Another North Texas school district has voted to permanently close a campus, citing declining enrollment and rising costs.
The Arlington ISD board unanimously approved the closure of Blanton Elementary during a meeting Tuesday night. The school will shut down at the end of the current academic year.
District officials said the decision was driven by falling student enrollment, costly building maintenance and low test scores. Enrollment at Blanton Elementary has dropped by nearly 300 students since 2016.
Across the district, enrollment has also declined. Data from the Texas Education Agency show Arlington ISD enrolled more than 3,900 kindergarten students in the 2019 school year. That number has steadily decreased, with about 3,300 kindergarteners enrolled last school year.
Blanton Elementary’s campus is nearly 70 years old, and the district said maintenance costs have become too expensive.
Trustees are expected to decide in February which campuses Blanton’s approximately 450 students will attend next school year.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up to receive our KRLD Insider Newsletter for more news
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube