The Killeen ISD Board of Trustees on Tuesday approved a series of district optimization recommendations designed to ensure long-term efficiency, strengthen student programs, and steward taxpayer resources responsibly.
The Optimization process is part of a strategic effort to organize and improve how the district uses its facilities, staff, and programs to serve students and the community more effectively.
Following months of study, stakeholder meetings, and community input, trustees voted to move forward with recommendations that include several school consolidations and program adjustments to take effect at the end of the 2025–2026 school year. The optimization recommendations bring new programming to the district, increase the number of students in higher-quality schools, and are projected to reduce district expenses by over $100 million in the next five years.
The decisions are guided by five Board-approved optimization focuses: academic outcomes, high-quality facilities, strong leadership & staffing, family & student engagement, and resources for student readiness.
The approved recommendations include:
Closing Peebles Elementary at the conclusion of the 2025–2026 school year; students will be rezoned to attend Brookhaven, Richard E. Cavazos, Clifton Park, and Killeen Elementary.
Closing Eastern Hills Middle School and Palo Alto Middle School at the conclusion of the 2025–2026 school year; Palo Alto will be repurposed as a District Alternative Education Placement (DAEP) facility.
Ending Pre-K3 programs at campuses located on Fort Hood at the conclusion of the 2025–2026 school year. (The district will continue to offer Pre-K4 programs at all campuses.)
Pursuing an 1882 Texas Partnerships turnaround partner for Manor Middle School.
Killeen ISD will communicate directly with affected families and staff in the coming months and provide transition plans designed to support students and ensure a smooth process.
Future phases of the plan include possibly consolidating Hay Branch Elementary at a later date to be determined, consolidating Cedar Valley Elementary and Timber Ridge Elementary at the conclusion of the 2026-2027 school year (with some Timber Ridge students rezoned to Maude Moore Wood Elementary), expanding bilingual programming at Willow Springs Elementary in grades PK–5 beginning in 2027–2028, and initiating a third-party study in 2027–2028 to reimagine high school programming and expand access to CTE, STEM, and Dual Enrollment.
The district projects about $18.7 million in cost reductions in year one and more than $100 million over five years as the recommendations are implemented. The work also positions KISD to respond to evolving demographic and financial challenges, including declining enrollment and a projected shortfall in federal Impact Aid funding.
“I appreciate our Board of Trustees for making difficult decisions in the best interest of our students and staff,” said Superintendent Dr. King Davis. “We recognize that changes like these can be emotional for our community, but these steps are necessary to strengthen our district’s foundation and ensure we can continue to invest in opportunities for every student.”
Over the past several months, district leaders facilitated an extensive community engagement process that included town halls, staff meetings, and an online survey that collected feedback from more than 1,300 parents, staff, and community members. That input directly informed the final recommendations approved by the Board.
District leaders noted that community feedback and data both played a central role in shaping the recommendations, reflecting KISD’s commitment to marry data with the values and experiences of its community.
Additional steps approved as part of the long-term optimization plan include implementing the Accelerating Campus Excellence (ACE) model or ACE-like programs in 2026–2027, applying to join the TEA System of Great Schools Network in 2026, developing a Facilities Condition Index by fall 2026, investing in a new teacher pipeline plan in 2026–2027, and conducting a program evaluation of special education supports in 2026–2027.
“These decisions are the result of careful study, extensive community input, and a commitment to long-term sustainability,” Davis said. “We are moving forward together to make KISD stronger and more sustainable for the future.”
For more information, visit www.killeenisd.org/optimization.