of maintenance at most of the schools proposed for closure. He estimated that the cost of rebuilding an ele- mentary school would be around $75 million , while the cost to renovate an elementary school would be around $40 million. Of the 12 campuses scheduled to close, nine are elementary schools. In November 2024, roughly 58% of voters voted against the district’s $4.4 billion bond program, which would have provided funds for school renovations, safety improvements and security upgrades, according to Harris County Elections. HISD used the Facility Condition Index to compare the condition of its facilities as of this year. A score of 65% or more typically means the building should be replaced. Nine of the 12 closing campuses received FCI scores of 65% or higher. However, two campuses that will receive students of the closing schools—Carrillo and Pleasantville elementary schools—also scored above 65%. Alishia Jolivette, HISD’s chief of facilities, maintenance and operations, said the age of facilities, recent capital investments and impact on transportation were also factors in the decision to close these campuses.
A growing number of students have been leaving the district since the state took over the district in June 2023, with HISD losing about 7% of its population since then. However, Courtney Isaak Pichon, CEO of area education nonpro t Good Reason Houston, said the decline is not a problem unique to HISD, as most large urban districts are seeing major declines.
Facility Condition Index of schools closing A campus’ FCI score is calculated by dividing the total cost of repairs by the cost of replacing the facility, which can result in scores greater than 100.
Alcott Briscoe Burrus Cage Franklin Henderson Hobby Port Houston Betsy Ross
52%
50%
76%
82%
87% 86%
Greater Houston area school district enrollment loss
From the 2020-21 to the 2024-25 school year, Aldine ISD lost the highest percentage of its students in the region, followed by HISD in second and Alief ISD in third.
82% 83%
90%
105%
Fleming
McReynolds
75%
0% -5%
-10% -15% -20%
Gulfton Middle College
N/A Buildings with a score of 65% or higher typically need to be replaced.
SOURCES: HOUSTON ISD, TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: HOUSTON ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
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