San Francisco announces school shutdowns amid budget, enrollment woes: 'We must have fewer schools'

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San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) is looking to shut down several schools due to a budget deficit and a decline in student enrollment.

"We must have fewer schools than we do now. We realize this is difficult to hear," SFUSD superintendent Matt Wayne announced in a video released on Saturday. "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."

How many and which of the 112 schools in the district would close has not yet been determined, Wayne told the San Francisco Chronicle. 

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San Francisco Unified School District is looking to shut down schools due to a budget deficit and enrollment loss. (YouTube screenshot)

The Chronicle was able to interview Wayne before he announced the details at an annual school planning summit.

"Wayne, however, never used the word ‘closure,’ instead saying the district was undergoing ‘resource alignment’ and there would be a process to ‘create a new portfolio’ with ‘fewer schools,’" the Chronicle reported. 

As enrollment declined in San Francisco over the years, the district has maintained the same number of facilities.

"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 during the announcement.

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A recent report showed that thousands of school districts risk closure due to "massive" enrollment loss.  (iStock)

In recent years, the school district has reportedly faced numerous challenges, ranging from a severe financial crisis, staff shortages and a decline in enrollment. According to local ABC affiliate, the school district had 53,000 students in 2012, but it dropped to 49,000 students in 2023.

The SFUSD is one of many school districts working to solve a decline in enrollment. A recent report showed that thousands of school districts risk closure due to "massive" enrollment loss. 

Over 1,400 schools in California saw a drop in enrollment of at least 20% during the pandemic.  (Brittany Murray/MediaNews Group/Long Beach Press-Telegram via Getty Images)

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Over 1,400 schools in California saw a drop in enrollment of at least 20% during the pandemic. The phenomenon was driven by several factors, including record-low birth rates and high costs of living, especially in Silicon Valley, the southern region of the San Francisco Bay Area.

"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.