Fort Worth ISD Plans Closure Consolidation 18 Schools Amid Enrollment Decline

Fort Worth Independent School District has finalized a plan to close or consolidate 18 schools, primarily elementary and some middle schools, over the next several years to address a $17 million budget deficit and declining enrollment. Since 2019, the district has lost more than 12,000 students and expects to lose over 5,000 more in the coming five years, prompting the need for these closures. The plan, which does not require additional funding or a new bond, is projected to save the district over $77 million in five years and aims to improve learning and resource distribution. Four schools—S.S. Dillow Elementary, Eastern Hills Elementary, McLean 6th Grade, and West Handley Elementary—have already been approved for phased closure, with some set to close at the end of the current academic year. The proposal will be presented at a special board meeting and a vote is expected on May 20. The closures will begin at the end of this school year and continue through June 2029.