Austin ISD maintains 13 school closures in revised consolidation plan with boundary changes

Austin Independent School District (Austin ISD) has released an updated consolidation plan that retains the closure of 13 schools but incorporates several boundary and policy changes based on extensive community feedback. The revised plan introduces new attendance boundaries, updated feeder patterns, and allows current students to remain at their existing schools or programs under a "continuation transfers policy," even if their campuses are being repurposed or consolidated. Significant adjustments include guarantees for students enrolled in existing programs to retain placement if those programs move to different campuses, automatic sibling transfer approvals, and more flexible transfer policies for rising 6th and 9th graders affected by zoning changes. The district aims to address a $19.7 million budget shortfall and a 14.5% enrollment decline over the past decade by consolidating schools to create fewer, better-resourced campuses focused on academics and student support. Despite the changes, the plan has faced public opposition, with over 7,200 comments received primarily concerning boundaries and school closures. Austin ISD plans to present the updated proposal to the school board for final approval in November 2025.