New Braunfels ISD is weighing the closure of two elementary schools as it confronts a projected $7 million budget shortfall, with district leaders naming five campuses — Carl Schurz, County Line, Memorial, Seele and Walnut Springs elementary schools — as candidates for consolidation beginning with the 2027-2028 school year.
The district says its elementary campuses are currently operating at approximately 61 percent capacity, leaving nearly 2,500 seats unused districtwide, according to NBISD. Using its District Long Range Sustainability Tool, NBISD leaders and staff have mapped out 11 possible consolidation scenarios, each involving the closure of at least two elementary schools, as reported by Community Impact.
The financial picture driving the discussion is stark. NBISD projects a $7.064 million shortfall for fiscal year 2027-28 and a $7.646 million shortfall for 2028-29, per the same outlet's earlier reporting on the district's budget. The district attributes the gap to flat or decreased enrollment, state funding that has not kept pace with inflation, and rising operating costs that outpace what the state covers.
Why the Money Isn't There
Part of the squeeze traces to changes in state funding mechanisms. NBISD is no longer eligible for the New Instructional Facility Allotment, which had provided temporary additional state funding to cover operating costs for new district campuses and instructional facilities. The district has also lost a prior-year state funding adjustment that will further reduce the revenue available for the 2027-28 budget year.
Separately, the Herald-Zeitung reported that the district is weighing closures for all five of those named elementary schools, with two ultimately slated to shut down. District officials say consolidation could reduce operating costs, increase staffing flexibility and redirect resources to support students.
Staff Jobs and the Path to a January Decision
NBISD leadership says it intends to retain all employees in good standing even if two campuses close, though staff roles and campus assignments may change as part of the consolidation process. To guide the final call, district leadership is putting together a Long Range Sustainability Committee made up of parents, staff and community members, with applications open through Nov. 6. That committee will present its recommendations to the NBISD Board on Jan. 11, 2027, and the district expects any approved consolidation decisions to be fully implemented by the start of the 2027-2028 school year.
Superintendent Laurelyn Arterbury has framed the stakes in personal terms, saying NBISD decisions significantly affect students, staff, families and school communities, and that the district aims to use accurate data and meaningful community input to guide decisions that strengthen NBISD. Parents, staff and community members can visit www.nbisd.org/sustainability for updates.
Community Meetings Scheduled This Month
NBISD has scheduled a string of community engagement events ahead of the January decision. A session at Long Creek High School is set for Oct. 20 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., followed by Oak Run Middle School on Oct. 21 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Carl Schurz Elementary hosts a meeting Oct. 22 from 5 to 6 p.m., with Seele Elementary following the same evening from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
More sessions follow on Oct. 26, with Walnut Springs Elementary from 5 to 6 p.m., Memorial Elementary from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m., and Create at County Line Elementary from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. The district rounds out its outreach on Nov. 5 with meetings at Klein Road Elementary from 5 to 6 p.m. and Voss Farms Elementary from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., all held before NBISD makes any final decisions in January.
A Statewide Pattern of Shrinking Campuses
NBISD's situation reflects a broader trend playing out across Texas. At least 150 public school campuses statewide have closed or been approved for closure in less than three years, according to Community Impact's reporting on the trend. Texas public school enrollment fell by roughly 76,000 students during the 2025-26 school year compared with the year prior, and elementary schools absorbed 60 percent of that decline, per USA Today.
Because Texas public schools receive state funding based on student attendance, districts generally collect less money as enrollment declines — a dynamic playing out well beyond New Braunfels. North East ISD is considering closing up to four of 16 identified elementary schools as it addresses a projected $26 million deficit, according to KENS5. Fort Bend ISD voted in March to close seven elementary schools ahead of the 2026-27 school year while facing a $32.8 million shortfall, and Pflugerville ISD plans to close four campuses at the end of 2026-27, projecting about $9.8 million in annual ongoing savings.
