Lucy Read Elementary School,
Austin, Texas

|  School's Out, Forever?  |

In 1994 when Lucy Read Elementary School’s enrollment numbers hit too few students to keep the school open, the Austin Independent School District (AISD) repurposed the campus for a teacher’s professional development academy however, nearby schools remained over enrolled.  The AISD continues to face tough decisions regarding the future of several campuses due to continued drops in enrollment.  Local parent and community activists are frustrated because the schools serving the city’s poorest population are continually targeted for closure.  The AISD defines a school as under enrolled when it is below 70% of its student capacity.  In 2006, a dozen schools in the AISD were under enrolled, with three campuses being contemplated for closure.