Cleveland schools announces merger plan with nearly 30 fewer schools

Cleveland Metropolitan School District announced Wednesday a consolidation plan that will impact every corner of the district and city.

If the plan is approved by the board of education when it votes in early December, the district will close 18 buildings, end five leases and have 29 fewer schools operating starting in the 2026-2027 school year. Students and staff will move into the remaining buildings.

If approved, the district will have 45 elementary schools, down from 61 schools at 62 buildings, and 14 high schools, down from 27 schools at 23 buildings.

The district has seen its enrollment drop by half since the early 2000s, down to about 34,000 students as of 2024, and officials have said the district is facing budget challenges as costs rise and state and federal funding declines.