The Austin (Texas) school board has approved a plan to close 10 schools and make several major programming changes before the 2026-27 school year.
KUT News reports the vote came early after weeks of community meetings and school protests.
Superintendent Matias Segura estimates the plan will save $21.5 million — eliminating the district’s $19.7 million budget deficit — and reduce the number of empty seats in the district by 6,319 from more than 20,000.
The district intends to close eight elementary schools — Barrington, Becker, Dawson, Oak Springs, Ridgetop, Sunset Valley, Widén and Winn Montessori — as well as Bedichek and Martin middle schools.
In addition, International High School, which serves ninth and 10th grade students who recently immigrated to Texas, will close because of low enrollment.
The district’s initial consolidation plan, released in early October, included 13 school closures and triggered parent and student protests. That feedback led to the district scaling back the number of closures to 10.
Segura said the district will discuss closing additional schools and redrawing attendance boundaries in the spring and could vote on another plan next fall.
