The Amarillo Independent School District (AISD) is grappling with declining enrollment, forcing the district to consider consolidating campuses as early as the 2025-26 school year. At Tuesday’s school board meeting, Superintendent Doug Loomis presented a list of eight schools with enrollment under 300 students that are being monitored for possible closure or consolidation.
AISD Board President Doyle Corder emphasized that the district’s primary goal is to act as responsible stewards of resources while minimizing disruption to the community.
Decline becomes a long-term trend, as well as an ongoing problem
Enrollment in AISD has steadily declined over the past decade, with 4,290 fewer students since 2017. Corder pointed to multiple contributing factors, including a declining birth rate and population migration to outlying areas like Bushland.
“Potter County has seen a significant drop in its population,” Corder said. “It’s also an older demographic. Many people my age no longer have children in the home, which directly impacts our schools. This isn’t just an Amarillo issue — it’s happening across Texas.”
Corder stressed that while enrollment declines are challenging, the district has managed to avoid operating at a financial loss and has stayed within its budget. “We’re not in a crisis, but we need to make decisions now to ensure long-term stability,” he said.
Corder reassured the community that consolidation would not result in job losses, citing the district’s ability to reassign staff through attrition. “Our staff has done an incredible job of managing resources over the years,” Corder said. “We’ve been able to reassign and restructure without cutting positions, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.”
He acknowledged, however, that attrition would continue to play a role in workforce adjustments. “Every year, we naturally lose employees through retirements and relocations. That provides us some flexibility,” Corder said.
Amarillo Independent School District board members listen to a report from Doug Loomis, superintendent of the district, Tuesday about the reality of consolidating schools in Amarillo.
Potential impact on neighborhood schools draws community concern
The transition away from AISD’s traditional neighborhood school model has been a source of concern for some parents and community members. Corder admitted that closing schools is a sensitive issue.
“It breaks my heart to think about a community school closing down,” he said. “These buildings hold memories and have deep connections to their neighborhoods. But we have to focus on what’s best for the district as a whole. The school is more than a building — it’s the people inside that make it special.”
Corder also noted that the district will carefully evaluate potential school pairings. “This isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation,” he said. “The pairings will depend on accountability structures, geography, and what makes sense for the students and their families.”
The district’s next steps include a Dec. 16 meeting to present potential school pairings for board consideration. Loomis said the district remains committed to transparency and will provide detailed reasoning behind any recommendations.
Corder added that while the district cannot predict future population trends with certainty, AISD will continue to monitor enrollment data closely. “If we see schools under 300 students next year, we’ll revisit this process,” he said. “It’s a fluid situation, and we’ll make adjustments as needed.”
Corder addressed community concerns, including fears about reduced educational quality and potential disruptions. “I understand the anxiety,” he said. “But I would be more concerned if people weren’t speaking out. It shows how much our schools mean to them. Our goal is to ensure students continue receiving a high-quality education, regardless of these changes.”
He also highlighted the broader implications of these decisions. “This is not just about saving money; it’s about creating an environment where teachers can collaborate and students can thrive,” Corder said. “When a school gets too small, it becomes harder for teachers to share resources and ideas. Consolidation can actually improve the educational experience.”
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: AISD faces tough school decisions amid declining enrollment
