The closings of Fort Worth schools, along with public libraries in Dallas, are indicative of Texas going down the wrong path in education.

The school shutdowns, cost-cutting measures and conservative budgets are because it saves taxpayers money. However, the price put on accessible education is dangerous for democracy and harmful for communities. On top of that, well-functioning schools and access to a wealth of information have more long-term financial benefits in economic centers and societal productivity.

Currently, schools nationwide are already seeing issues with overcrowded, underfunded and understaffed programs, so closing even more schools does not address the main cause. 

The Fort Worth Independent School District is facing 18 school closures and state takeover due to repeated underperformance of state standards. 

The Texas Education Agency took state control of Fort Worth ISD in October of 2025. This takeover has riled up several community members and parents, as it takes away control and input from the community.

However, many of these struggling schools in the Fort Worth district are being improved from within. Since March of 2025, before intervention occurred, Fort Worth ISD has had a new superintendent and many adjustments being made, the district dropped from 31 F-rated campuses to 11 in the past several years, also seeing major standardized test improvements. 

The campuses in particular that have struggled the most have been in mostly low-income neighborhoods that, because of a reliance on local property taxes, struggle to gather the funds required to properly help students succeed. 

Of the 18 Fort Worth ISD schools facing closure, 15 are at the elementary level and three are middle schools. Not only are these schools being closed because of their academic direction, but also the financial cost. 

The school district is being challenged by budget shortfalls of $43.6 million and enrollment decline in recent years. However, the decision to shutter schools puts teachers out of jobs and leads to less accessibility to education for many students across Fort Worth. 

 

The community has voiced its objections to the planned closures but the plans remain intact to start closures at the end of the school year. Closing schools in order to concentrate resources and funds is a solution to one of the issues Fort Worth ISD has, but it creates accessibility issues and further exacerbates issues with overcrowded and understaffed schools.

These difficulties with accessible public education are not isolated to the Fort Worth area, as Dallas also faces issues when it comes to accessible education and resources. Four Dallas-area libraries are under threat of closing because of money-saving measures. 

 

Oak Lawn Branch, Skyline Branch, Renner Frankford Branch and Arcadia Park Branch are all at risk of shutting their doors because of a possible $4.5 million Dallas Public Library budget reduction. These savings do not take into account the number of financial benefits that social and public services give to the people of the cities they are in. 

The community pushback and disapproval of this proposal has been widespread. Closing public libraries limits access to public knowledge and a service that, over the years, many have found to be an essential part of their neighborhoods. 

Locally, Denton Independent School District is an example of this issue, as the school budget has a $15 million deficit going into the 2026 fiscal year. As a result of the deficit, Denton ISD is adopting a fiscally conservative budget with an increase in property taxes, yet class sizes are going up and the district is going to face many hard decisions.

These issues are not because of the district or performance, but instead because of the lack of state assistance when it comes to financially supporting education. 

The education system and lack of state support in Texas have shown to be ineffective for truly supporting the schools, and it has been devolving over the past decade or two.

Limiting access to education and knowledge also significantly hurts underrepresented students and youth. Many of the schools that led to the state takeover of Fort Worth ISD are in low-income neighborhoods with lower revenue. Shuttering libraries could limit access to free literature and computers that are essential and highly useful, especially to lower-income individuals and families. 

Denton ISD budget restraints could mean fewer resources for students with disabilities, as special education becomes more expensive for schools.

Lawmakers and public officials need to advocate for more financial support to public schools that are struggling. People need to advocate for more support and resources being sent to public schools, and advocate for better and easier access to a good education. 

Overall, the Texas education system and its policies do not adequately support the schools that need help, and over time, this system needs to be changed. 

With public support, these changes can happen.