The Edgewood (Texas) district is considering a recommendation to close two neighborhood schools to address enrollment declines.
The San Antonio Express-News reports that the proposal, presented by the district finance and facilities committee, calls for closing Winston Intermediate School of Excellence and Wrenn Middle School next school year.
The school district, on the West Side of San Antonio, is one of the poorest in Texas. It has struggled with student attrition, depleted funding and growing competition from charter schools.
Wrenn Middle School, which received a failing score last year on the state's accountability system, has 505 students, 84.6% of whom are economically disadvantaged, according to the Texas Education Agency. Winston has about 140 students in grades 3 to 5.
The closing recommendation is part of a districtwide redesign intended to save money, optimize resources and improve instruction. Several closure options involving combinations of eight schools were discussed in October at a series of community meetings.
Edgewood's student population has dropped nearly 22% since 2017-18 and is now below 10,000. Its leaders expect enrollment to continue to drop, largely because of competition from charter schools. The district has identified 59 charter schools within a 5-mile radius of its boundaries.
Educators and staff members who work at a school slated to close would be moved to another campus, district officials said.
More closures could be on the horizon. Myrna Martinez, assistant superintendent of business operations, said the district will continue to consider Cisneros Leadership School for Boys and Gardendale Early Learning Program for future "repurposing."
