Community Weighs School Closures in Tornado-Damaged St. Louis Neighborhood

Sat Oct 18 2025 17:37:46 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As St. Louis grapples with declining school enrollment and tornado damage, the potential closure of schools threatens a historically Black community with deep roots and significant alumni.

In light of significant enrollment drops and severe tornado damage, St. Louis Public Schools is contemplating closures, including one of its historically Black high schools. The discussion raises concerns from community members about the loss of vital educational institutions in a neighborhood that has already seen substantial decline in population and opportunity. City officials and educational experts weigh the implications of such measures on students and the surrounding community.

Thomasina Clarke has watched school after school close in her once thriving St. Louis neighborhood, which was hit by a tornado this spring and whose population has plummeted in recent decades.

“It’s like a hole in the community,” Clarke said. She fears a new round of closure discussions could strip the historically Black community of a storm-damaged high school, whose alumni include Tina Turner and Chuck Berry.

St. Louis Public Schools is among the districts nationwide weighing how many urban schools to keep open due to shrinking budgets, the falling birthrate and a growing school choice movement. A recent report found that the school system has more than twice the schools it needs.

Such decisions are gut wrenching. Operating half-empty schools is a financial strain, but research shows kids often fare badly after closures.

In multiple cities like Philadelphia and Boston, discussions around school closures are ongoing, while public outcry has temporarily halted such plans in places like Seattle and San Francisco.

How many public schools will close?

Enrollments have dropped 20% or more at nearly 1 in 12 public schools from 2019 to 2023, affecting around 5,100 schools, according to a report. Many are in high poverty neighborhoods.

According to forecasts, public school enrollment is projected to fall 5.5% between 2022 and 2031 due to demographic shifts and rising private education or homeschooling.

Despite federal funding keeping some schools operational through the pandemic, the end of relief measures has brought enrollment challenges into sharp focus.

“Public school enrollment is declining and it’s going to continue to fall for years,” said education reform director Aaron Garth Smith.

Chicago closures led to student struggles

After Chicago shuttered around 50 schools in 2013— the largest school closure in U.S. history— research found that bullying and violence increased among displaced students. Though some academic recovery occurred, math performance issues lingered.

Under pressure from the teachers union, Chicago issued a moratorium on closures through 2027, with around one-third of classroom seats still empty.

Possible closures rattle a community

St. Louis's student population dropped from 115,543 in 1967 to 18,122 last year. This number may further decline as residents leave their tornado-damaged homes. Several schools did not open due to damage.

During discussions over proposed closures, board member Donna Jones expressed disbelief at the claims that the district cannot support all its schools.

“Stop playing like we’re not living in a catastrophe here,” she remarked.

Despite the challenges, there are community efforts to revitalize schools like Sumner, which recently faced closure discussions.

“It just adds more trauma already to those who are suffering,” said Ray Cummings of the AFT St. Louis Local 420. “Those neighborhoods need hope.”

A promising student regains focus

Dakota Scott, now a freshman at the University of Missouri, credits Sumner with helping her turn her academic life around after struggling at a magnet school.

“Sumner helped me get on track,” Scott said, participating in various extracurricular activities as she excelled. The resilience of the community offers hope that schools can be revitalized even in the face of significant adversity.