Stakeholder Committees Review School Consolidation Proposal

At the April 2 joint meeting between Keller ISD’s Citizen Bond Oversight and Long-Range Planning committees, more than 100 representatives from across the district came together to provide feedback on a proposal for school consolidation before being considered by the Board of Trustees.  

The proposal shared with the committee would close the district’s three remaining intermediate schools and Shady Grove Elementary School ahead of the 2027-28 school year. This would be accompanied by boundary adjustments to support those closures and the “un-splitting” of Ridgeview Elementary School, which currently serves students who attend two different high school feeder patterns.   

Keller ISD enrollment has declined by more than 4,000 students over the past five years and is projected to continue declining over the next decade due to lower birthrates and fewer young families moving into the district. As a result, Keller ISD and other Texas school districts are evaluating campus closures to more effectively use facilities and district resources. Since January, the joint committees have met to review these challenges and establish priorities for identifying schools for consolidation.  

In February, the committees identified the following top criteria:  

• District-wide Grade Alignment and Configuration  
• Campus Occupancy and Utilization  
• Cost of Bringing Facilities to Standards 
• Transportation Considerations 
• Prioritization of Facility Improvement Costs 
• Cost of Relocating Special Programs 
• Facility Condition Index Scores 
• Limiting Staff and Student Disruptions 
• Program Access 
• Feeder Pattern and Boundary Stability 

Closing Keller ISD’s intermediate schools – Bear Creek, Parkwood Hill, and Trinity Meadows – would allow the district to create uniform grade configurations. All elementary schools would serve students through fifth grade, middle schools would serve students in grades 6-8, and high schools would continue to serve students in grades 9-12. This model has been successfully implemented in the Fossil Ridge High feeder pattern over the past several years.  

To further improve efficiency, the plan includes closing one elementary campus. Shady Grove Elementary was identified due to higher capital needs – estimated at $5.9 million more than neighboring schools – while also minimizing disruption to students and staff. 

With the alignment of middle schools at grades 6-8, additional changes would be necessary. 

• Whitley Road Elementary students would progress to Indian Springs Middle and Keller High (instead of Hillwood Middle and Central High) to accommodate sixth grade at Hillwood;  
• Liberty Elementary students would progress to Indian Springs Middle instead of Bear Creek Intermediate/Keller Middle to balance enrollment and limit staff movement; and 
• A portion of Independence Elementary students would progress to Timberview Middle instead of Trinity Meadows Intermediate/Trinity Springs Middle. 

These plans would also lead to several changes in elementary school boundaries:  

• Shady Grove Elementary students would be reassigned to nearby campuses;  
• Realignment to support Ridgeview Elementary only serving the Keller High feeder pattern; and  
• Adjustments to balance enrollment and support the new grade level structure. 

The plan is estimated to impact just over 4,000 of the district’s 30,000 students.  

Employee impact is still being evaluated, but the proposal is designed to minimize staffing disruptions. However, please note there will not be an immediate impact on staff, and we fully expect all existing employees to have positions within KISD regardless of school closures.  

The proposal would save a minimum of $51.6 million in capital improvement costs. Additional savings are anticipated through reduced transportation routes, though exact figures are still being determined.  

The committee’s feedback will be used to develop a final proposal to be presented to the Keller ISD Board of Trustees for consideration. If approved, changes would take effect in the 2027-28 school year, allowing time for thoughtful planning and transition support for students, families, and staff. 

We recognize the deep connections our community has to its schools, and that closures are never easy. Guided by past experiences, the district is committed to navigating this transition with care while positioning Keller ISD for long-term stability. 

For additional information, to follow along with the latest in this process, or to submit any questions or feedback you may have, please visit www.KellerISD.net/Future.