Frisco ISD officials recommended that the school board vote to close Staley Middle School at the end of the 2025-26 school year, citing aging infrastructure and declining student enrollment. The board is expected to make a final decision during its October meeting.
Aging Infrastructure Drives Decision
Staley Middle School, which has served the community for more than five decades, faces extensive issues. The campus relies on a 52-year-old underground cast-iron plumbing system, which has exceeded its typical 50-year lifespan.
District staff estimate that replacing the system would take 18 to 30 months, effectively displacing students for that time and costing the district approximately $3.5 million. If the district were to update the entire campus, it would cost $24.54 million.
The discussion of Staley’s future comes after the failure of the 2024 bond program, which would have funded renovations. About 52.1% of voters rejected the bond, leaving district leaders with limited options for updating the aging campus.
Declining Enrollment And Cost Concerns
District officials said the combination of high renovation costs and declining student numbers makes closing the school the most feasible option. Staff have recommended retiring the school at the end of either the 2024-25 or 2025-26 school year.
Frisco ISD’s enrollment numbers have fallen short of projections by approximately 1,300 students this year. This follows a slight decline in enrollment last year, indicating a continuing trend. The district is expected to have 980 fewer middle school students in three years — the equivalent of an entire middle school. “We peaked around 2023,” Frisco ISD Chief Operations Officer Scott Warstler previously said during Group One’s annual Frisco Forecast on Feb. 26, 2025…