Fort Worth ISD plans to close 10-17 schools amid budget crisis

Fort Worth Independent School District is moving forward with plans to close or consolidate between 10 and 17 campuses over the next five years due to a $17 million budget deficit and declining enrollment, which has dropped from 96,000 to about 70,000 students. The district has started holding community meetings to share information, discuss recommendations, and gather feedback from families and staff, naming several schools—including Kirkpatrick Elementary, Kirkpatrick Middle, Briscoe Elementary, Morningside Middle, Dillow Elementary, De Zavala Elementary, Sunrise-McMillan, and Pate Elementary—for potential closure or consolidation. District officials have emphasized the difficulty of these decisions and are attempting to minimize disruptions by proposing changes such as converting Pate Elementary into a leadership academy and building a new Walton Elementary campus. Many families, teachers, and students are rallying to save their schools, voicing concerns about the impact of closures on their communities and students' futures. School supporters hope that strong community turnout at meetings will persuade the district to reconsider its plans. Despite efforts to find alternative solutions, district leaders stress that tough decisions are necessary to address financial and enrollment challenges.