Big San Antonio news stories to watch in 2024

State of play: Here are three major stories we'll be watching in 2024.

School closures

San Antonio is facing a large loss of schools this year among four local districts.

What's happening: San Antonio ISD will close 13 schools this year and two in 2025 — 16% of the district's campuses.

• Edgewood ISD will close two schools this year.
• South San Antonio ISD has already begun its closure of three schools, and voted last month to close another — West Campus High School — in the 2024-25 school year.
• And Harlandale ISD has begun four school closures.

Why it matters: School districts are facing tight budgets and hope closures will lead to better disbursement of resources as they spend less money on buildings.

• But in SAISD, prior school closures did not lead to better educational outcomes, and in some cases, students performed worse, per an equity audit commissioned by the district.

State of play: The city's population has skyrocketed. But districts in the city's urban core and South and West sides are facing declining enrollment as other areas of the city are booming.

What we're watching: Whether families decide to leave SAISD, as some have threatened to do, or stick it out and remain with the district.

• In the long term, we're also keeping an eye on how school closures might impact educational outcomes for students.

Solar eclipse

A total solar eclipse will occur on April 8, and San Antonio is expected to be the largest U.S. city in its path of totality.

What's happening: With this eclipse, the Moon will pass between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun, per NASA.

Why it matters: The total solar eclipse could make 2024 a banner year for tourism in San Antonio and the Hill Country, offering a big boost to our local economy.

• Visit San Antonio has already dubbed the event "Fiesta del Sol."

By the numbers: Texas is predicted to see the majority of the country's eclipse visitors on April 8, with more than 1 million visitors estimated, per Great American Eclipse.

What we're watching: How the expected influx of people impacts our traffic and local businesses.

Downtown developments

Downtown San Antonio continues to be in flux.

What's happening: The Spurs are considering a move from the East Side Frost Bank Center to downtown.

• A new downtown high-rise with apartments and retail, dubbed 300 Main, could be finished this year.
• And more developments are on the horizon.

Why it matters: Catalytic projects could reshape the city's urban core from a tourist destination into a place where locals want to live, work and play.

Yes, but: Downtown and its businesses have been plagued by ongoing road construction that has sometimes blocked access to customers and made navigation a headache for visitors.

What we're watching: Whether any solid plans for a downtown Spurs arena come into focus this year.

• And how the city continues to handle road construction projects.