North East ISD will consider campus closures, open enrollment to reduce $19M deficit
After North East Independent School District's enrollment dropped by 2,000 students this year, the district will open enrollment to families across the city and consider campus closures in the fall.
Trustees voted Monday night on "phase one" of an efficiency plan, allowing students living anywhere in San Antonio to attend district campuses. Applications to attend NEISD campuses will open later this month.
District officials plan to bring trustees more information on proposed closures next school year. Campuses enrolling less than 450 students, using under 60% of building capacity or with above-average campus budgets are at risk of being closed.
NEISD officials do not yet have a list of schools that qualify for closure based on current data. Instead, they will collect information from all district campuses in the fall after finalizing enrollment numbers for the 2026-27 academic year, spokesperson Aubrey Chancellor said.
The district is not alone in its efforts to combat student enrollment loss and financial woes - trustees in San Antonio and Judson ISDs voted earlier this year to close schools. When students leave a school system, district finances take a hit because Texas funds schools based on how many students show up for class each day.
On Monday, district officials said consolidating campuses will improve NEISD's efficiency and reduce the district's $19 million deficit.
The district previously closed Driscoll Middle School, Wilshire Elementary and Clear Spring Elementary at the beginning of the school year.
Multiple parents spoke Monday expressing concerns about the possible closure of dual-language campuses, which instruct students in at least two languages. The district's efficiency committee previously recommended consolidating dual-language schools or changing their programming as a way to address the deficit, Chancellor said.
This recommendation was not adopted, she added. The district will make decisions on campus closures based on enrollment, building use and the cost of serving individual students.
Trustee Tracie Shelton asked if the data driving consolidation decisions could be shared with the public.
"My only concern is the public saying that we're not being transparent, and they don't know what's happening," she said.
In response to this concern, district officials emphasized that they will bring recommendations for school closures to trustees in the fall after overseeing changes to the district's enrollment policies.
Opening enrollment to non-NEISD students
Families not living in North East ISD's boundaries can apply to attend district schools starting April 20. The application window will close May 3 at midnight.
Students from other districts need to have passing grades in all core subjects and an attendance rate of 90% or higher to qualify. North East ISD officials have said they can deny applications if students have past expulsions on their record or if a student transferring into NEISD would cost the district money.
If there is limited space on a campus, the district will prioritize enrolling students living in NEISD boundaries for admission. Next, officials will enroll children of military service members and students attending other NEISD schools. If there are any more open seats at campuses, the district will then enroll students living in other school districts.
"Essentially, we have a space to support 2,000 kids or more," Interim Superintendent Anthony Jarrett said Monday.
Last year, Northside ISD also opened campus enrollment to students across San Antonio. In crafting their own enrollment policy, NEISD officials reviewed plans from other districts, including Frisco, McKinney, San Antonio, Comal and Judson ISDs, which all accept students regardless of where they live.
As North East ISD works to grow its enrollment, officials also plan to expand and develop popular academic programs, district leaders said Monday.
NEISD staff expect to open a new early college high school focused on the medical field; expand magnet programs focused on artificial intelligence, machine learning and law; and grow an academic track focused on entrepreneurship.
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This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 6:55 PM.