SAN ANTONIO – The North East Independent School District has identified 16 elementary schools that meet its criteria for possible closure as the district faces declining enrollment and rising operating costs.
District leaders said the review is part of a broader effort to examine how resources are being used across campuses. No closure decisions have been finalized.
During a school board meeting Monday, NEISD said the criteria the district looked at are:
- Enrollment is below 450 students
- Utilization is below 60%
- Cost per student is 5% more than the district average
Based on recent enrollment, the district identified the following elementary schools that meet those criteria:
- Canyon Ridge
- Castle Hills
- Colonial Hills
- Dellview
- Harmony Hills
- Las Lomas
- Montgomery
- Northwood
- Northern Hills
- Oak Grove
- Oak Meadow
- Redland Oaks
- Regency Place
- Ridgeview
- Serna
- Wetmore
Some campuses serve fewer than 350 students, with cost-per-student ranging from $10,000-$17,000.
“So, this is actually putting us in a better position as we move forward,” NEISD Superintendent Anthony Jarrett said. “But there’s more tough decisions ahead of us, and it is not going to be easy decisions. But at this time, we’re going to have to start having conversations about some of these smaller campuses, and the enrollment, and the cost per student.”
An NEISD spokesperson told KSAT that a plan will be recommended before the end of the year. Up to four campuses could be included in that recommendation.
“We want to be thoughtful and take multiple factors into consideration. Our goal is to have plans for any closed school ahead of time, so that we do not leave the community with empty buildings,” the spokesperson said.
NEISD is also considering the possibility of expanding new programming to increase enrollment at some schools.
An efficiency committee will help shape the recommendations, and NEISD said community input will be encouraged as the process moves forward.
