Key Highlights
- The Killeen Independent School District (KISD) board of trustees approved several changes at their meeting on October 28, 2025.
- Multiple campuses including Peebles Elementary School, Palo Alto Middle School, and Eastern Hills Middle School will close at the end of the 2025-26 school year.
- The district is implementing a series of changes to optimize resources and address declining enrollment and loss of federal funding, projected to save $106.6 million over five years.
Background on KISD’s Challenges
The Killeen Independent School District (KISD) faces significant challenges as a result of declining enrollment and the loss of federal funding, particularly from Impact Aid—a program that supports local school districts near military installations. According to district leadership, the number of federally connected students has decreased in recent years, leading to potential annual financial losses ranging between $31 million and $50 million by 2026.
To mitigate these challenges, KISD embarked on a strategy known as District Optimization. This plan aims to restructure district resources more efficiently, leveraging fewer but better-used campuses to enhance educational outcomes while reducing costs.
Immediate Changes: Campus Closures and Rezoning
The immediate changes approved by the board include closing Peebles Elementary School, Palo Alto Middle School, and Eastern Hills Middle School at the end of the 2025-26 school year. These closures are part of a broader plan to realign student placements within existing schools.
- Peebles students will be rezoned to Brookhaven Elementary School, Cavazos Elementary School, Clifton Park Elementary School, and Killeen Elementary School.
- Students from Palo Alto Middle School and Eastern Hills Middle School will be reassigned to nearby middle schools as the district prepares Palo Alto for use as a District Alternative Education Placement (DAEP) campus.
Future Initiatives: Long-Term Strategic Planning
KISD has outlined several long-term initiatives aimed at improving educational outcomes and addressing financial pressures. These include:
- Consolidating Cedar Valley and Timber Ridge elementary schools in 2026-27.
- Expanding bilingual programming at Willow Springs Elementary School starting in the 2027-28 school year.
- Implementing a third-party study to reimagine high school programming over several years, with an emphasis on Career and Technical Education (CTE), STEM, and dual enrollment opportunities.
In addition, KISD will apply for membership in the Texas Education Agency’s “System of Great Schools” Network in 2026. This initiative is expected to provide access to additional funding and resources from TEA.
Public Response and Concerns
The proposed changes have garnered mixed responses, with some community members voicing concerns over the potential negative impacts on local neighborhoods and school communities. Eric Madrid, a skills aide at Hay Branch Elementary School, expressed worries about transportation logistics for students if the school were to close.
“The relationships those children have with those teachers will be broken,” Madrid said. “Now that Hay Branch may close, I fear those teachers are going to go somewhere that may not benefit the community.”
Trustee Oliver Mintz proposed delaying the closure of Hay Branch Elementary for at least one more year due to economic concerns in the northern area of the district.
The board ultimately approved the District Optimization plan as presented, with the exception of retaining Hay Branch Elementary. This decision balances immediate cost-saving measures with community and economic considerations.
