On the Merge
Snapshot: In a rural district facing a severe budget shortfall caused by shrinking industry and declining enrollment, school board member Laura Washington must decide whether to vote to merge the town’s two high schools. Such a merge would mean closing Laura’s alma mater, a beloved but under-enrolled school that many see as a fixture in the community. What will best serve the students in town—keeping both schools open with deep cuts or merging them into one school?
Case Description
Public school districts across the United States face declining enrollment caused by such factors as lower birth rates, the rise of homeschooling, and a strong school choice movement. This case explores dilemmas related to school closure in the fictional town of Franklin. A former manufacturing town with a declining population, Franklin is home to two high schools: Penniman Secondary, built at the turn of the twentieth century, and Clayton High School, built in the 1960s. After the town votes down tax increases—twice—the school board budget committee crafts a plan to close Penniman and enroll all students at Clayton.
A proud Penniman alum, school board member Laura Washington is devastated at the thought of closing the school. Penniman’s close-knit community and historic connection to the town make it a special place for students, teachers, and families. However, the budget cuts that would be required to keep the school open could render it unrecognizable. Would students be better served by creating the best possible academic and extracurricular programs at one high school? At the same time, what would closing Penniman do to the community?
Highlighting difficult decisions that urban, suburban, and rural school districts are facing and will continue to face, this case explores dilemmas related to the goals of education, the role of schools in the wider community, and the tough choices necessitated by declining enrollment in public schools.
Explore Further
- "The Real Cost of Closing Rural Schools” (redirect) explores the political, economic, and social costs of closing rural schools.
- Learn how residents of Macon, Georgia, US, are fighting to preserve a historic school (redirect) to maintain a town’s historic value.
- In Harrison County, West Virginia, parents and school staff expressed concerns about the closure of their small elementary school (redirect), citing the need for and benefits of a small school environment.
- Learn how a school district in Oakland, California, is facing concerns around integrating schools across racial and socioeconomic divides (redirect). This article explores the question: How can the district create equitable schools in districts shaped by a history of redlining and racially-segregated housing?
- Unpack a few key factors districts need to consider as they analyze the costs and benefits of closing one or multiple schools (PDF).
- Other than enrollment, leaders take into account other factors in school closures (PDF): academic performance, broader community needs, and realistic financial benefits.