HISD proposes closing or consolidating 12 schools, citing enrollment and facility conditions
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Summary
The superintendent recommended closing 12 schools (affecting 11 facilities) and co‑locating several campuses, citing years of enrollment decline, high facility‑condition indices and repair costs; the board heard about receiving schools, parent supports and an extended choice window.
Superintendent Mike Miles told the Houston ISD board on Feb. 12 that the district will present a recommendation to close 12 schools (11 facilities) and co‑locate several others because of sustained enrollment declines and deteriorating facility conditions.
Miles said enrollment across the district has fallen sharply over multiple years and that a combination of low utilization, high facility condition index (FCI) scores and escalating repair costs make some campuses untenable. He said closing under‑enrolled campuses and moving students to stronger buildings will, in his view, provide safer learning environments and preserve instructional quality.
Lists provided to trustees (and included in board packets) identify receiving schools and consolidations; examples cited in the meeting include Briscoe → Carrillo, Burrows → Kennedy, Franklin → Gallegos, NQ Henderson → Bruce, Port Houston → Pleasantville, and a planned co‑location of Cage at the Landrip facility. Miles said seven campuses would close, four would be co‑located and two schools would be designated as “Future 2” pilot schools to preserve programming.
District staff outlined mitigation steps they plan to offer families: an expansion of the school-choice application window for affected students, parent communications via ParentSquare, opportunities to tour receiving schools, responsive parent-support teams at receiving schools, priority placement for staff and FAQ and HR support for employees. Miles said the district will hold family meetings and that principals and staff will receive face‑to‑face briefings.
Community leaders and elected officials at the meeting urged the board to slow implementation and to provide robust, practical supports for families (transportation options, clear phone contacts, maps of feeder patterns). Congressman Christian Menifee said some families learned of the proposal only shortly before the meeting and asked the board to allow meaningful public engagement before final votes.
No final vote on closures occurred at the Feb. 12 meeting. Miles said the board must ultimately approve performance contracts and any 18 82 partnerships separately and that TEA approval will be required for contract changes tied to 18 82 benefits. The district said it will hold follow‑up meetings for affected families in the coming weeks.