News Summary

The St. Louis Public Schools is proposing to close 37 of its 68 schools due to significant enrollment declines and financial strains exacerbated by recent tornado damage. This plan aims to address a financial crisis while countering declining student numbers and rising maintenance costs. Community concerns about the impact of these closures on local neighborhoods are growing, particularly regarding the psychological effects on families and children. As enrollment trends continue to decline nationwide, SLPS must balance financial realities with the importance of local educational connections.

St. Louis School District Faces Potential Closure of Over Half Its Schools

St. Louis, Missouri – The St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS) is proposing the closure of 37 out of its 68 schools as it grapples with significant enrollment declines and recent tornado damage. This plan comes as part of a broader effort to address a financial crisis exacerbated by changing demographics, a growing school choice movement, and the absence of federal pandemic relief funds.

The district has reported a troubling drop in student enrollment from 115,543 in 1967 to just 18,122 last year. This trend reflects a substantial population exodus to suburban areas, coupled with a projected 7% decrease in the city’s population and a 30% drop in student enrollment over the next decade. In response to this, a district-commissioned report revealed that SLPS operates more than twice the number of schools needed for its current student body.

Financial Strain and School Closure Plans

According to the proposed plan, closing 37 schools could save the St. Louis Public Schools approximately $42 million by the 2026-27 school year, funding that could potentially be redirected to improving the remaining schools. The average age of the district’s schools is now 79 years, with maintenance costs projected to reach around $1.8 billion over the next 20 years, making it financially unsustainable to maintain under-utilized facilities.

The urgency for these closures has been underscored by the impact of a recent tornado that caused approximately $63 million in damages, disrupting education for nearly 3,000 students. Seven schools have already announced they will not open this fall, and further closures are under discussion amid falling budgets and the cessation of federal funds that had previously supported schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Community Concerns

As SLPS navigates these challenges, school board meetings have revealed a genuine anxiety about the psychological effects of school closures on families and children. Immediate concerns currently focus on the aftermath of the tornado and the urgent needs of the families, rather than long-term projections that could lead to closures.

National Context on School Enrollment Declines

These developments are not confined to St. Louis; national statistics show that public school enrollment has declined by 20% or more at nearly 1 in 12 public schools nationwide between 2019 and 2023. This trend is expected to continue, with projections indicating a further decline of 5.5% in enrollment from 2022 to 2031, driven by demographic changes, an increased preference for private education options, and departures of immigrant families.

As SLPS moves forward with its proposal, the school district is tasked with balancing financial realities with the deeply rooted connections that families have to their local schools. With community members actively involved in discussions, including efforts to rescue under-threat schools like Sumner High School by broadening their arts curriculum, the landscape of education in St. Louis remains in flux.

Ultimately, the proposed closures of these schools not only reflect the district’s financial imperatives but also the pressing need to provide a quality education to students amid an ever-evolving educational landscape.

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