3 Aldine ISD schools set to close at end of school year, leaving parents ‘really disappointed’

In Houston, Texas, Aldine ISD has made the decision to shutter three elementary schools at the conclusion of the current academic year. Gray, Conley, and Sammons Elementary will cease operations, necessitating the redistribution of students to other elementary schools.

Among parents waiting in the pickup line on Wednesday, there was palpable frustration with the district’s determinations.

“I was really disappointed,” remarked Crystal Newton, a mother whose child attends Sammons Elementary.

The district has pointed to several factors, including declining birth rates, limited affordable housing options in the vicinity, decreasing student enrollment, and other considerations.

Texas Education Agency data reveals a significant decline in enrollment across the affected schools. Over a five-year period, Conley Elementary has witnessed a 33% decrease, equivalent to 178 fewer students. Sammons Elementary has experienced a 31% decline, resulting in 160 fewer students, while Gray Elementary has seen a 10% drop, equating to 111 fewer students.

Newton expressed sadness over the closure of Sammons Elementary, a school she carefully chose for her child, viewing it as an excellent educational option.

“My kid isn’t actually zoned to the school. We were zoned to another, and this happened to be a better school, so really disappointed,” Newton lamented.

Many parents interviewed by were unaware of the board’s decision.

“I didn’t know,” stated Mitchel Walker, waiting in the pickup line at Gray Elementary.

Parents expressed concerns about the implications of the closures on classroom sizes, potential teacher strain, and the logistical challenges of transporting children to more distant schools.

“That’s going to be a lot for people who have to be transferring their kids, and they might not be able to get in and that stuff. It’s going to be a lot,” Walker remarked.

Aldine ISD assured that the closures would not lead to teacher layoffs and announced plans to revise the boundaries for Lewis and Teague Middle Schools, rerouting students to Stovall and Aldine middle schools.