Grapevine-Colleyville parents worried about possible school closures
Some parents in the Grapevine-Colleyville school district worry that several elementary schools could close, but officials said no decisions have been made as they grapple with dwindling enrollment and limited funds.
Parents fear the closures could have a devastating impact on children, their teachers and their neighborhoods.
Ashleigh Johnson’s three children attend Bransford Elementary. She grew up in Grapevine and chose to live in Colleyville so her three children could attend the schools that played a pivotal role in her education.
Parents at Bransford launched a petition Monday on change.org, which had 449 signatures as of Wednesday morning.
The petition read in part, “The closure of this thriving educational establishment would not only disrupt the quality education our children receive but would also sever the deep-seated community ties it fosters.”
Concerns over finances and future needs
In January, Grapevine-Colleyville established a committee to study factors, including demographics and the district’s financial picture, and will present its recommendations to the board later this fall.
One of the items under discussion is consolidating campuses, but district officials emphasized that no decisions have been made.
“Given the limited financial relief from the recent legislative session that followed no increase to the basic allotment since 2019, and a steady decline in district enrollment, the district faces a challenging financial outlook,” the district said in an emailed statement.
“The work of the district’s Education Master Planning Committee (EMPC), comprised of a cross-section of parents, community members and employees who bring with them a variety of skills, professional backgrounds and connections to the district, is crucial for creating capacity in the district’s operating budget. Without this fiscal capacity, the district will struggle to provide competitive compensation for employees, perform routine facility maintenance, and offer the necessary resources for student success.”
The committee “generated ideas,” which included consolidating of several elementary schools. The district is working with a demographer to explore the ideas, according to the email.
Ali Stiles, whose children attend Grapevine-Colleyville schools, questioned why the district has not been transparent concerning the committee’s findings as the meetings began in January.
“If the most fiscally responsible thing is to close campuses, I’m fine with that, but we’ve got to have communication,” she said.
Johnson agreed that more transparency is needed.
She described how a voter approved tax rate election passed in November 2024 to bring in more money for the school district.
“We were lulled into a naïve sense that things were good,” she said.
Johnson is also active in the PTA at Bransford and said she helped raise funds for a playground for special needs kids.
“We are busy planning fundraisers for our campuses that may or may not exist,” she said.
This story was originally published September 10, 2025 at 11:17 AM.