San Antonio ISD board set to consider closing Rhodes Middle School amid facilities and enrollment pressures
Decision comes after nearby Carvajal Elementary closure and broader “rightsizing” efforts in San Antonio ISD
The San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) is preparing for a board vote on whether to close Jeremiah Rhodes Middle School, a campus on the city’s West Side located at 3000 Tampico St. The discussion is unfolding amid continued district efforts to reduce excess building capacity, redirect resources, and stabilize enrollment across a portfolio of aging facilities.
Rhodes sits next to Esther Perez Carvajal Elementary School, which SAISD trustees approved for closure on Jan. 20, 2026, at the end of the 2025–26 school year. In communications to families after that vote, SAISD described next-year campus assignments for Carvajal students and said the district would begin scheduling community meetings to gather input on how to use bond funds connected to Carvajal and Rhodes in ways intended to support students.
How Rhodes fits into SAISD’s facilities strategy
SAISD has been pursuing a multi-year facilities strategy frequently described by district leaders as “rightsizing,” aimed at matching the number and condition of school buildings to current enrollment and long-term projections. In November 2023, trustees approved a major set of campus closures as part of that effort, setting a precedent for additional consolidation decisions when campuses are underused or require significant investment.
Rhodes is also tied to SAISD’s Bond 2020 planning. District materials for Rhodes have described improvements to athletics and physical education spaces and indicate a design phase expected to run through spring 2026, with construction activity planned to begin in summer 2026. The potential for a closure introduces uncertainty about whether planned renovations would proceed as initially scoped or be repurposed for an alternative campus strategy.
Academic accountability and the risk environment
Rhodes Middle School has been listed among SAISD campuses required to develop a turnaround plan under state accountability processes. In recent years, Texas education accountability actions have been a significant factor in district decision-making, as repeated low performance can trigger escalating interventions.
Key questions trustees typically weigh in closure votes
Enrollment levels and whether the campus is operating below capacity, increasing per-student operating costs.
Building condition and the cost of repairs, as well as whether capital plans can be better aligned with student needs.
Student reassignment options, including academic programs, bilingual services, and seat availability at receiving schools.
Transportation and walkability impacts for families in the surrounding neighborhoods.
How existing bond allocations could be restructured to deliver improved facilities and programming for the same community.
SAISD has stated it will collect community input on future uses of bond funds connected to the Carvajal and Rhodes sites as part of transition planning following the Carvajal closure vote.
Any final action on Rhodes would add to a growing list of consolidation decisions across San Antonio-area school systems as districts respond to demographic shifts, the high cost of maintaining older campuses, and rising expectations for specialized programs and modern facilities.