School closures in HISD: Miles proposes closing or consolidating 12 campuses for 2026-27. The board votes February 26 and meetings will be held from February 17 to 25.
Houston ISD (HISD) could close or consolidate 12 schools starting with the 2026-27 school year, according to a proposal presented on Thursday by state Superintendent Mike Miles. The measure is based on declining enrollment and the condition of the facilities, and will be brought to a vote by the state-appointed Board of Trustees at its February 26 meeting. If approved, the changes would take effect at the end of the current school calendar.
School closures: which campuses are on the list
Miles recommended closing 12 schools operating on 11 campuses for the 2026-27 cycle, according to what was presented at a district meeting. The proposal includes closures and “co-locations” (when two programs share the same campus), as well as transfers of students to nearby campuses.
This is the list of school closures included in the recommendation and, where applicable, the proposed destination for the student community:
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Alcott Elementary: students would transfer to Mading Elementary.
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Briscoe Elementary: students would transfer to Carrillo Elementary.
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Burrus Elementary: students would transfer to Kennedy Elementary.
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Franklin Elementary: students would transfer to Gallegos Elementary.
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Henderson N.Q. Elementary: students would transfer to Bruce Elementary.
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Port Houston Elementary: students would transfer to Pleasantville Elementary.
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Ross Elementary: students would transfer to Roosevelt Elementary or Clemente Martinez Elementary (family choice).
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Cage Elementary: would be co-located with Lantrip Elementary.
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Fleming Middle School: would be co-located with Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men.
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McReynolds Middle School: would be co-located with Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men.
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Hobby Elementary: would be co-located with Lawson Middle School.
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Gulfton Middle College: would be co-located with Liberty High School.
In a separate list, it was also indicated that, in the case of Hobby, pre-K and kindergarten students would attend the Martin Luther King Jr. Early Childhood Center.
Why HISD says it can no longer wait
Miles explained to the community that the district faces a prolonged enrollment decline and aging buildings. Although in 2023 he had said he would not close schools in his first two years, on Thursday he said delaying the issue any longer was no longer possible.
According to data cited at the meeting, HISD reported that 96 campuses have a facility condition index (FCI) above 65% in 2026, a threshold the district associates with “critical problems” that often require total rebuilding of the campus. It was also noted that about a quarter of the schools operate below 50% of capacity, which increases per-student costs in underutilized buildings.
Miles argued that rebuilding buildings, rather than closing or consolidating, would not be financially responsible if enrollment continues to decline. In his presentation, he cited cost estimates: rebuilding a elementary school would run about $75 million, while renovating one could cost $40 million.
Moreover, Miles linked the discussion to the fiscal situation: state funding is calculated based on average daily attendance. In another update to the board, he said the district could lose between $50 million and $60 million per year in state funds if the trend does not change.
Enrollment, infrastructure and the context of the debate over school closures
Enrollment figures were a central focus of the announcement. In the current cycle, HISD has lost students compared to the previous year, including a pronounced decline among immigrant students, according to data obtained by local media. In the longer term, Miles has noted that the district has lost tens of thousands of students over the past decade.
In another report cited during the discussion, it was recalled that HISD had more than 214,000 students in 2013-2014, while this year enrollment is around 168,000. A University of Houston analysis also indicated that the decline accelerated since the state intervention began after years of failing academic ratings at a district high school.
Miles said the district aims to sustain recent gains in standardized test scores, but keeping buildings with low occupancy and needing repairs limits resources available to students.
What changes for families and students: meetings, deadlines and transfers
HISD announced it would hold informational meetings at the campuses included in the proposal from February 17 to 25. It also stated that it would extend the deadline for School Choice applications for affected families: the deadline would move from February 27 to March 5.
The district noted that families will be able to visit the assigned campus, and that additional support will be available at the HISD Family Connection Center (in the Hattie Mae White building). In addition, each impacted campus would have a support team to provide personalized assistance and serve as a point of contact.
Regarding transfers, Miles said that for reassigned students the new school would be less than a mile away. He also mentioned that the district would seek to “honor” each campus that closes and that the receiving schools would host welcome events. HISD plans to create a Legacy Committee to propose ways to recognize the campuses that would stop operating.
Reactions, criticisms and what comes next before the vote
The announcement drew criticisms over its communication and timeline. Teachers and community members said the list was not publicly disclosed in advance and that the district left little time for comments before the February 26 vote.
Congressman Christian Menefee, who spoke during the public comment section, said the process is perceived as unclear and with limited opportunity for participation, especially under state intervention. Meanwhile, trustee-elect Placido Gomez — who votes without the state administration’s approval — urged that, if consolidations are going to occur, the district “make the case” to the community and seek meaningful input.
Community organizations also warned that several of the schools on the list are located in under-resourced neighborhoods and that the changes could affect the community fabric. The district responded that it evaluated building conditions, enrollment, use of space and nearby options before finalizing the list, in addition to local factors such as programs and academic quality.
If the Board of Trustees approves the school closure plan, HISD indicated that campuses would close at the end of the school year, with a stated deadline of June 4 in the presented information. For many families, the next two weeks will be crucial: the informational meetings and the vote will determine whether the school closures move forward and how they will be implemented in each community.
