AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- The oldest operating elementary school in Austin will soon pass into history.
Austin ISD Superintendent Matias Segura confirmed Monday that Blackshear Elementary, a landmark of East Austin since 1891, will close its doors for good in 2028. In a letter addressed to parents, Segura announced that students and staff from Blackshear will permanently relocate to a modernized Oak Springs Elementary campus in January 2028.
The decision marks the conclusion of months of heated debate regarding the district’s $2.4 billion bond program and its ongoing efforts to bridge a $50 million budget deficit.
The move comes after district officials weighed the feasibility of modernizing the historic Blackshear site. While $50 million had been earmarked for the Oak Springs site, Segura noted that an equivalent investment would not have been enough to bring Blackshear up to modern standards.
"While we explored every path, the remaining $50 million... would not be enough to bring the Blackshear site up to modern standards, especially given the costs of historic preservation," Segura wrote. He emphasized that the move to Oak Springs ensures students will not be left in aging facilities and will allow the district to "recruit top-tier educators" to spaces equipped with modern technology.
The new $47.6 million Oak Springs campus on Webberville Road is designed to support the combined student populations of both schools. Construction, which had briefly stalled during the consolidation review, is now set to proceed.
Students from both schools will continue to attend classes at the existing Blackshear campus until December 2027; in early 2028, the combined community will transition to the new, modernized Oak Springs facility.
The district estimates the consolidation will save approximately $21.8 million, helping to offset the current deficit and meet state-mandated academic turnaround requirements.
In an effort to honor the school’s 133-year legacy, Segura stated the district will seek a historic designation for the Blackshear building and intends to incorporate the campus's history into the design of the new Oak Springs facility.
"We are committed to honoring the original vision and hard work of the Oak Springs community while also building the high-quality fine arts spaces needed to grow the wonderful program nurtured by Blackshear," Segura said.
Students to move to modernized Oak Springs Elementary
