The North East Independent School District will present a plan for campus closures to its board of trustees by the end of 2026, Superintendent Anthony Jarrett said in a Wednesday message to parents.
In his Wednesday statement, Jarrett emphasized that some of the 16 campuses meet the criteria for closure, but they will not be considered because of specialized programming or because they were already affected last year when the district closed three other schools. Jarrett did not identify which campuses would not be considered in the statement.
The initial list of 16 schools includes Canyon Ridge, Castle Hills, Colonial Hills, Dellview, Harmony Hills, Las Lomas, Montgomery, Northern Hills, Northwood, Oak Grove, Oak Meadow, Redland Oaks, Regency Place, Ridgeview, Serna and Wetmore elementary schools.
In response to a Tuesday social media comment advocating for NEISD to keep Redland Oaks Elementary open, district officials echoed some of Jarrett’s messaging, saying considerations also will be made for schools that “possess unique geographic locations within our District, or show specific historical trends.”
“Specifically, Redland Oaks houses a specialized special education program that requires smaller class sizes and contributes to overall school efficiency,” NEISD officials wrote. “Because the school has opportunities to expand this program, closing Redland next year would present significant challenges.”
As many school districts across San Antonio this fall have enrolled fewer students than they did last year, North East ISD’s 2026-27 enrollment is better than the district projected, Jarrett said. But NEISD is still experiencing a steady decline in students. Fewer students can cause budget shortfalls as Texas school districts receive state funding based on how many kids attend school each day.
“We have a responsibility to address the financial and operational realities that come with serving fewer students,” Jarrett said Wednesday. “I know these conversations are difficult. Our schools are more than buildings. They are places where students grow up, employees dedicate years of service, and families build relationships and memories. We understand that, and we will not lose sight of it as we move through this process.”
As of Tuesday, the district did not yet have an updated estimate of the budget deficit for the current school year, but Chancellor said district officials believed the financial state of the district had improved since they estimated a nearly $20 million shortfall in the spring.