AUSTIN, Texas — In an effort to avoid budget cuts, the Austin Independent School District is planning to close and merge some of its schools within the next two years.

The mergers will lead to school closures, boundary changes, evaluating transfer policies and repurposing facilities, according to the district. The plan will start during the 2026-27 school year.

The school district — which is the eighth-largest in the state — plans to “evaluate all campuses to ensure every student learns in a well-resourced, fully staffed school, with strong programs and rich opportunities.”

Austin ISD is currently made up of 116 schools, including elementary, middle, high, early college, academy, magnet, alternative and community schools. It’s not clear which schools will be affected by the changes.

Officials will discuss the project timeline and open the floor to input on Thursday at 6 p.m. in Zoom meetings facilitated in both Spanish and English. Click here for more information.