For more than 30 years, Mission West Elementary School has been a cornerstone of education and community in Fort Bend County, Texas, proudly serving a richly diverse student population. It is far more than a school—it is a place where children from many backgrounds learn, grow, and thrive in an environment that embraces multiculturalism and strives for excellence with the resources it has.

Mission West provides stability, belonging, and opportunity for the children who walk through its doors. Many of its students come from multilingual households, and the school has played a vital role in bridging language and cultural gaps to ensure every child receives the academic and social support they need. Among Fort Bend ISD’s 27 Title I campuses, Mission West stands alone as the only school to earn an “A” rating from the state—an achievement that reflects the dedication of its students, teachers, staff, and community.

Closing Mission West would dismantle a community that has been intentionally built over decades. Research from the Texas Education Agency shows that schools serving culturally and linguistically diverse populations foster stronger intercultural understanding and higher academic achievement. Mission West’s success is proof that its students and educators deserve continued investment—not closure. Title I funding is designed to close academic gaps and support long-term student success; removing students from a thriving Title I environment risks widening those gaps both now and in the future.

Fort Bend ISD is considering closing Mission West and merging its students into Mission Elementary, which has already absorbed two former campuses—Mission Bend and Mission Glen. Adding a third school’s population would create overcrowded classrooms and strain teachers’ capacity to meet students’ needs. Children who rely on Title I resources would be placed in environments where support is stretched thin, jeopardizing the progress they have already made at Mission West. As research consistently shows, a strong elementary foundation shapes a child’s educational trajectory for life, building essential literacy, numeracy, and reasoning skills that influence future academic and career success.

Instead of closing Mission West Elementary, we urge the district to invest in what is already working. Strengthening this high-performing, community-centered campus will empower students and educators to continue achieving exceptional outcomes.

Let’s protect our children’s access to a strong education and a supportive community. Sign this petition to urge Fort Bend Independent School District to pursue alternative solutions and keep Mission West Elementary School open, thriving, and serving its families for generations to come.