News Summary
The St. Louis Public Schools district has announced plans to close 37 schools starting in fall 2026, marking the largest set of school closures in the city’s history. The proposal arises as the district faces declining enrollment and significant infrastructure challenges exacerbated by recent disasters. Community input is being sought as the district prepares to navigate these complex decisions.
St. Louis – The St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS) district has proposed an ambitious plan to close 37 schools beginning in fall 2026, leaving only 31 schools operational. This initiative represents the largest cluster of school closures in the city’s history and will be formally presented during an upcoming school board meeting.
Currently, SLPS has an enrollment of approximately 18,122 students distributed across more than 60 schools. The district grapples with one of the lowest average building capacity rates in the country, indicating many of these buildings remain underutilized. This issue has been exacerbated by the recent tornado that struck on May 16, causing substantial damage and leading to the displacement of students, culminating in the closure of seven schools that will not reopen in the fall.
Among the schools severely impacted by the tornado are Ashland Elementary and Soldan International Studies High School, which will relocate their students to Gateway STEM High School. The total estimated damages from the tornado across the affected schools reach over $14.5 million. Adding to the urgency of the situation, SLPS anticipates a loss of between 800 to 2,000 students over the summer, primarily as a result of this displacement.
Looking ahead, projections indicate that the city’s population could dip below 266,000 within the next decade, further putting downward pressure on SLPS enrollment figures. Current forecasts suggest the district may see numbers fall to approximately 12,700 students by the year 2035. Amidst these statistics, Superintendent Millicent Borishade is expected to provide recommendations regarding the proposed school closures in the coming months.
Community involvement remains a critical aspect of SLPS’s planning process. The district has organized a series of meetings under the initiative “Reimagining SLPS,” aimed at soliciting input and feedback from various stakeholders about the closures. This approach highlights the district’s commitment to engaging with the community as it navigates these challenging decisions.
Furthermore, SLPS faces increasing challenges in attracting sufficient certified staff, including teachers, counselors, and coaches. This staffing crisis, alongside the recent drop in student numbers, has become a concerning trend for the district and is reflective of a broader issue of falling birth rates contributing to declining school enrollments nationwide.
With the ramifications of the recent tornado still fresh in the community’s memory, the proposal for school closures may garner scrutiny and calls for a postponement. Former SLPS board president Dorothy Rohde-Collins has advocated for delaying such permanent decisions, urging caution as the district navigates the aftermath of the disaster.
To manage the ongoing issues related to declining enrollment and school capacity, SLPS is collaborating with the architectural firm Cordogan, Clark and Associates. This partnership is intended to provide a thorough analysis of the district’s current situation and inform its strategic decisions moving forward.
As the proposal for substantial school closures unfolds, public response and community engagement will remain vital topics for SLPS. The district is under significant pressure as it attempts to address complex factors like recent natural disasters, demographic changes, and the overarching challenges facing public education at large.
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Additional Resources
- St. Louis Today
- Wikipedia: St. Louis Public Schools
- Fox 2 Now
- Google Search: St. Louis Public Schools restructuring
- GovTech
- Google Scholar: St. Louis education system
- Fox 2 Now – Tornado Plans
- Encyclopedia Britannica: St. Louis Public Schools
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MILWAUKEE STAFF WRITER The MILWAUKEE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREMilwaukee.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Summerfest, Milwaukee Film Festival, and the Milwaukee Boat Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce and Visit Milwaukee, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and brewing that power the local economy such as Harley-Davidson and MillerCoors. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Wisconsin's dynamic landscape.
