AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin ISD Board of Trustees voted 7-2 Thursday to close Paredes Middle School just weeks before the 2026-27 school year begins, citing years of low academic performance despite additional district support.
The closure will take effect before classes begin Aug. 18. District officials said Paredes students will transfer to Bailey Middle School or Mendez Middle School based on their home addresses.
Austin ISD announced the proposed closure July 22, citing the school’s continued academic struggles. Paredes received its third consecutive “F” rating from the state despite additional resources and interventions, district leaders said.
District officials said consolidating students at Bailey and Mendez would give them greater access to academic programs, extracurricular activities and student services.
The district also plans to retain Paredes teachers and staff within Austin ISD and place many of them at Bailey or Mendez.
Officials said eligible students will receive transportation, while the district will prioritize transfer requests to help families adjust to the change.
The board’s decision followed community meetings Tuesday and Wednesday, where parents and other residents criticized the timing of the closure.
“Closing Paredes a month before school starts feels confusing, abrupt and harmful,” one community member said during Tuesday’s special board meeting.
The speaker questioned why the district could not improve academic programs at Paredes rather than close the campus.
During a Wednesday meeting at Paredes, Superintendent Matias Segura said the district had already implemented a plan to improve the school and provided additional resources and support.
“It’s not something we want,” Segura said. “That is not what this is about.”
Segura said the district followed its improvement plan but did not achieve the academic results it expected.
The closure proposal came less than a month before the new school year, leaving families with limited time to prepare for the transition.
