FWISD Planning School Closure at Hubbard Heights; Family Ponders Alternative Education Options
Spotlight on a School Closure Dilemma: Hubbard Heights Elementary
Maryela Contreras, a Fort Worth ISD mom, is locked in a tough discussion with her husband about their kids' schooling future. And it's a conversation that's all too necessary, she admits.
Hubbard Heights Elementary, where the Contrerases' children currently study, has been recommended for closure within the South Hills High School feeder pattern. It's one of the 17 schools earmarked for shuttering, and the Contrerases are struggling to wrap their heads around the district's decision, even after attending a community meeting on May 7.
"My oldest daughter is upset about it. My youngest even asked, 'What am I going to do?' She mentioned she'd prefer homeschooling if the school closes," shares Maryela.
Dating back 103 years, the school will soon require costly upgrades, according to Deputy Superintendent Kellie Spencer. But the numbers don't seated well with Maryela.
Hubbard Heights' enrollment currently hovers around 77%, according to the district. Moreover, she noticed that there are lower enrollments in other schools that haven't been targeted for closure.
"It just doesn't add up because our enrollment isn't particularly low. I see lower enrollments in other schools, yet they're not considering them for closure,” says Maryela.
Maryela believes the school's closure is designed to improve efficiency, align enrollment to building capacity, and redistribute funds toward students' academic achievement as the district's enrollment declines. If Hubbard Heights does close, students would attend Seminary Hills Park, Richard J. Wilson, or Worth Heights elementaries, depending on their residential location.
The prospect of Seminary Hills Park Elementary isn't appealing to Maryela. She's concerned about the safety of her children, as there's an apartment complex close by.
Spencer points out that the closure is still five years away (pending approval by the trustees), and the district has yet to devise plans for Hubbard Heights' future use. Historic Fort Worth, a local preservation group, wants the campus designated as a historic building to prevent demolition.
Maryela concedes that five years is a long way off for her fourth- and second-graders and kindergartner, but she's weighing all possibilities, including private schooling or exploring the state's newly created education savings account program for financial assistance.
By Jacob Sanchez, a senior education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Reporting decisions at the Fort Worth Report are independent of board members and financial supporters. Read more about Fort Worth Report's editorial independence policy here.
This article first appeared on Fort Worth Report and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
[1] Trustees have not yet approved the closure of Hubbard Heights Elementary. A decision could be made in their May 13 workshop or May 20 regular board meeting.
[2] If the closure is approved, students may be assigned to alternative schools within the Fort Worth ISD district. The specifics of these assignments would depend on factors such as capacity, transportation, and educational programs.
- Maryela Contreras, a Fort Worth ISD mom, is considering various options for her children's education in 2029, as Hubbard Heights Elementary, where they currently study, has been recommended for closure.
- The Contrerases are concerned about the potential closure of Hubbard Heights Elementary, as they believe it is being done to improve efficiency and redistribute funds, despite their school's relatively high enrollment.
- Maryela is exploring the state's newly created education savings account program as a potential financial aid option, should Hubbard Heights Elementary close.
- In discussions about the school closure, Maryela has mentioned the possibility of homeschooling her children if Hubbard Heights Elementary is shut down, citing her daughter's desire to stay in the same education environment.