How shuttered school buildings impact neighborhoods
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Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios
The role of neighborhood schools as centers of community life is dwindling as public schools close in San Antonio and across America.
Why it matters: School closures have well-documented impacts on academic outcomes, but more recent research shows they also can lower housing values, raise crime rates and diminish the social fabric of a neighborhood.
The big picture: More than 5,000 public schools closed across the U.S. between 2017 and 2022, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics.
- Urban Institute research dating back to 2003 found that closures happened across urban, suburban and rural areas and socioeconomic statuses.
State of play: The San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD), facing declining enrollment, shuttered 10 elementary campuses and three early childhood centers ahead of the current school year. Two more buildings are slated to close in the near future.
- The Edgewood Independent School District (EISD) also decided last fall to close Winston Intermediate School of Excellence and Wrenn Middle School.
- The closures affect primarily Hispanic families on the near East, West and South sides of the city, where families tend to have lower incomes.
Zoom in: A new report from the Counselors of Real Estate (CRE) Consulting Corps outlines potential ways to repurpose SAISD's empty school buildings into community hubs.
- The ideas range from leasing the properties to the city for health clinics, housing or job training centers to converting the schools' green spaces into community parks.
Between the lines: Schools are more than just academic institutions. Neighborhood associations hold meetings in cafeterias. Gymnasiums are used as polling places. Health clinics and food pantries offer services there on the weekends.
Zoom out: Repurposing closed buildings can mitigate the damage of a school closure, Urban Institute principal researcher Megan Gallagher tells Axios.
- Austin ISD is converting two former school properties into 600 apartments with affordable rents for district employees.
- A shuttered school in Washington, D.C., was converted to a recreation center last year and a school in the Cleveland area will become affordable housing for older adults.
What's next: SAISD will begin the formal repurposing process this fall after hiring a consultant to manage the request for proposal process.
- The district recently concluded a series of seven meetings to gather community input. A panel meeting, which will be open to the public, is scheduled for Sept. 23.
- EISD held a similar meeting in May. District spokesperson Lauren Blevins tells Axios there are no updates now, but upcoming news will be posted here.