On June 10, Plano ISD board members voted unanimously to close four schools for the 2025-2026 school year. Two elementary schools, Davis and Forman, and two middle schools, Armstrong and Carpenter, will be shut down at the beginning of the 2025 school year.
The 71-member committee, selected by the board and made up of parents, employees and other community members, studied data on all Plano ISD schools for eight months to make their decision. Data included student enrollment, the effectiveness of facility usage and the fair distribution of student support services.
According to Plano ISD, along with many other schools in the state, the district faces issues with lack of state funding and growing costs. The district had been running in a deficit for years due to the state’s recapture policy. Due to the recapture, Plano ISD is required to pay an estimated $5,000 per student, explaining the lack of budget. By closing the four schools, Plano ISD gains a projected annual savings of $5.2 million. In addition, the schools lacked enrollment, with the middle schools operating at a 50% capacity. These financial benefits and low enrollment rates drew board members to their decision.
“Our district has experienced a consistent decline in enrollment for more than a decade and tonight’s recommendations will make the necessary adjustments to create better learning and extracurricular opportunities in improved facilities with our highly qualified staff and equitable programming to meet the diverse needs and interests of our students,” Plano ISD Board President Nancy Humphrey said.
Plano ISD ensured that no staff would lose their jobs due to the school closures, FOX News reported.
However, the closures bring implications for students. Davis Elementary holds the Regional Day School Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for Plano ISD and 13 other districts. With Davis’ closure, 75% of students would be transferred to Harrington Elementary, including all the Deaf students, while the rest would move to Saigling Elementary. Unlike Davis Elementary, students from Forman Elementary would be transferred into five different elementary schools: Dooley, Schell, Stinson, Memorial and Meadows.
The district acknowledged that some families may want to start their change in the 2024–2025 school year, therefore it is offering a transfer application submission opportunity for students who may be affected. However, changes to attendance boundaries will not take effect until the 2025–2026 school year.
“I want to assure our families and staff that our top priority will be to ensure a smooth and supportive transition for everyone involved,” Superintendent Theresa Williams said. “We will work together with the same spirit of collaboration and dedication that this community was built on. Our commitment to providing the best possible education for our students remains resolute and unwavering, and with your partnership, we will navigate this transition with grace and unity.”
For the community, the school closures brought many emotions. Many community members walked out crying after the vote, KERA News reported. A number of community members, including parents, students and teachers, came to the board meeting in support of their schools.
A dedicated web page with full details, supporting data, videos, and other resources is being managed by Plano ISD.
