FORT WORTH, Texas — Teachers and students at Fort Worth ISD's Wedgwood Sixth Grade campus just learned their school is shutting down.
Next school year, the district will move all students from the campus to Wedgwood Middle School. It's a welcome move for some parents like Verenice Medina with kids at both schools already.
"I would have to go drop off my other ones from the elementary and then go drop off my daughter at the high school. Then go run over there to try to make him get on time," Medina said.
The consolidation comes when money is tight and Fort Worth ISD anticipates a budget deficit next school year. On top of that, enrollment at the sixth grade campus is down.
Right now, there are only a little more than 200 students at the sixth grade campus. Wedgwood Middle School currently has 530 seventh and eighth grade students. The district expects about 750 students for the 2024-25 school year. There are a total of 38 people who work at the 6th grade campus made up of 23 teachers, the principal, one assistant principal, one school counselor and 12 support staff people in custodial, CNS and clerical positions.
"It makes sense for us to go ahead and move the sixth grade students to the seventh and eighth grade campus because they will all fit inside without the use of portables," said FWISD Deputy Superintendent of Operations Kellie Spencer.
Consolidation is better for Brenna Moreno and her son too. She said she believes just the routine of starting a new school again will help him socially.
"He's my oldest," said Moreno, "The routine, so that way they don't have to do it again next year at a new school. So, they start it once and they keep going through eighth grade."
Wedgwood Middle School will get a new look for the 2024-2025 school year. The district is in the design phase for renovations of the school, which will include adding a new wing of classrooms. The hope is to begin construction by spring or early summer and the district says the project will be ongoing based on the amount of work that has to be done.
FWISD is still calculating cost savings for the combined schools, but the district is convinced it will help with budget concerns.