Community members plan to protest as the district cites budget deficit, declining enrollment and academic challenges.
HOUSTON — The future of Spring Branch Independent School District’s Northbrook Middle School will be decided Monday night as the school board considers a proposal to close the campus.
The possible closure comes as the district works to address a $24 million budget deficit.
District leaders say Northbrook is operating at about 50% capacity and received an F accountability rating last year. If approved, students would be rezoned to Spring Oaks Middle School, Spring Woods Middle School or Landrum Middle School.
According to district data, Northbrook’s enrollment has steadily declined in recent years. The school had 946 students during the 2020-21 school year. As of April 7, enrollment had dropped to 452 students.
Diana Martinez Alexander, who worked at Northbrook for a decade and now helps lead the nonprofit Somos Spring Branch, said many residents oppose the proposed closure.
“When you lose a neighborhood school, you lose a community hub,” Martinez Alexander said.
She said many north-side residents feel overlooked by district leaders, noting Northbrook would become the fourth campus on the north side of the district to close since 2023.
During an April 27 board meeting, Superintendent Jennifer Blaine said declining enrollment has made it increasingly difficult to support each campus.
“It becomes exceedingly difficult to support campuses academically, socially and emotionally when you have very few resources and try to spread them across four campuses that all need something,” Blaine said.
District leaders argue that consolidating students into three middle schools would allow the district to better distribute resources.
Martinez Alexander said she believes financial pressures are driving the move.
Community members plan to protest ahead of Monday night’s meeting, which begins at 6 p.m.
If the board approves the closure, district officials said there are enough open positions across the district to keep all Northbrook employees working.
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