Fort Worth ISD Proposes Closure of 14 Schools Amid Budget Cuts

FORT WORTH, Texas — Fort Worth Independent School District (ISD) officials proposed a plan on May 13 to close 14 schools over the next five years, citing financial challenges and declining enrollment as the main reasons for this difficult decision.

Fantasy Reynolds, a leader in the nonprofit R4 Foundation, spoke to the school board, urging them to prioritize the district’s children over aging infrastructure. “Through the consolidation of schools, there is a huge opportunity for our district to invest in our kids,” she said, referencing the need for updated resources instead of maintaining old buildings.

Fort Worth ISD has lost more than 12,783 students since 2019 and is anticipating another loss of roughly 6,556 students by 2030. This decline in enrollment, coupled with the estimated $1.2 billion needed for repairs over the next five years, led district leaders to propose these closures.

Superintendent Karen Molinar explained the plan aims to save over $77 million and redirect funds from underutilized buildings into classroom resources. “Our students deserve more; they need STEM activities on their campuses embedded every day,” Molinar stated.

Trustees will meet again on May 20 to discuss the plan. The closures could affect notable schools, including several that are A-rated—concerns raised by parents like Kelly Moreno. Moreno noted the disparity in ratings among schools with closure plans and expressed fears about the potential impact on her child’s educational opportunities.

Concerns were also raised regarding student safety and logistical issues, such as transportation for siblings potentially forced to walk greater distances to their new schools. Ashley Dean, a teacher at Edward J. Briscoe Elementary, highlighted how a closure would double her children’s commute, emphasizing the dangers of navigating busy streets.

The Texas Education Agency is monitoring Fort Worth ISD’s performance closely, particularly as the district faces potential intervention after a previously closed sixth-grade campus earned failing grades for five consecutive years. Reynolds reiterated that closing schools now can lead to better educational opportunities for students in the long run.

Officials assured parents that strategies will be implemented to ease transitions if closures occur. This includes a review of boundaries to minimize walking distances and potentially adding bus routes for students needing transport.

The board will consider community input before finalizing the list of closures next week.