Houston ISD proposes closing 12 campuses in 2026-27 over enrollment decline

State-appointed Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles announced Thursday that the district plans to close 12 campuses beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, citing years of enrollment decline and mounting repair costs at underutilized buildings. The recommendation, made during a board presentation, sets in motion a formal vote the district has scheduled for Feb. 26 and immediate school reassignments for affected families.

The 12 campuses named for closure are Alcott Elementary School, Briscoe Elementary School, Burrus Elementary School, Cage Elementary School, Franklin Elementary School, Hobby Elementary School, Nathaniel Q. Henderson Elementary School, Port Houston Elementary School, Ross Elementary School, Fleming Middle School, McReynolds Middle School, and Middle College High School at HCC Gulfton. KHOU reported receiving-school pairings for several elementary campuses: Alcott to Mading, Briscoe to Carrillo, Burrus to Kennedy, Franklin to Gallegos, Nathaniel Q. Henderson to Bruce, Port Houston to Pleasantville, and Ross families will choose between Roosevelt or C. Martinez.

Miles framed the closures as a fiscal and operational necessity. “When students are spread across underutilized buildings in need of significant repair, it limits the resources and opportunities we can provide,” he said. He further described facility conditions in blunt terms: “I can’t justify keeping kids in a school with some of the pictures you’re seeing or that have an air-conditioning unit that goes out all the time or has just a smell in the teacher’s lounge. Just all kinds of things. That’s not right. So even though we have to close it, we’re going to put the kids in a better school.” He also acknowledged the human cost: “I understand this news is difficult. Schools are more than buildings. They are places filled with history, relationships, and pride. This decision was not made lightly, and our focus remains on ensuring every student has access to a strong, supportive, and opportunity-rich learning environment.”

District leaders point to enrollment declines dating to 2017 and significant facility-maintenance burdens. HISD projects losing $50 million to $60 million in state funding each year as enrollment falls, and district estimates presented to the community put potential savings from consolidation at roughly $1 million to $1.5 million per campus. The fiscal calculus follows voter rejection of a proposed $4.4 billion bond in November 2024; that bond was described by district observers as totaling $8.8 billion with interest over 30 years and failed by about a 60-40 margin. The bond effort drew additional scrutiny in 2025 after state and local offices signaled potential electioneering concerns and prosecutors confirmed receipt of affidavits alleging misconduct.

The process has already drawn criticism for timing and transparency. Community leaders and school principals say some principals were notified the same day as the public announcement, and families reported learning their neighborhood schools were on the list only after showing up at the board meeting. “There is a difference between making a difficult decision and making one without transparency,” wrote Forward Times leadership. A guardian quoted by local coverage called the closures heartbreaking: “It's heartbreaking to know they Houstonians won't get to go,” said Jane Taylor.

For parents and neighborhood leaders, the immediate implications are student reassignments, new commutes, and the loss of local school hubs that anchor communities. The next formal step is the Feb. 26 board vote and the district’s follow-up release of full transfer assignments and supporting analyses. Residents seeking more detail should monitor HISD board postings and the district’s transfer listings as the board prepares to vote and community groups organize responses.