The role neighborhood schools once played as the center of community life is dwindling as public schools shutter 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, including several in Cleveland.

• Urban Institute research dating back to 2003 found that closures happened across urban, suburban and rural geographies and socioeconomic statuses.

Threat level: More districts may be forced to close schools after pandemic-era funding, which many institutions used to plug budget holes, expires at the end of this year, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities cautions.

State of play: Closures are most often driven by district budget shortfalls caused by declining enrollment.

• Americans are having fewer children and parents have more charter and public school options than ever. This means fewer public school students, and ultimately less per-pupil government funding for districts.

Zoom in: In Cleveland, the school district is pursuing a significant new levy this year to address the funding shortfall.

Between the lines: The most severe impacts of closures tend to occur in poor, urban neighborhoods without recreation centers, parks, or other facilities that can absorb the role of community hub forfeited by the school, UC Davis Department of Human Ecology associate professor Noli Brazil tells Axios.

• Schools are more than just academic institutions. Neighborhood associations hold meetings in cafeterias. Gymnasiums are used as polling places on Election Day. Health clinics and food pantries offer services there on the weekends.

The intrigue: Repurposing closed buildings can mitigate the damage of a school closure, Urban Institute principal researcher Megan Gallagher told Axios.

• Two shuttered Cleveland-area schools are in the process of being adapted into housing.

Go deeper

The NFL star known as the "kid from Athens" is far and away the highest-paid athlete in Ohio, salary data from Spotrac shows.

State of play: Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is in the middle of a five-year, $275 million contract signed after he led the team to Super Bowl LVI.

• That's tied for the second-biggest contract in the NFL.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is second in Ohio, though his contract is reportedly in doubt following another accusation of sexual assault.

• Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, both Cleveland Cavaliers guards, are the highest basketball earners.
• Cleveland Guardians infielder and perennial MVP candidate José Ramírez barely made the Top 10.

Between the lines: Mitchell's three-year contract extension signed this offseason will net him an average of $50 million annually over the next three years.

Yes, but: There are no MLS or NHL players on the list.

• Luciano Acosta of FC Cincinnati earns $4.2 million, while Diego Rossi's $3.4 million salary tops the Columbus Crew.
• Zach Werenski is the highest-paid Blue Jacket, set to earn $9.6 million this upcoming season.

👔 The Small Business Administration has named Ohio the sixth best place in America to start a small business. (News 5)

🪗 "Weird Al" Yankovic will bring his Bigger & Weirder tour to Blossom Music Center on Sept. 13, 2025. (Stereogum)

🤕 Browns Pro Bowl guard Wyatt Teller will miss multiple weeks and could go on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury against the New York Giants. (ESPN)

🏠 Worthy of your time: A look at why more working-class Clevelanders are winding up homeless. (Signal Cleveland)

"Pound for pound, the best fans in the league," reads an orange and brown Bud Light banner draped at Mackenzie Pub.

Why it matters: It's the Minneapolis Browns Backers bar, and for this local Browns fan, it was a hell of lot more exhilarating to see than the Browns themselves.

State of play: Located on Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis — a short walk from the hotel where Axios Local is encamped this week — the "American bar with Scotch flavor" offers a huge selection of craft beers and pub grub.

• Our Axios Minneapolis colleagues tell us there are a number of Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers outposts in the Twin Cities, but few other teams have dedicated watering holes for game days.

💭 Sam's thought bubble: The interior vibe is reminiscent of Gillespie's Map Room on West 9th Street.

• Appropriately enough, the Tuesday afternoon crowd was yakking about football when I dropped in yesterday.