At its October Information Session, the Austin Independent School District (Austin ISD) Board of Trustees discussed a draft plan for school consolidation and boundary changes. The session marked the first time trustees publicly addressed the proposal, which was released on October 3.
The draft plan suggests closing 13 campuses, relocating four districtwide dual language programs, moving the Montessori program, and transitioning International High School into a program at Navarro Early College High School. During public comments, families and staff requested an extended timeline, changes to proposed boundaries, and asked that schools remain open.
District leaders presented information in two parts: current academic improvement efforts and details of the proposed consolidation process. Austin ISD reported that Title I teacher retention rates have increased from 66% to 80% since 2022, with overall staffing at 97%. This stability is considered important for supporting teachers and student progress.
In terms of student achievement, the district noted that 67 campuses showed growth, 34 improved their ratings, and three schools increased by two letter grades between 2024 and 2025.
According to the administration, further investment is necessary to continue this growth. The draft plan aims to reduce duplicate costs across campuses; of an anticipated $25.6 million in savings, $12.6 million would be reinvested in students with a net savings of $13 million.
The proposal would also remove nearly 7,000 empty seats throughout the district and includes requirements for turnaround plans at certain campuses. Additionally, it seeks to realign dual language programs so that schools move closer to an even balance between emergent bilingual and non-emergent bilingual students. For example, Ridgetop Elementary’s program is projected to increase from 14% to over half emergent bilingual students after relocation to Pickle Elementary.
Currently, Austin ISD operates 59 dual language programs at 57 elementary campuses and plans to maintain campus-specific strands along with four proposed schoolwide Spanish dual language schools. Out-of-district transfers may continue learning within Austin ISD if space allows.
Families affected by the changes will have three options: enroll at their new zoned school; stay at their current school or move with their program; or apply for a new program or general transfer. All students must re-register in Enroll Austin for the 2026–27 year—no automatic re-enrollment will occur—and grandfather transfers will be automatically approved.
Community feedback on the draft plan is being solicited through subject matter experts who will review each response as potential refinements are developed. Staff members, families, and community members can also participate in discussions via Zoom throughout October or attend an in-person event on November 8 at Delco Activity Center.
Following the presentation, trustees emphasized transparent communication regarding past budget cuts and expressed a need for continued collaboration with school communities as well as incorporation of feedback into future recommendations.
An updated recommended plan will be presented at the November 6 Board Information Session after ongoing review of community input.
The meeting also included updates on Scorecard Goal 2: Third-Grade Numeracy. The district’s objective is for third-grade students scoring “meets grade level” or above on STAAR Math tests (in English or Spanish) to rise from 39% in June 2024 to 55% by June 2029. So far this year, results show that third-grade students are already exceeding targets with a rate of 42%.
Galindo Elementary School was highlighted for its nearly thirty percentage point year-over-year increase in students achieving grade-level math proficiency—a success attributed to regular professional learning meetings among teachers and use of high-quality instructional materials provided by Austin ISD.
Efforts will continue around strengthening academic programming—particularly math instruction—and professional development for staff as part of ongoing improvements intended to support smooth transitions for all students advancing through their education journey.
Trustees are scheduled to meet again on October 30 for their regular voting meeting.
