St. Louis Public Schools Faces Major Decision on School Closures
St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS) is considering a significant plan that would result in the closure of over half of its schools, specifically 37 out of 68 total. This decision comes amid years of declining student enrollment and a broader demographic shift across the city. A recent 58-page report from architectural firm Cordogan, Clark & Associates outlines the potential closures, which could begin as early as fall 2026. The report highlights a stark reality: school buildings originally designed to accommodate more than 43,000 students now serve fewer than 18,000. If current trends continue, that number could drop to just under 13,000 by 2035.
The school board will meet Tuesday night to discuss this proposal publicly for the first time. If approved, the closures would represent the most significant reduction in the district’s footprint in its history, leaving more closed campuses than active ones.
Real estate expert Sandra Dew-Gainey, who has helped repurpose several former school buildings into apartments and community spaces, notes that many of these structures were built with durability in mind. “Plenty of light, high ceilings, room to move around, materials that don’t fall apart,” she said. However, not all former SLPS buildings have found new purposes. Some sit fenced off and decaying, serving as silent reminders of the city’s challenges.
While some redevelopments have been successful, they remain the exception rather than the rule. A 2015 report from the SLPS Building Revitalization Collaborative revealed that many vacant school buildings carry millions in deferred maintenance and utility costs. Despite their sturdy construction, maintaining these aging structures has become increasingly expensive and politically complex.
Efforts to redevelop sites like Cleveland High School have required extensive coordination between the city’s development arm and hesitant school officials. Historically, SLPS has been reluctant to sell buildings without a clear public purpose, leading to prolonged vacancies even when developers express interest. Critics argue that these delays contribute to further decay and erode trust within the community.
Some city leaders are pushing for faster reuse of school properties. Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer, representing the 1st Ward in South St. Louis, recently shared a photo of the Lyon School Apartments in Carondelet, a former school building now converted into housing after years of vacancy. “Making sure school buildings are reused as soon as possible is crucial if we continue to see school closures throughout the city,” she wrote. “There are already too many buildings sitting idle. Massive vacant buildings don’t help anyone, but housing helps a lot of people!”
The proposed closures come just two months after a May tornado damaged seven schools, including Soldan High School, where enrollment had already dropped to just 27% of capacity. In the report, consultants compared the storm’s impact on enrollment to Hurricane Katrina, which permanently altered the public school system in New Orleans.
Demographer Ness Sandoval of St. Louis University emphasized that the situation is not exaggerated. “In these neighborhoods, they had negative population momentum to begin with,” he said. The city’s child population has dropped more than 50% since 1980, from over 95,000 to just above 41,000 today. That number could fall to 30,000 within the next decade.
Sandoval warned that families still have the option to leave, adding, “We have to say we can’t maintain these old buildings that are going to cost $1.8 billion in maintenance costs.” SLPS estimates its total deferred maintenance backlog at $1.8 billion. According to the district, “right-sizing” the system could save more than $42 million annually, funds that could be redirected into academic programs, support staff, and facilities at remaining schools. SLPS plans to host at least six public forums before taking a final vote.
However, closing schools is not just about numbers—it’s about what comes next. Community leaders worry that in under-resourced neighborhoods, closures could accelerate decline rather than reverse it. Khaleel Munir, who runs the Willie Davis Foundation, described the emotional impact of a school closure on a community. “If this school closes, that's serious trauma to this particular community. It’s trauma and it affects everybody,” he said.
Despite the emotional stakes, many involved agree on one point: doing nothing is no longer an option. “There is a positive pathway here,” Sandoval said. “But to get on that positive pathway you have to say we can’t maintain these old buildings.”
Dew-Gainey urged unity, saying, “I would encourage that both sides take a deep breath and sit and listen to each other carefully and then come together and develop a plan that says we can all benefit if we do it together.”