The St. Louis Public Schools Board of Education voted Tuesday night to permanently close nine schools beginning in fall 2027, approving a major part of the district’s Future Ready plan despite opposition from parents and educators.
The 4-3 vote followed months of public meetings and debate over a plan intended to address declining enrollment, aging buildings and a multimillion-dollar budget deficit.
“I recognize that these decisions are deeply personal. Our schools hold relationships, memories, and a powerful sense of belonging,” Superintendent Dr. Myra Berry said in a statement after the vote. “Throughout the development and discussion of Future Ready, we heard concerns, disagreements, and different convictions about the best path forward.”
Board members Karen Collins-Adams, Robert Harvey, Brian Marston and Emily Hubbard supported the closures. Tracy Hykes, Donna Jones and AJ Foster voted against them.
The district initially proposed closing 22 schools in July, then reduced the recommendation to 14 in August before the board approved nine.
The schools are AESM @ L’Ouverture Middle School and eight elementary schools: Ames, Ashland, Carver, Hamilton, Hickey, Meramec, Monroe and Walbridge. Their closures will reduce the district from 61 schools to 52.
District officials estimate the broader restructuring could save approximately $20 million. The district initially projected a $41 million budget deficit for the upcoming fiscal year, but higher-than-expected revenue and about $12 million in operational underspending have reduced the projected shortfall to $29 million.
Officials cite declining enrollment, rising transportation costs and the expense of maintaining aging, underused buildings. Enrollment has fallen nearly 59% since 1991, from 43,284 students to fewer than 18,000 in 2025, according to district figures.
District leaders say fewer schools would allow them to provide more consistent academic programs and staffing, including certified teachers in every classroom, more STEM and enrichment opportunities and greater access to counselors, nurses, social workers and behavioral support staff.
The board considered eight recommendations Tuesday, approving some, modifying others and setting several aside.
Among the approved changes, the district will convert magnet schools into neighborhood schools beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The affected schools include Dewey, Humboldt, Lyon @ Blow, Mullanphy, Washington Montessori, Busch, Compton-Drew, Gateway, Gateway STEM High School and Soldan International Studies High School.
Enrollment will be tied to designated attendance zones, although current magnet students will retain transportation eligibility for another two to three years.
Clyde C. Miller will become a districtwide career and technical education center offering programs in culinary arts and hospitality, construction, engineering and design. A new wing for cosmetology and barbering is scheduled to be unveiled Friday. The district will stop enrolling new students in Miller’s traditional academic programs in 2027 and phase out those classes by 2030.
The board rejected a proposal to reopen Dunbar Elementary in the Ville and close Patrick Henry and Jefferson elementary schools. Berry estimated renovating Dunbar, which closed in 2021, would cost $15 million to $18.5 million.
The board approved modified grade-level changes, including expanding Humboldt to serve prekindergarten through fifth grade and removing middle school grades from Laclede School. It postponed a proposal to convert Columbia and Shenandoah elementary schools into preschools for 2- to 4-year-olds.
A decision on proposed changes to school start and dismissal times also was postponed to allow more community feedback.
The board rejected two proposals to phase out McKinley Classical Leadership Academy High School. One would have begun in 2029 if enrollment remained below 300 students; the other would have eliminated grades annually beginning in 2027.
Some parents and educators worry that the restructuring will disrupt students’ education.
“As we’ve seen with the tornado mergers, there are sometimes unintended consequences and staff learning when you merge schools together,” district teacher Tanisha Joyce said. “And I’m concerned that students will fall through the cracks and we will lose critical time during that merge next year.”
Berry said the district’s next challenge is making the transition as smooth as possible for students and families.
“Our responsibility now is to turn the approved actions into thoughtful, carefully coordinated plans,” Berry said. “That means working directly with affected school communities, preparing for transitions, and communicating clearly about what will change, when it will change, and the support students, families and staff can expect.”
For Allison Chan, the parent of an SLPS student, questions remain about whether the changes will provide children with the opportunities they deserve.
“I am most strongly rooting for these kids, and yet every single detail released makes it harder and harder to imagine a bright future guaranteed for every SLPS student,” Chan said.