School Consolidation Is Difficult. Here's a Blueprint.
In December, the board of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) unanimously approved a building consolidation plan. The move is part of the district’s Building Brighter Futures initiative, which aims to take “bold action to right-size, stabilize, and secure a brighter future for CMSD scholars.” Starting this fall, the district will operate 29 fewer schools.
Closing and consolidating schools is complicated, difficult work. But that’s especially true in Cleveland, where constant change has become the norm. Since 2020, district families and staff have weathered the pandemic and remote schooling; experienced a “refresh” of the Cleveland Plan (a comprehensive improvement plan that was signed into state law in 2012); gone through the hiring process for a new CEO after long-time leader Eric Gordon stepped down; and received word that the Cleveland Transformation Alliance, a nonprofit responsible for supporting implementation of the Cleveland Plan, would dissolve.
For some families and staff, the district’s consolidation effort likely feels like yet another upheaval. Their concerns and frustrations are understandable. But the district has been on this trajectory for years. Maintaining the status quo isn’t financially sustainable or in the best interest of students.
To their credit, Cleveland leaders, including Mayor Justin Bibb, are tackling the problem head on. They’re learning from other districts. And they’re creating a blueprint for how to handle the complexities of consolidation.
First, they’ve been clear and concise about why consolidation is necessary. More than two decades of steadily declining enrollment—just 34,000 students are enrolled today, compared to 70,000 in 2004—have left many school buildings half-full and many students without access to programs and services. The district has openly acknowledged that there are students who lack “high-quality college, career, and enrichment programs in their school.” Costs to maintain and operate buildings, many of which need upgrades and repairs, have gone up. And a budget shortfall of roughly $150 million is on the horizon.
Second, they’ve outlined how consolidation will address these issues. Once implemented, CMSD’s plan will save the district an estimated $30 million each year. Among affected students, 96 percent will move to schools with equal or higher star ratings on state report cards, 100 percent will have equal or expanded academic and extracurricular opportunities, and 95 percent will attend a school located in a building that’s in equal or better physical condition.
Third, they’ve focused on engagement and gathering feedback. Outreach efforts during phase one, which began in spring 2025 and continued through the fall, included community meetings, staff meetings at all schools, discussions with both the Student Advisory and District Parent Advisory Committees, board meetings, media briefings, online resources, virtual meeting options, and presentations to civic, service, and faith-based groups. Phase two, which began in the fall, focused on impacted schools and included in-person meetings for staff and families, as well as administrators and school-based staffing groups.
Fourth, they’ve prioritized transparency. Results from a community survey conducted in April 2025 were published online. All of the district’s presentations, including the region-specific ones, are also online. Consolidation recommendations were grounded in data (student enrollment trends, building condition, and building size and use), as well as school and neighborhood factors (student outcomes, special programming, student demographics and retention, and the number of school options nearby). Data sheets containing information for every school are—you guessed it—available online.
Last but not least, they’re working to ensure that transitions are as smooth as possible. A schedule of transition activities and culture building/welcoming activities for families, students, and staff is available online. It includes family carnivals, game nights, block parties, community art shows, and farewell celebrations for buildings closing their doors. The district hosted two School Choice Expos that allowed families to connect with school leaders and get more information about neighborhood schools, magnet programs, college-credit pathways, and specialty programs. And that’s all in addition to resources the district already annually publishes, like choice books and an interactive school finder, to help families decide which district-run school is right for their child.
There’s still a long way to go before CMSD’s consolidation effort can be labeled a success. But Cleveland leaders deserve credit for working to create a better long-term future for kids instead of kicking the can down the road. Over the next few years, demographic changes will force districts across the nation to face similar decisions. Local context and needs should be paramount. But following Cleveland’s blueprint would be a great place to start.
