News Summary
The St. Louis Public Schools district is set to close 37 schools by fall 2026, leaving only 31 operational. This restructuring aims to address dwindling enrollment numbers, worsened by recent tornado damage that has affected several school facilities. The plan will be discussed at an upcoming school board meeting, with an emphasis on community feedback and future sustainability.
St. Louis – The St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS) district is proposing a significant restructuring plan that involves closing 37 schools starting in the fall of 2026, leaving only 31 schools operational. This initiative, which represents the largest cluster of school closures in the city’s history, is set to be presented at an upcoming school board meeting.
The district’s current enrollment stands at approximately 18,122 students spread across more than 60 schools. In recent years, SLPS has grappled with one of the lowest average building capacity rates in the nation, resulting in a surplus of empty facilities that are financially unsustainable. Furthermore, the SLPS district is projected to experience a loss of between 800 and 2,000 students this summer, primarily attributed to displacements caused by the recent tornado that impacted the city.
On May 16, a tornado caused extensive damage across the region, leading to the immediate closure of seven SLPS schools due to significant structural impacts. Schools severely affected include Ashland Elementary and Soldan International Studies High School, which will be relocating their students to Gateway STEM High School. Total damages to SLPS buildings from the tornado are estimated to exceed $14.5 million, exacerbating the district’s challenges amid an ongoing enrollment decline.
The unfavorable trend in enrollment is compounded by demographic changes within the city. Projections indicate that the city’s population may dip below 266,000 within the next decade, likely leading to a further decrease in SLPS enrollment, which may plummet to approximately 12,700 students by 2035. These figures reflect broader national trends of decreasing birth rates affecting school enrollments across various districts.
The district’s Superintendent, Millicent Borishade, will be making recommendations regarding school closures in the coming months as part of a comprehensive plan to address declining enrollment and available capacity. The decision-making process will incorporate community feedback, as SLPS has conducted multiple stakeholder meetings under the theme “Reimagining SLPS.” These gatherings aim to gauge public sentiment surrounding the proposed closures and the future direction of the school district.
As part of its ongoing efforts to address pressing issues, SLPS is collaborating with the architectural firm Cordogan, Clark and Associates to conduct a detailed analysis of the district’s declining enrollment and school capacity. The outcomes of this analysis may inform future decisions relating to the sustainability of school facilities and the allocation of resources.
Despite the structured approach taken by SLPS, the proposed plan may face opposition and calls for a reconsideration of the timeline for school closures, especially in light of the recent tornado and its traumatic effects on the community. Former SLPS board president Dorothy Rohde-Collins has suggested postponing permanent decisions around school closures until the community has time to process the consequences of the disaster.
In conjunction with broader enrollment issues, educators in SLPS are also confronted with challenges in securing a sufficient number of certified staff, including teachers, counselors, and coaches. These staffing difficulties further complicate the district’s ability to maintain educational quality and stability amid ongoing changes.
As public response and community engagement remain crucially important during this transitional phase, SLPS is committed to navigating its future amidst significant challenges to ensure a sustainable and supportive educational environment for its students.
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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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