San Francisco to shutter 9% public schools amid drug, crime crisis, declining enrollment

San Francisco is considering closing nine percent of its public schools to address a massive budget deficit caused by declining enrollment stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. The SF School District released a preliminary report on Tuesday that revealed the district would like to close 11 of its 112 schools. Some of those that close could merge with other locations, as per the report obtained by Bloomberg.

Superintendent Matt Wayne said in a statement: "Without a balanced budget and plan to consolidate our resources, we risk a state takeover of our school district" that would "further deplete resources directed to our schools, erode our collective decision-making power, and likely compound educational disparities for our most vulnerable students."

The school district has already taken steps to limit the deficit, such as slashing its payroll and reducing funds for school supplies. The board will vote on the proposal after it's finalized next month.

Over the past seven years, the city's public school enrollment has decreased by over 4,000 students, resulting in an $80,000 revenue loss. The school district anticipated that demographic shifts and declining birth rates would result in at least an additional 4,600 students lost by 2032, as reported by Bloomberg. The school closures are exacerbated by the challenges of increasing homelessness and the escalating number of fentanyl overdoses which have been a source of concern for the future of San Francisco in recent years.

Local media reports indicate that approximately 2,000 students would be impacted by the closures. In order to prevent a state takeover, the 50,000-student school district must reduce $113 million in costs by the end of 2025-2026. The closures were picked based on low enrollment and a composite score based on academic performance, building conditions, and historical inequities.