State-appointed leadership of the Houston Independent School District is moving forward with a sweeping consolidation plan that would close 12 schools across the district, a decision that community leaders warn could ripple far beyond classrooms and reshape already vulnerable neighborhoods.
Superintendent Mike Miles says the proposal is driven by declining enrollment and aging facilities after years of infrastructure neglect. But critics argue the closures reflect a deeper crisis: A public education system where Black and working-class communities have long been asked to do more with less, and are now being asked to absorb the disruption.
The district’s Board of Managers is expected to vote on the closures Feb. 26.
While HISD leaders describe the plan as a necessary correction to financial and operational realities, the proposal has triggered growing fears among families and advocates that school closures will accelerate neighborhood disinvestment, increase student instability and reduce the presence of Black educators in communities where schools have historically served as anchors.
“It’s hard to be a principal of a school with 150 kids,” Miles said, noting that such campuses still face the same staffing and compliance requirements as larger schools. “At some point, you can’t replace the plumbing… or the air conditioning unit and things like that.”
A closure vote and a community disruption
Under the plan, 11 physical campuses will be shuttered, affecting elementary and middle schools across Houston. Seven campuses will close outright, while four will be consolidated through co-location, meaning two schools will operate in one building.
The 12 schools recommended for closure are:
Alcott ES (143 Black students, 107 Hispanic/Latino students)
Students will transition to Mading ES
Briscoe ES
Students will transition to Carrillo ES
Burrus ES
Students will transition to Kennedy ES
Franklin ES
Students will transition to Gallegos ES
Henderson NQ ES
Students will transition to Bruce ES
Port Houston ES
Students will transition to Pleasantville ES
Ross ES
Students will transition to Roosevelt ES or C. Martinez ES (family choice)
Cage ES
School and students will move to the Lantrip ES facility (co-location)
Fleming MS
School and students will consolidate with McReynolds MS and move to the Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men facility (co-location)
McReynolds MS
School and students will consolidate with Fleming MS and move to the Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men facility (co-location)
Hobby ES
Grades 1-5 will move to the Lawson MS facility (co-location); Pre-K and Kinder will move to MLK Early Childhood Center
Gulfton Middle College
Students will be absorbed into Liberty HS*
Per district slides, Gulfton Middle College’s unique campus number will be closed, and students will now attend Liberty High School. Both campuses are currently co-located at the HCC Gulfton Campus, which is a non-HISD facility.
Two campuses, Gregg Elementary and Clemente Martinez Elementary, will instead be repurposed as “Future 2” pilot schools rather than closed.
Declining enrollment is real, but critics say the burden is not shared equally
Miles said enrollment declines have been accelerating, citing Texas Education Agency data showing that Houston ranks fifth among major urban districts in enrollment losses since 2018.
“Enrollment has declined even faster than after the intervention, but it has still been declining,” Miles said.
He added that other Texas districts, including Ysleta, Pasadena, and Alief, are facing similar trends.
But opponents of the plan argue that enrollment numbers don’t tell the full story, especially in communities where families have long raised concerns about inequitable funding, deteriorating buildings, and chronic underinvestment.
Miles acknowledged the disproportionate impact on historically underserved neighborhoods.
“What bothers me most now is that our schools that have the highest FCI, the poorest facilities, are our underserved populations,” he said. “That breaks my heart.”
For many families, the question isn’t simply why enrollment is dropping; it’s why the campuses in their neighborhoods have been allowed to crumble in the first place, while schools in more affluent parts of the city remain stable and well-resourced.
Only the beginning?
According to the district, nearly 23% of HISD schools are operating below 50% capacity. At the same time, 96 school buildings have a Facility Condition Index (FCI) over 65%, indicating critical facility needs.
Rebuilding a single elementary school is estimated at $75 million, while a full renovation is estimated at $40 million.
Miles said HISD cannot continue to operate severely under-enrolled campuses with major structural problems.
Michelle Williams, president of the Houston Education Association, expressed mixed feelings about HISD school closures, arguing that declining enrollment stems from Hurricane Harvey and COVID, not solely from current leadership.
She questioned why campuses were targeted, and Black student enrollment has declined significantly. Williams also criticized Miles’ leadership and added she was surprised that Fleming MS was recommended for co-location.
“I don’t think he should have the power to do it,” Williams said. “And I think the public needs to push back on it.
More closures coming?
