The Denver School Board has approved a four-year hiatus on school closures, even though a recent report indicates that Colorado’s largest school district will need to consider shutting down more buildings by 2030 due to declining enrollment.
The Board of Education had previously attempted to establish a three-year pause on closures, which was rejected in May. In a split vote of 4-2 on Thursday, the board members supported the four-year moratorium, responding to the community’s concerns about potential school closings in the near future.
Board President Carrie Olson acknowledged the need to eventually close schools, stating, “I know we’re going to need to close schools in the next five years.” However, she, along with other board members who backed the decision, highlighted that constituents want guarantees that the district will refrain from closures in one or two upcoming years.
This decision follows the district’s closure of seven schools this year and plans to restructure three more due to decreasing enrollment numbers. In fact, DPS closed three additional schools in 2023 alone. Olson explained that the community desires time to stabilize and adapt to changes, emphasizing, “They wanted time to be able to build their community.”
The ongoing uncertainty regarding school closures has contributed to stress among educators and families. Director Scott Esserman mentioned that the temporary pause aims to alleviate this tension and foster trust within the community.
Some board members, however, expressed their disagreement with the policy change. Vice President Marlene De La Rosa characterized the decision as a “false promise,” arguing that the necessity for closures could still arise due to falling enrollment numbers.
De La Rosa warned, “Waiting another four years to make decisions … would have an incredible impact on the quality of education we provide students.”
Under the newly established policy, Superintendent Alex Marrero must refrain from proposing additional school closures until the academic year 2029-30. Previously, if Marrero had intended to recommend school closures, he was required to do so annually in August, with board votes concluding by November.
The updated policy restricts Marrero to a four-year wait unless there is a substantial change in enrollment or funding. Starting fall 2026, he will also have the authority to close schools due to poor academic performance.
Board member John Youngquist previously opposed the three-year pause, citing confidence in Marrero and his team’s effectiveness in managing the school closure process on an annual basis. Youngquist suggested that the four-year hiatus could limit the superintendent’s ability to act.
Currently, DPS enrollment stands at approximately 90,450 students, having surged in recent years due to an influx of immigrant children, yet it remains below the peak enrollment of 92,112 five years ago. A recent report from the district indicates a projected decline of 8%, equating to around 6,005 students, by 2029.
The report identifies specific areas in northwest, southwest, and central Denver as likely candidates for future school closures due to the sharpest declines in enrollment. During the meeting, De La Rosa inquired if closing more than ten schools would be necessary if the district postponed decisions to 2029, to which Marrero replied affirmatively.
Shifts in housing prices and gentrification are altering family demographics in Denver, leading to declining enrollment in some regions, particularly in northwest Denver, while enrollment rises in areas like far northeast Denver. As a result, the composition of DPS’s student body is becoming increasingly affluent and predominantly white.
Board member Xóchitl “Sochi” Gaytán recognized the urgency of the issue but advocated for the community’s need for a pause to heal before future discussions on school closures occur. Gaytán reiterated, “This is an opportunity to let the superintendent know that my community deserves time to heal and then we can come back and have this conversation again.”
Last November, the board made the decision to close seven schools primarily due to the declining enrollment trends. Furthermore, the district is set to restructure three schools — the DCIS Baker 6-12, Dora Moore ECE-8 School, and Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy — to accommodate fewer students.
The recent closures include Castro Elementary, Columbian Elementary, Palmer Elementary, Schmitt Elementary, International Academy of Denver at Harrington, West Middle School, and Denver School of Innovation and Sustainable Design.
This declining enrollment trend is not isolated to Denver; other school districts across Colorado, including Jeffco Public Schools and the Douglas County School District, have also opted to close schools in response to the falling student numbers.
As the Denver School Board puts this hiatus into effect, it remains to be seen how community dynamics evolve and what lasting impacts the upcoming years will have on educational infrastructure.
image source from：https://www.denverpost.com/2025/06/12/denver-school-closures-four-year-halt/
