Winston-Salem Board to Vote on Cook Elementary Sale
The school board will consider selling the former elementary school property on October 28.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Primary Education
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Should your local school board sell closed school properties rather than repurposing them?
The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board is scheduled to vote on the sale of the Cook Elementary School property on October 28, 2026. The school closed following the 2025-2026 academic year due to low enrollment and aging infrastructure.
Why it matters
The sale of the 10.4-acre site in the Boston Thurmond neighborhood follows a previous board decision to declare the property as surplus. The move comes after the school's closure and the subsequent transition of its student body to other local campuses.
The school property covers 10.4 acres and carries a $3.2 million valuation. Approximately 186 students were relocated from the site to Whittaker, Kimberly Park, and Ashley Elementary Schools following the closure.
The players
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board
This local governing body manages the public school district and makes final determinations regarding property ownership and facility closures.
Cook Elementary School
This educational institution served the local community in the Boston Thurmond neighborhood before closing its doors due to declining enrollment.
The details
The board is moving to divest from the site located on West 11th Street after shifting the student population to neighboring schools. While this campus prepares for sale, students from the district are looking toward upcoming infrastructure milestones, including the opening of the new Brunson Elementary School building after winter break.
Timeline
Cook Elementary School closed at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.
The school board will vote on the sale of the property on October 28, 2026.
Culture Shift
The potential sale reflects a broader trend of school districts consolidating facilities to address shifting neighborhood demographics and the rising costs of maintaining aging infrastructure. This move follows the North Carolina school facility surplus land statutes for the disposal of non-operational properties.
Residents in the Boston Thurmond neighborhood may see changes to the West 11th Street property as the school board moves to sell the land. Families previously served by the school continue their education at other designated sites like Whittaker, Kimberly Park, and Ashley Elementary.
The takeaway
The upcoming vote marks a final step in the transition for the former Cook Elementary School site. Local stakeholders should monitor the board meeting to understand how the disposal of this 10.4-acre property may reshape the surrounding neighborhood.
Further reading
Learn more about local academic facility planning in the Primary Education section.
Live Poll
Should your local school board sell closed school properties rather than repurposing them?
