Pittsburgh Public Schools votes to close 9 schools. Here's which ones
For many students in Pittsburgh, next June will mark a final goodbye to their school.
On May 27, Pittsburgh Public Schools board voted to permanently shutter seven schools next month, with two more set to close the following year, according to multiple reports. Several others will see grade reconfigurations or transfer to different buildings.
After about 90 members of the public spoke, with most of them against the school closure plan, the board voted 6-2-1, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Directors Dwayne Barker, Eva Diodati, Tawana Cook Purnell, Tracey Reed, Yael Silk and Gene Walker voted in favor of the motion, while directors Devon Taliaferro and Emma Yourd voted against it. Director Erikka Grayson abstained from voting because of a conflict with her job as senior director of the Estell S. Campbell clubhouse of Boys & Girls Clubs of Wester Pennsylvania.
Here's what to know about which schools are closing.
Why are Pittsburgh schools closing?
The district began considering closing schools in 2023 because of budget deficits and buildings that weren't utilized to their fullest extent, the Post-Gazette reported.
Initially, the plan to close schools was vetoed in November following input from community members and concerns from directors. But talks of closures began again after three new board members were sworn in, and the plan was approved with few changes on May 27.
Which Pittsburgh schools are closing?
The following Pittsburgh Public Schools facilities will permanently close at the end of the 2026-2027 school year, according to reporting by the Tribune-Review:
- The Student Achievement Center (Baxter)
- Friendship PreK-5 (Montessori)
- Fulton PreK-5
- Miller PreK-5
- Manchester K-8
- Schiller 6-8
- Woolslair PreK-5
Spring Hill PreK-5 and Morrow PreK-8 are both set to close at the end of the 2028-2029 school year following renovations to Northview PreK-5, the Tribune-Review reported. Arsenal PreK-5, Allegheny 6-8, King PreK-8, Linden PreK-5, Milliones 6-12, South Brook 6-8 and South Hills 6-8 will either move to different buildings or see grade reconfigurations, the Post-Gazette reported.
Will more schools open in Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh Public Schools will open two new schools and an early childhood center, according to a press release from the district. They'll also include gifted and credit recovery programs at neighborhood schools and work to expand academic programming and athletics at these schools, the Tribune-Review reported.
Officials weigh pros, cons of Pittsburgh school closures
Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Wayne Walters said the overall plan the board approved on May 27 represented "a long-term commitment to creating a stronger, more equitable opportunity for students throughout our district," the Tribune-Review reported.
"For too long, declining enrollment, aging infrastructure and uneven access to programs and resources have created inconsistent experiences for students across our district," he said. "This plan is designed to help address those challenges by creating more modern learning environments, clearer feeder patterns, expanded academic opportunities and stronger, long-term sustainability for the district."
Closing schools will have short-term logistical benefits but "will not address the district's long-term financial challenges in a meaningful way," City Controller Rachel Heisler said in a statement to the Post-Gazette, adding that the district needs to place a priority on financial stability while making sure that "students get the most out of every dollar we spend."
Community speaks against Pittsburgh school closures
Community members gathered on May 27 ahead of the board's vote, with about 90 people registering to speak on the topic, the Post-Gazette reported. Most of them were against closing schools, and one woman was removed from the room after a vote to amend the school closure motion.
"Everyone should be ashamed," she yelled as she was led out.
In November 2025, members of the public spoke for nearly four hours against the proposed school closures, ultimately swaying board members to vote against the plan, WESA reported.
What enrollment trends show at Pittsburgh Public Schools
Some cited declining enrollment at Pittsburgh Public Schools as a reason for the school closures, the Post-Gazette reported.
In the 2024-2025 school year, the district saw about 18,312 students, according to PPS data. That's nearly 3,000 fewer students from pre-pandemic numbers, with the district enrolling 21,275 in the 2019-2020 school year.
Enrollment has been on a steady decline over the past several years, initially falling to 20,438 students in 2020-2021. Numbers continued to drop, going from 19,159 in 2021-2022 to 18,652 in 2022-2023 to 18,380 in 2023-2024.
Finch Walker is the Pittsburgh Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Walker at FWalker@usatodayco.com. Instagram: @finchwalker_. X: @_finchwalker.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pittsburgh Public Schools votes to close 9 schools. Here's which ones
Reporting by Finch Walker, USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY
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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 12:55 PM.