Seattle Public Schools

Resources

School Closures and Consolidations

Online Community Meetings Cancelled

We are canceling our upcoming round of online community meetings for North Beach, Sacajawea, Sanislo, and Stevens elementary schools.

The board has decided to delay the December closure and consolidation hearings. Our next step is to sit down with the school board for further planning.

Read the full update from Dr. Jones

Superintendent’s Preliminary Recommendation for Closures and Consolidations

Watch the Nov. 14 Community Meeting

The district hosted a community meeting on Nov. 14. SPS leaders shared information on the decision-making process. Watch the Nov. 14 community meeting recording below.

Closures and Consolidations Updates

Oct. 24, 2024 Update
Budget Updates and Next Steps

Our budget challenge, our path forward, efforts to increase enrollment, building a sustainable future

Oct. 24, 2024 Budget Updates and Next Steps
Oct. 1, 2024 Update
Well-Resourced Schools Update

A revised proposal that will support addressing the budget deficit for the 2025-26 school year.

Oct. 1, 2024 Family Letter

FAQ and Submit Question and Feedback

The district has a $1.2 billion budget. Closing a school to save $750,000 to $2.5 million doesn’t seem like it would make a big difference. Aren’t there better ways to cover the deficit?  

One alternative to closing schools would be to have less staff at each individual school. This would mean further reducing school staff — assistant principals, librarians, counselors, social workers, instructional aides, custodians, maintenance workers, security personnel, grounds staff, — and/or reducing the number of teachers by increasing class sizes.  

Share your questions or feedback

Share your feedback or ask us a question, please fill out our contact form.

An illustration with two talking bubbles with questions in one of the bubbles
Frequently asked questions

Answers to community questions.

Find answers to community questions
WRS Icons-data
Criteria, Data, and Equity

What would it look like if this initiative ensured educational and racial equity and access for every student?

View the criteria and data reports

What is the Well-Resourced School Initiative?

An info graphic with a school building title "well-resourced schools", two people with gear shifts "staff, services and programs', a single person with title "students" and smaller building with title "building spaces", the title below the graphic is Academic Vision: Equity and Excellence.
(click to enlarge graphic)

Our goal is that every school in our district will uphold our community’s values and offer a comprehensive education to prepare students for lifelong success. A well-resourced school is a central hub for students, families, staff, and community.  

A well-resourced elementary school has everything it needs to help students learn and succeed, including learning tools and materials, as well as teachers and staff who care about students’ well-being and success. 

Because SPS operates more than 70 schools serving our youngest students, the recommendations focus on the schools that serve students in preschool through 5th grade, this includes elementary and K-8 schools.

104 Total Schools

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Seattle Public Schools has 73 schools that serve our preschool-5th grade students

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Twenty-nine of our elementary schools serve less than 300 students.

A representation of the data dashboard that shows a bar chart with school district names including Northshore, Highline, Bellevue, and Seattle
Data Dashboard
School Size Comparison

See how school sizes compare in school districts in the greater Puget Sound region.

Open the dashboard

Our main goal is to make sure students get a great education, even when we face challenges.

While this plan will mean some large-scale system changes, it is crucial to focus on the end goal: creating a school system where every student has access to the academic, social, and emotional support they need.

Tutor and student working on reading.
The Vision and Strategic Planning

Well-resourced schools is our path to deliver a future where every student attends a thriving school, our educators have what they need to succeed, and our community grows stronger.

Read more about our goal and vision
How We Got Here

A system of well-resourced schools provides many benefits including more resources and fewer staffing adjustments.

Learn more about the SPS budget and enrollment projections
Engagement

The community vision will provide a foundation to frame challenges and opportunities for SPS in the coming years.

Learn more about engagement and community vision

Timeline

We will continue to work to prioritize inclusive and high-quality education for our students. We are approaching these decisions in a thoughtful way to ensure we minimize negative impacts on student learning. 

Superintendent Jones shares introduction and
SPS begins community engagement.
The School Board hears
engagement report and preliminary recommendations.

Summer – Fall 2023

Community Meetings

Online and in-person regional community gatherings focused on defining a well-resourced school

Superintendent Jones shares introduction and
SPS begins community engagement.
The School Board hears
engagement report and preliminary recommendations.

The superintendent presented a well-resourced schools update.
School Board voted ‘yes’ to direct the superintendent to present a preliminary recommendation for school closures and consolidations.
Well-Resourced Schools May Presentation
and May 8 School Board Meeting Recording.

Spring 2024

Proposed Options Developed

Models developed with racial and educational equity and excellence focus

The superintendent presented a well-resourced schools update.
School Board voted ‘yes’ to direct the superintendent to present a preliminary recommendation for school closures and consolidations.
Well-Resourced Schools May Presentation
and May 8 School Board Meeting Recording.

Superintendent update to community sent Sept. 11.
Proposed options with school names published on district website.
Sept. 18 SPS Report on Data and Options

September 2024

Public Announcement with Proposed Options

Superintendent update to community sent Sept. 11.
Proposed options with school names published on district website.
Sept. 18 SPS Report on Data and Options

The superintendent will present the proposal to the School Board.

Oct. 24 2024 Superintendent Preliminary Recommendation
School Closures and Consolidations Published Analysis for Review

October 2024

Superintendent Preliminary Recommendation

The superintendent will present the proposal to the School Board.

Oct. 24 2024 Superintendent Preliminary Recommendation
School Closures and Consolidations Published Analysis for Review

Per board policy, a public hearing at each school on the recommendation will be held.

October – December 2024

Public Review, Engagement and Hearings

Per board policy, a public hearing at each school on the recommendation will be held.

The Superintendent will share a Final Recommendation in December, School Board vote planned for January 2025.

School Board policy 6883 – School and Instructional Site Closures.

December 2024 – January 2025

Superintendent Final Recommendation and Board Action

The Superintendent will share a Final Recommendation in December, School Board vote planned for January 2025.

School Board policy 6883 – School and Instructional Site Closures.

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