Milwaukee Schools Weigh Closures Amid Building Strain

Milwaukee Public Schools is holding community meetings on which schools to close, add programs to, or rebuild.

Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Administration

Vector editorial illustration of a single aging brick schoolhouse with tall windows and a bare flagpole on a quiet urban block, evoking a building future decision. — Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Brenda Cassellius is weighing closures of five low-enrollment schools in largely Black near north side neighborhoods after consultants' recommendations. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should Milwaukee close low-enrollment schools to fund newer buildings?

Milwaukee Public Schools is holding community meetings to decide which schools to close, add programs to, or rebuild. Consultants recommended closing five low-enrollment schools in largely Black neighborhoods on the near north side of Milwaukee.

Why it matters

The district has too many aging buildings and not enough students to fill them, forcing decisions that affect families across the city. Superintendent Dr. Brenda Cassellius has moved away from the consultants' list, favoring input from families and a broader set of building criteria.

Consultants recommended closing five schools, a year before the current meetings, and Cassellius hopes to use $355 million to build three new schools. The final list of closures has not been set.

The players

Dr. Brenda Cassellius

Superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools, who has moved away from the consultants' closure list and favors evaluating enrollment, building age, and accessibility.

The details

Cassellius prefers talking with families and then evaluating enrollment and building age before deciding. Under the consultants' plan, Auer Avenue and Keefe Avenue schools would send students to Andrew S. Douglas Elementary, while Hopkins Lloyd Community School, Siefert Elementary and Clarke Street School would each send students to a different school. Criteria under consideration include enrollment, building age, deferred maintenance and ADA accessibility.

A year before the current meetings, consultants recommended closing five low-enrollment schools.
Nov. 3: Elections were held, affecting the district's funding outlook.
Nov. 9: The second-to-last community meeting was held at Brown Street Academy.
Monday, Nov. 16, 6 p.m.: A final community meeting will be held at North Division High School.

Seasonal Patterns

Urban school districts across the country have been consolidating buildings as enrollment falls while maintenance costs rise, a pattern Milwaukee now faces in its own facilities review. The decisions in Milwaukee echo that broader pattern of balancing aging buildings against shrinking student rolls.

Families with children at the affected schools should attend the final community meeting on Monday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. at North Division High School to share input before the district finalizes its plan. The district will hold one more meeting before a closures plan goes to the school board.

The takeaway

Families who want a say in school closures should attend the remaining community meetings, since the district is still gathering input before finalizing its plan. Watching how criteria like enrollment, building age, and accessibility are weighted will show which schools are most likely to change.