Seattle Public Schools considers merging 21 campuses due to enrollment

Seattle Public Schools Weighs Mergers for 21 Campuses as Enrollment Slips

“For a lot of families, I think it’s just unsettling,” said Angie, a parent of a 1st grader. Seattle Public Schools has initiated a months-long outreach process that could lead to school closures, asking families and staff across 21 campuses to provide feedback before any decisions are finalized, KOMO News reported.

The district’s outreach follows parental pushback against a 2024 merger proposal. That earlier effort originally targeted 21 schools before being scaled down to four, and eventually scrapped entirely when the school board withdrew its closure recommendation. Now, the district is revisiting the structural map.

If current merger discussions translate into policy, daily life could change at schools like Salmon Bay K-8 in Ballard. Salmon Bay and Licton Springs—another K-8 school operating less than a mile away—are both listed among the 21 facilities under review. The district points to declining enrollment, uneven building conditions, staffing challenges, and private enrollment as key drivers behind the financial strain.

Seattle Public Schools identifies 21 schools in merger discussion amid enrollment drop

“All options have to be on the table for us to remain solvent,” Superintendent Brent Jones reiterated, emphasizing that while the budget is balanced for now, the district is spending more than it takes in and drawing down its reserves.

What Parents at Salmon Bay and Beyond Are Saying

Families learned of the potential changes through email notifications sent out by the district. Notifications reached communities at the following schools: Licton Springs/Salmon Bay, Sacajawea/John Rogers, Rainier View/Rising Star, John Hay/Queen Anne, Stevens/Montlake, Orca/MLK (K-5)/Mercer (6-8), Decatur/View Ridge, Sanislo/Highland Park, Sandpoint/Laurelhurst, and Cedar Park/Baldwin.

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For students and parents, the announcement brings anxiety. “The teachers are amazing,” said Noah, a student at Salmon Bay. His mother, Heather, noted she appreciates that the district is not making any decisions until it talks to families. Parents at Salmon Bay will have a direct opportunity to meet with Superintendent Brent Jones and other district officials to share feedback on December 11.

“I feel like there are solutions and I think it is important to look at all of the options and get all the information,” Heather said, though she admitted that uncertainty still dominates household conversations. “I think we have more questions than anything right now.”

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Other families have already altered their plans in response to the district’s situation. Angie confirmed her household changed course. “We switched to private school,” she said, pointing out that uncertainty about the district’s direction weighs on families.

Looking Ahead at the Criteria and Timeline

District officials maintain that no decisions have been made. According to correspondence sent to families, the primary goals of the upcoming November and December meetings are transparent communication, listening to questions, and gathering feedback as the district considers what may be the best path forward.

Seattle Public Schools revisits school mergers amid budget concerns

When weighing which facilities might merge, Seattle Public Schools is evaluating specific criteria. These include improved learning spaces, reducing the number of split-grade classes and increasing access to specialist teachers, among other factors.

As the December meetings approach, families across all 21 impacted school communities are preparing to share feedback.