Starting in the fall, some Coppell ISD elementary students will find themselves in new classrooms. This change, following the closure of Pinkerton Elementary School, has relocated many from their home campus to others across the district.

The decision to approve the realignment of the boundaries was made on Feb. 3 after discussion between the CISD Board of Trustees. They created two possible scenarios through which the realignment could take place. 

The first scenario includes the transfer of 779 students. This would move 302 students from Pinkerton Elementary School to Austin Elementary School and Wilson Elementary School, while Dual Language Immersion (DLI) students would be transferred to Denton Creek Elementary School. 

In scenario two, around 497 students would change schools. This includes 150 International Baccalaureate (IB) students and 141 students zoned to Pinkerton Elementary School moving to Wilson, 38 students moving from Pinkerton to Austin, and 168 DLI students transferring from Wilson to Denton Creek. This was the selected scenario.

These changes in the district were decided after taking Coppell’s budget deficit into consideration. According to the district in the 2024-25 school year, CISD has an $8.7 million deficit. This amount has decreased, as during the 2023-24 school year, the amount was at $13.4 million. This is projected to increase to around $18 million during the 2027-28 school year.

According to some observers, the closure of Pinkerton still leaves a significant deficit.

“Closing Pinkerton only saves about two million, and the deficit is anywhere from $8-$13 million,” said Pinkerton Elementary parent Julie Waters, a candidate for the board of trustees in May’s election. “We’re nowhere near closing the deficit.” 

This has led to concerns about closing another campus next year. 

“We still have not been able to close the deficit, so additional cuts will need to be made, that may involve more school closures.” Waters said. “Moving forward, it’s really important to have a well thought out plan.” 

According to assistant superintendent for administrative services Kristin Eichel, Coppell elementary schools currently have a capacity of around 600 students. However, many elementaries currently hold around 400 students. 

“There have been some years that we’ve had up to 700 students, but we try to create boundaries where the schools are being utilized effectively, so that was part of this decision,” Eichel said. 

According to Eichel, there are about 1,200 empty seats, or spots that could hold students, throughout the district. Therefore, overcrowding and insufficient resource allocation following the relocation of students are not concerns amongst schools and administrators. 

The rezoning stems back to dropping enrollment rates in Coppell as a whole due to fewer families moving in. Along with this, over time, housing prices in Coppell have risen, further preventing young and new families from settling here.

Enrollment information in Coppell was brought to the attention of trustees by Zonda Education, a company that analyzes enrollment data and developments in various districts. In December, Zonda Education reported kindergarten enrollment rates dropped by 100 percent, which was another factor in the consolidation of Pinkerton on Sept. 30. 

According to director of communications Amanda Simpson, with the closure of Pinkerton, Wilson will be the new IB school, and Denton Creek will focus on DLI. 

Pinkerton Elementary is not the only school facing changes in the upcoming school year. Wilson also faces transfers of 168 DLI students. 

“One of the reasons the program was consolidated to one campus was the space and the combining of resources available,” Simpson said.

According to Simpson, Wilson just underwent an interior redesign. Denton Creek will experience a similar makeover this summer.

Surveys about where families would prefer their children attend the next school year were held amongst DLI students and teachers. Out of 195 answers, 126 families said their student would be continuing the DLI program, with 16 returning to their home campus. 

The influx of DLI students into Denton Creek could change grade class size and section as well. For example, a third grade class at Denton Creek could experience an increase in the amount of DLI or bilingual classes to accommodate for the change. 

Teachers currently working at Pinkerton or in the DLI program at Wilson will be relocated to other facilities in the district based on their preferences. 

“All teachers will have a placement next school year,” Simpson said. “Those from affected campuses, like Pinkerton, Wilson and DCE had the opportunity to share their preferred campus for the next school year.”

Teacher placement will also be subject to student numbers, family preferences and programs.

Some parents have expressed feelings about students and friends during these transfers. 

“The only challenge is that they have to go to a new school and they have to accept new friends,” Austin Elementary parent Suma Ananth said. 

Some students look forward to these changes. 

“I think it will feel different because people from other schools with new personalities are coming to Austin,” Austin Elementary fourth grader Kavin Chettiar said. “I’m looking forward to making more friends.”

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