LAUSD school closure discussions will ramp up as fewer students enroll

The Los Angeles Unified School District’s falling enrollment and fiscal challenges are fueling conversations planned for later this year about potential school closures and consolidation.

District leaders presented a snapshot of LAUSD’s finances Tuesday, showing steeper enrollment declines and lower state revenue and reserves than previously projected. The board adopted a $3.5 billion savings plan alongside the most recent budget in June that, among other cuts, envisions saving $30 million a year through school consolidation and repurposing in the 2028-29 school year.

“Our goal is not simply to have fewer schools; our goal is to have stronger schools, schools that are better resourced, schools that offer more programs for our students,” said Superintendent Andrés Chait.

LAUSD staff project that the district will run out of money during the 2027-2028 school year if it does not implement the cuts in the fiscal stabilization plan.

The L.A. County Office of Education assigned a fiscal expert to the district in July and warned LAUSD was at risk of losing the power to govern itself without further changes to its spending. The district eliminated more than 600 jobs in May, largely in its central offices, as part of a prior savings plan.

Almost 4% fewer students than expected are attending LAUSD schools this academic year compared to last year, according to preliminary data. The district’s chief financial officer said that each 1% drop in enrollment is a loss of about $20 million a year because California funds schools based on how many students show up to class each day.

Chait said the district will start holding community conversations related to school closures in the next few weeks and will share more details during a Sept. 22 meeting.