FWISD school closures: What’s the campus data behind the closure proposals?

The Fort Worth Independent School District school board is on the cusp of approving school closures for a total of 18 campuses after a lengthy process of analyzing facilities and student enrollment. A report with several data points has largely shaped the closure proposals that board members will vote on next week.

HPM, the district’s consulting firm for its facilities master plan, released a State of the Schools Facilities Report in October that outlines Fort Worth ISD’s projected enrollment, capacity, and utilization and educational adequacy of its buildings. It also provides other information about each campus in the district, broken down by pyramids. Among the notable measurements within the report is the educational adequacy score, which shows the current ability of a building to effectively support Fort Worth ISD’s educational standards. A perfect score is 100%.

Fort Worth ISD’s school buildings are growing old, with some falling into disrepair. The average age of the district’s elementary schools, which are predominantly impacted by the proposed closures, is about 62 years old, according to the consultant’s report.

Many schools are also being underutilized as a result of declining enrollment seen over roughly a decade. In pre-K through fifth grade, districtwide enrollment is estimated to decline from 34,094 in the current school year to 32,563 in the 2028-29 school year: a 4.5% decrease.

There are 14 campuses being proposed for closure over the course of the next four school years, in addition to four that have already been approved for closure or consolidation. The board will consider the proposals at its meeting at 5:30 p.m on Tuesday, May 20.

Here are the age, enrollment, capacity utilization percentage, and educational adequacy score of each school being considered for closure, according to the consultant’s report. Each campus’ 2024 A-F accountability score, as calculated by Fort Worth ISD, is also shown to give insight on its academic performance (The scores typically released by the Texas Education Agency are tied up in a pending lawsuit).

A.M. Pate Elementary

• Year built: 1958

• 2024-25 enrollment: 223

• 2024-25 utilization: 39.8%

• Educational adequacy score: 78.6%

• 2024 A-F accountability score: C

Atwood McDonald Elementary

• Year built: 1967

• 2024-25 enrollment: 259

• 2024-25 utilization: 42.7%

• Educational adequacy score: 78.4%

• 2024 A-F accountability score: C

Charles Nash Elementary

• Year built: 1927

• 2024-25 enrollment: 222

• 2024-25 utilization: 84.4%

• Educational adequacy score: 51.8%

• 2024 A-F accountability score: B

De Zavala Elementary

• Year built: 1914

• 2024-25 enrollment: 272

• 2024-25 utilization: 50.7%

• Educational adequacy score: 70.6%

• 2024 A-F accountability score: A

Edward J. Briscoe Elementary

• Year built: 1988

• 2024-25 enrollment: 265

• 2024-25 utilization: 47.3%

• Educational adequacy score: 77.9%

• 2024 A-F accountability score: F

Harlean Beal Elementary

• Year built: 1948

• 2024-25 enrollment: 323

• 2024-25 utilization: 55.4%

• Educational adequacy score: 82.1%

• 2024 A-F accountability score: C

Hubbard Heights Elementary

• Year built: 1922

• 2024-25 enrollment: 509

• 2024-25 utilization: 75.5%

• Educational adequacy score: 80.4%

• 2024 A-F accountability score: F

H.V. Helbing Elementary

• Year built: 1947

• 2024-25 enrollment: 369

• 2024-25 utilization: 63.3%

• Educational adequacy score: 75.9%

• 2024 A-F accountability score: D

J.T. Stevens Elementary

• Year built: 1967

• 2024-25 enrollment: 363

• 2024-25 utilization: 70.6%

• Educational adequacy score: 79.9%

• 2024 A-F accountability score: F

Milton L. Kirkpatrick Elementary

• Year built: 1958

• 2025-25 enrollment: 293

• 2024-25 utilization: 88.3%

• Educational adequacy score: 67.4%

• 2024 A-F accountability score: D

Sunrise-McMillan Elementary

• Year built: 1953

• 2024-25 enrollment: 414

• 2024-25 utilization: 77.1%

• Educational adequacy score: 73%

• 2024 A-F accountability score: D

Kirkpatrick Middle

• Year built: 1949

• 2024-25 enrollment: 484

• 2024-25 utilization: 74.3%

• Educational adequacy score: 43.8%

• 2024 A-F accountability score: D

Morningside Middle

• Year built: 1954

• 2024-25 enrollment: 415

• 2024-25 utilization: 50.7%

• Educational adequacy score: 68.1%

• 2024 A-F accountability score: F

Riverside Applied Learning Center

• Year built: 1950

• 2023-24 enrollment: 215

• Utilization: N/A

• Educational adequacy score: The report does not show an educational adequacy score for this campus. It does show a facility condition index percentage of 9.9%, which is a “fair” rating. The measurement reflects the overall health of a facility and is calculated by dividing repair costs with theoretical replacement costs. The campus’ condition is projected to worsen over time with a “poor” rating in five years and a “critical” rating in 10 years.

• 2024 A-F accountability score: B

Campuses already approved for closure

S.S. Dillow Elementary

• Year built: 1937

• 2024-25 enrollment: 430

• 2024-25 utilization: 68.4%

• Educational adequacy score: 79.5%

• 2024 A-F accountability score: C

Eastern Hills Elementary (will be rebuilt with 2021 bond funding)

• Year built: 1958

• 2024-25 enrollment: 446

• 2024-25 utilization: 56.5%

• Educational adequacy score: 69%

• 2024 A-F accountability score: F

West Handley Elementary (will be consolidated into the newly built Eastern Hills Elementary)

• Year built: 1954

• 2024-25 enrollment: 345

• 2024-25 utilization: 54.8%

• Educational adequacy score: 77.5%

• 2024 A-F accountability score: D

McLean Sixth Grade Center

• Year built: 1948

• 2024-25 enrollment: 388

• 2024-25 utilization: 73.9%

• Educational adequacy score: 29.6%

• 2024 A-F accountability score: B

This story was originally published May 15, 2025 at 2:11 PM.

Lina Ruiz

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Lina Ruiz covers early childhood education in Tarrant County and North Texas for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. A University of Florida graduate, she previously wrote about local government in South Florida for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers.