The Evanston/Skokie (Illinois) District 65 school board has indicated that it is leaning toward closing three elementary schools — Lincolnwood and Kingsley, and either Washington or Dawes — as part of the district’s Structural Deficit Reduction Plan.
The Evanston Review reports that the school board did not make a final decision to close any schools at its board meeting, but used the session to inform parents, students and community members about the options it is considering to address the financial problems that took it to the brink of a state takeover last year.
District officials say they are still considering seven scenarios, including closing up to four schools. One of those could be Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Literary and Fine Arts School.
Closing four schools could save the district $9.18 million and send about 28% of District 65 students to a different school. The average school occupancy districtwide would rise from 58% to 81%.
Administrators also shared scenarios of what it would be like to close one, two or three schools. Kingsley and Lincolnwood repeatedly made it into recommendations.
If the district were to close only Kingsley it would save $1.9 million and if it were to close only Lincolnwood it would save $2.1 million.
After deliberating, school board members asked district administrators to hone in on closing three schools, which would be Kingsley and Lincolnwood plus either Dawes or Washington.
Closing Lincolnwood, Kingsley and Washington would raise the average school occupancy rate to 75% and save the district $6.3 million. Closing Lincolnwood, Kingsley and Dawes would raise school occupancy rates to 74% and save the district $6.2 million.
The projected savings for school closure do not include revenue the district would receive if it were to sell a building. More information on school closures can be found on the district’s website.
Student enrollment in the district has declined for years, state records show. In 2018, the district had 7,943 students; that has fallen to 6,193 students enrolled in 2024, a 22% decrease.
