More communities are closing schools. The cuts may not be enough

Public school closures across the United States are accelerating as districts struggle with declining birth rates and shrinking budgets. A report from The Hechinger Report notes that 1,156 schools closed last year, the highest number since the pandemic. Despite these closures, research suggests they often fail to provide significant financial relief, as enrollment drops faster than campuses can be shuttered, leaving districts facing difficult long-term financial decisions.