The San Francisco Unified School District is proposing to close several schools due to declining enrollment and budget deficits.
The superintendent announced the need to “have fewer schools” and concentrate resources at remaining sites.
“We must have fewer schools than we do now. We realize this is difficult to hear,” SFUSD superintendent Matt Wayne said. “No one wants to think about their school or any school closing its doors, us included. But by having fewer schools, we can concentrate our resources and enhance programs, teacher support and student services.”
While no specific schools were identified for closure, the district has maintained the same number of facilities as enrollment has fallen in recent years from 53,000 students in 2012 to 49,000 currently.
Multiple phases of community input will be solicited before finalizing any changes.
“Our plan includes multiple phases of community engagement to ensure your voice is heard. We’ve also included external equity checks to ensure no community or student group is disproportionately affected,” Wayne said.
SFUSD is one of many California districts facing challenges like staffing shortages amid long-term enrollment declines.
Over 1,400 schools in the state saw a drop of over 20% during the pandemic due to factors like lower birth rates, high living costs, and families switching to other school types.
“Other families left districts during school closures for private schools and charters. All of these factors add up to fewer school-age children attending traditional public schools,” the report stated.
The proposed closures aim to realign the district’s resources with current enrollment levels.
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