The district is set to close four schools—Davis Elementary, Forman Elementary, Armstrong Middle and Carpenter Middle—and adjust attendance boundaries prior to the 2025-26 school year.
The details
Johnny Hill, deputy superintendent for business and employee services for PISD, said a demographic report conducted by the district reflects continued decline in student enrollment throughout the district. However, the West cluster, which is broken into four quadrants, has the highest current and projected enrollment.
Additionally, Hill said the relationship between student enrollment and available seats at schools reflect approximately 16,000 available seats, even after the retirement of four campuses in the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.
Rather than closing schools, Hill said the district should consider adjusting programs to maximize transportation, facility space and best meet the needs of PISD students and families.
By the numbers
Hill said current enrollment for schools in the West cluster is 7,681 elementary students, 3,937 middle school students and 5,221 high school students. A 10-year forecast predicted 7,225 elementary students, 3,360 middle school students and 4,304 high school students enrolled in the 2034-2035 school year.
District-wide, the forecast predicted a 1.5% decrease, from 20,728 to 20,425, in elementary students, a 10.7% decrease, 10,446 to 9,331, in middle school students and a 19.5% decrease in high school students, going from 14,723 to 11,846.
What’s next
Lisa Wilson, PISD deputy superintendent for teaching, learning and life readiness, said the district will continue to expand innovative programming and opportunities for students, such as STEAM, Math Rocks and more.
The district will also make transportation adjustments based on programs, audit findings and hazardous bus routes to gain efficiencies, Wilson said, adding that it will also closely monitor enrollment and program needs.
No action was needed or taken during the meeting and the district will continue with “normal proceedings” for 2025-2026 school year, Superintendent Teresa Williams said.