- 23% of HISD campuses operate below 50% capacity
- 96 buildings have an FCI above 65% (critical facility needs)
- HISD estimates $75M to rebuild one elementary school
- HISD estimates $40M to renovate one elementary school
The cost of closing schools
In many Black and working-class Houston neighborhoods, schools are more than places where children learn. They are community institutions, spaces where grandparents volunteer, where churches host events, and where families gather for sports, performances, and parent meetings.
Closing a school can create a chain reaction: Longer commutes, disrupted routines, increased transportation challenges, and a weakening of the neighborhood’s identity.
Parents have also raised concerns about how closures could affect student safety, especially if children are forced to travel farther across major roadways or unfamiliar areas.
Beyond the immediate disruption, some advocates worry the closures could contribute to a familiar pattern seen across the country: Once schools close, neighborhoods often struggle to attract investment, and abandoned campuses can become symbols of decline rather than renewal.
“Disinvestment disguised as reform“
Criticism of the proposal has been swift, particularly because many of the campuses targeted for closure are located in historically underserved areas.
Christian Menefee, who represents Texas’ 18th Congressional District, said the proposal highlights the long-standing inequities that have shaped public education in Houston.
“I think it’s a travesty that our public education system hasn’t been better invested in,” Menefee told the Defender. “Kids who live in Denver Harbor or in Fifth Ward should have buildings that look just as nice as kids who go to school in River Oaks.”
Menefee also criticized what he described as a lack of transparency.
“I just learned about this a couple of hours ago… you gotta have a process,” he said, urging district leaders to allow meaningful community input. “Community members need to know about this. They need to have the opportunity to give their two cents about it.”
For many residents, that frustration stems from the reality that HISD is no longer governed by an elected school board.
Instead, the district is controlled by a state-appointed superintendent and Board of Managers following the Texas Education Agency takeover — a shift that critics say has weakened local accountability and community voice.
“Folks across our communities need to know that our education system right now is run by Governor Abbott in the state of Texas,” Menefee said.
What happens to Black educators and school leadership?
Beyond students and families, school closures can also reshape the HISD workforce.
Each closure or consolidation can trigger teacher reassignments, job losses, and leadership reshuffling — raising concerns about how many Black educators and administrators may be displaced from the communities where they have served as trusted mentors and cultural anchors.
In a district where Black teachers and principals have historically played a critical role in student support and community stability, advocates warn that closures can unintentionally shrink the pipeline of Black leadership inside public education.
Even when educators are reassigned, the loss of a neighborhood campus can mean the loss of relationships built over years — relationships that often make the difference for students navigating poverty, trauma, and instability.
What’s next?
HISD says it will hold family meetings at impacted campuses, assign responsive support teams, host transition events, and provide public FAQs and timelines through Feb. 25.
Final campus closures are set for June 4, the last day of school.
But for families facing the uncertainty of where their children will go next year, key questions remain unresolved, including how transportation will be handled, how student services will transition, and what the long-term plan is for the closed campuses and the neighborhoods left behind.
What parents need to know
If your child attends one of the campuses proposed for closure or consolidation, here are the key issues to track before the Feb. 26 vote:
1. Where will students go next year?
HISD has identified receiving campuses for each school, but families should confirm:
- the new campus assignment
- whether siblings will be placed together
- whether parents can request a different campus
2. Will transportation be provided?
Families should ask whether bus routes will change and whether transportation will be guaranteed, especially for:
- students who live outside walking distance
- students with disabilities
- families without reliable transportation
3. What happens to special education services?
Parents of students receiving special education services should request clarity on:
- whether IEP services will remain consistent
- whether students will keep the same support staff
- how therapy services and accommodations will transfer
4. Will students keep their teachers or programs?
Many families want to know whether educators will be reassigned and whether key programs will follow students, including:
- gifted and talented programs
- after-school tutoring
- athletics and extracurriculars
- counseling and wraparound services
5. What happens to campus staff?
Closures often lead to staff reassignments or job losses. Parents may want to ask:
- how many staff positions are being cut
- whether teachers and principals will be reassigned
- what happens to counselors, librarians, and support staff
6. What happens to the school buildings?
Parents and community leaders are also raising questions about the long-term future of closed campuses, including whether buildings will be:
- sold, repurposed, leased, demolished, converted into alternative programs
7. How can families make their voices heard?
The district says it will hold campus meetings and provide FAQs, but parents can also monitor:
- Board of Managers meeting details and public comment procedures
- campus-level transition meetings
- timelines and posted district documents
Key dates to know
- Feb. 17–Feb. 25: HISD transition meetings, FAQs, and family engagement timeline
- Feb. 26: Board of Managers votes on closures
- June 4: Final day of school; closures scheduled to take effect
