Tight Budgets Force North Texas School Districts to Close Campuses
Public schools across North Texas are confronting tight budgets. Their bleak financial outlook – combined with declining enrollment – has driven some area district leaders to close campuses.
It’s often an emotional choice to shutter a school. Campuses serve as community anchors and sources of pride. Children grow up attached to their neighborhood school, where they rely on friends and teachers for stability. Oftentimes, generations of families have worn the same colors.
But when trustees stare down a budget shortfall and lackluster enrollment projections, they sometimes decide there’s no choice but to close an under-capacity school and shuffle attendance boundaries. They consider population projections, building usage, and facility conditions in making their choices.
The Dallas Morning News is tracking these decisions. Here is our coverage of schools that will be closing or have closed.
Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD: Central, Furneaux, and McCoy elementaries, Long Middle
Trustees approved the district’s consolidation plan on a 6-1 vote, setting in motion the closure of three elementary schools and one middle school next year.
“From declining birth rates, state funding cuts, alternative school options, and more, we refuse to sit by and must overcome these challenges,” board president Randy Schackmann said.
District officials expect the closures will save up to $9 million in the first year.
Coppell ISD: Pinkerton elementary
Coppell trustees voted 4-3 to shutter the district’s oldest elementary school next school year.
Pinkerton Elementary students will attend Wilson and Austin elementaries.
Lewisville ISD: Creekside, Garden Ridge, Highland Village, B.B. Owen, and Polser elementaries
Five Lewisville elementary schools will close next year as the district confronts its declining enrollment.
Students who attend Creekside, Garden Ridge, Highland Village, B.B. Owen, and Polser elementary schools will be shuffled. Several other campuses will be rezoned as part of the plan.
Plano ISD: Davis and Forman elementaries, Armstrong, and Carpenter middle schools
Two elementary schools and two middle schools in Plano will close next year.
The district assembled committees to memorialize the legacies of Davis and Forman elementaries, along with Armstrong and Carpenter middle schools.
Richardson ISD: Greenwood Hills, Springridge, Spring Valley, and Thurgood Marshall elementaries
Richardson closed four elementary schools this school year. Dobie Pre-Kindergarten School will be repurposed next year.
Officials projected a roughly $28 million shortfall if the district gave employees a 3% raise and nothing changed. The campus closures are projected to save millions annually.
Are more school closures coming to the Dallas area?
It’s possible.
Several factors may influence trustees’ decisions: State lawmakers haven’t increased the base per-student amount given to districts since 2019. Attempts to do so last year were ensnared in a political fight over education savings accounts, a voucherlike program that would send state dollars toward private school tuition.
Meanwhile, federal pandemic aid that funneled billions to public schools has largely expired, while inflation made everything from fuel to insurance more expensive. Also, birth rates are steadily declining in some areas, while many families are getting priced out of the suburbs.
Conclusion
As the Dallas Morning News continues to track school closures across North Texas, it is clear that the consequences of tight budgets and declining enrollment are far-reaching. While district leaders make difficult decisions to balance their budgets, the impact on students, teachers, and families is significant. Our Education Lab will continue to provide in-depth coverage of these education issues and stories that affect North Texans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why are school districts closing campuses?
A: School districts are closing campuses due to a combination of factors, including tight budgets, declining enrollment, and the need to reduce costs and reorganize resources to ensure long-term sustainability.
Q: How many schools are closing in North Texas?
A: At least 10 schools in the Dallas area are closing or have closed, with more potential closures on the horizon as districts continue to navigate the challenges of declining enrollment and budget constraints.
Q: What are the consequences of school closures on students and families?
A: School closures can have significant consequences for students and families, including disruptions to education, social isolation, and emotional trauma. The impact on local communities can also be significant, as schools often serve as central gathering places and hubs for community activity.
About the DMN Education Lab
The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative, with support from Bobby and Lottye Lyle, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Garrett and Cecilia Boone, The Meadows Foundation, The Murrell Foundation, Solutions Journalism Network, Southern Methodist University, Sydney Smith Hicks, and the University of Texas at Dallas. The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control of the Education Lab’s journalism.
