HOUSTON — About a dozen parents protested outside Port Houston Elementary on Friday to oppose Houston ISD’s proposal to close the school and transfer students to Pleasantville Elementary, roughly a mile away.
The district, led by state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles, recommended closing 12 schools for the 2026-27 school year, citing declining enrollment and aging facilities. The HISD Board of Managers is scheduled to vote on the proposal at its Feb. 26 meeting.
Parents at Port Houston Elementary chanted in Spanish, including “Schools are the heart of the community” and “We will never be defeated, for Houston united.” Mia Miller, whose daughter has attended Port Houston since pre-kindergarten, called the proposal “outrageous” and said she is unsure where she would send her child if the school closes.
Cindy Cura, vice president of the school’s PTO, said most Port Houston families speak Spanish, and 95% of the students are Hispanic, with 65% having limited English proficiency. She noted that teachers have worked to overcome language barriers and support families.
Miles proposed the school closures and consolidations earlier this month, citing facility condition issues and continued enrollment declines. During a board presentation, he noted that some schools have broken air-conditioning and heating systems and that declining enrollment has reduced state funding by $50-$60 million annually. Data show that nearly a quarter of HISD schools operate below 50% capacity, and the district’s overall enrollment has fallen from more than 214,000 students in 2013-14 to approximately 168,000 this year.
Some teachers at affected campuses have received surveys about potential reassignment, with placement determined by certification, district needs, and available vacancies. Brad Wray, a special education teacher at one of the schools on the proposed closure list, said district leaders did not consult the community adequately before announcing the closures.
Local leaders also expressed concern about community engagement. U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee said he learned of the proposed closures only shortly before the public announcement, and U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia highlighted that many affected schools serve minority populations with limited access to transportation and other resources.
Parents at Port Houston plan to hold a walk Monday morning from their school to Pleasantville Elementary to demonstrate challenges families might face if the closure is approved.
Houston ISD did not immediately respond to a request for comment.