Frisco ISD’s Staley Middle School, one of the district’s most historic campuses, will stay open for at least one more year. The announcement came during a May 12 board meeting, where board president Dynette Davis confirmed that all grade levels will remain in place and that no additional transfer period will be opened for the 2025–26 school year.
The decision follows an April meeting in which district leaders were unable to agree on a timeline for closing the school, leaving its future uncertain until now.
A Campus With Frisco Roots
Frisco ISD’s construction history shows that the original Frisco High School was founded in 1902 as a two-story, four-room frame building. Over time, the high school was relocated and rebuilt multiple times. In 1973, a new high school campus was constructed, which was later converted into Staley Middle School following renovations and expansions in 1996. Over the years, the campus has undergone multiple transformations and has long served as a symbol of the city’s educational growth.
But that legacy is now at a crossroads. Due to aging infrastructure and a consistent decline in enrollment, district staff have recommended closing the campus by the end of either the 2024–25 or 2025–26 school year.
Pausing on Closure
Despite the delay on a closure, Staley isn’t in the clear. Initially, board members had asked district staff to bring in a demographer to help guide their decision. However, that motion was rescinded at the May 12 meeting due to procedural concerns — it wasn’t included on the April 14 agenda when first discussed. Still, the district has the authority to proceed with the study independently, as the estimated $55,000 cost falls within the superintendent’s contracting power.
More in-depth conversations, bolstered by updated demographic data, are expected later this fall.
Enrollment Trends Shape the Future
Frisco ISD has seen a marked drop in enrollment numbers, falling short of projections by roughly 1,300 students this year. The district is also forecasting 980 fewer middle school students within three years, enough to fill an entire campus.
“We peaked around 2023,” Frisco ISD Chief Operations Officer Scott Warstler previously said at a Frisco Forecast event in February. The shifting demographics, particularly the aging of established neighborhoods, are a key driver behind the decline. With fewer young families moving into these areas, student numbers continue to fall.
A Strategic Response to Enrollment Decline
In response to ongoing enrollment challenges, the district launched Access Frisco, a program designed to bring in students from outside district boundaries. Approved in November 2024, the initiative allows any Texas resident to apply for enrollment in kindergarten through seventh grade.
Interest in the program is strong: 650 applications were submitted for just 360 available seats. Most applicants hail from nearby cities like Denton, Aubrey and Little Elm. For each 100 new students enrolled through Access Frisco, the district anticipates an additional $750,000 in state funding.
By welcoming students from beyond district lines, Frisco ISD hopes to stabilize its numbers while charting a path forward for schools like Staley.
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