According to a recent report from the Houston Chronicle, more than 100 Houston Independent School District schools are operating at under 60% capacity. More than 60 schools were under 50 percent capacity last year, prompting multiple closures.
According to the Chronicle’s report, those declines in enrollment have been driven by a number of factors, including the crackdowns on illegal immigration, slowing birth rates, and even the school voucher program, which is in its first operational year after being passed through the legislature last year.
Corey DeAngelis, a major supporter of the program and Heritage Foundation research fellow, says this is a sign that it’s working, and more parents are opting for alternatives to traditional public education. He said: “This is a feature, not a bug. When schools don’t have students in them, they should close, and that money should be reallocated to schools that are doing a good job.”
DeAngelis believes that the competition that’s now being created by the rise of private and even public charter schools is going to be a major force for good, driving HISD and other districts to make improvements and cut waste. “It should be a rising tide that lifts all boats. But it’s up to the leaders of the school system to read the tea leaves, and shape up or shut down,” he explained.
He believes this could even lead to lower property taxes, because as poor-performing schools are emptied and then closed, the district won’t need as big of a budget.