Houston Independent School District officials announced plans to close 12 campuses beginning in the 2026–2027 school year, citing declining enrollment and rising maintenance costs tied to aging facilities.
Superintendent Mike Miles confirmed the closures in a video released ahead of Thursday’s board meeting. According to district officials, campus principals were notified earlier in the day before the public announcement.
The schools identified for closure are Alcott, Briscoe, Burrus, Cage, Franklin, Hobby, Nathaniel Q. Henderson, Port Houston, and Ross elementary schools, along with Fleming and McReynolds middle schools and Middle College High School at HCC Gulfton.
District officials say enrollment has declined since 2017 while costs to maintain older, underutilized campuses have continued to increase.
“When students are spread across underutilized buildings in need of significant repair, it limits the resources and opportunities we can provide,” Miles said. He described the decision as difficult but necessary to ensure resources are used responsibly.
In a separate statement, Miles acknowledged that schools represent history and community pride while stating that the district’s focus remains on student access to academic opportunity.
HISD has published a list of receiving campuses for displaced students and plans to hold meetings at impacted schools to answer questions from families and staff. The board is scheduled to vote on the closures February 26.
The move follows several years of financial and political turbulence within the district.
In November 2024, voters rejected HISD’s proposed $4.4 billion bond, which would have totaled $8.8 billion with interest over 30 years. Both propositions failed by roughly a 60 to 40 margin. The measure faced opposition from both the Harris County Republican Party and the Harris County Democratic Party.
In May 2025, Texas Scorecard reported that the bond proposal became the subject of scrutiny after Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office indicated it had reason to believe district officials may have engaged in electioneering in support of the measure. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office later confirmed it received affidavits alleging criminal conduct related to the election and is required by law to investigate such complaints.
With the bond rejected and enrollment continuing to decline, district officials are now pursuing campus consolidations and closures as part of their effort to address facility costs and student distribution across campuses.
