Six Wichita elementary and middle schools are on the list to potentially close

Laura McMillan
·2 min read

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Wichita Public Schools staff is recommending the closure of two middle schools and four elementary schools as a way to save the district money.

The middle schools are Hadley and Jardine STEM and Career Explorations Academy. The elementary schools are Clark, Park, Payne, and Cleaveland Traditional Magnet Elementary School.

Wichita Public Schools Financial Director Susan Willis announced the schools during Monday night’s Board of Education meeting.

Staff considered many factors when choosing which schools to recommend for closure, including enrollment declines, the condition of the buildings, and proximity to schools that have room for new students.

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WPS Superintendent Kelly Bielefeld said Hadley has fewer than 500 students who will be impacted by the change. Jardine has fewer than 575 students. He said the elementary schools have less than 350 students.

The BOE plans to hold a public hearing on Feb. 29 and then vote on the closures on March 4.

If the BOE approves the closing of the schools, Bielefeld said these are the schools that will welcome the students this fall:

  • Hadley students would go to Hamilton, John Marshall, Pleasant Valley or Wilbur Middle Schools.

  • Jardine students would go to Meade Middle School.

  • Clark students would go to Caldwell, Beech or Allen Elementary Schools.

  • Park students would go to Irving, Washington Accelerated Learning, Harry Street, or Linwood Elementary Schools.

  • Payne students would go to Lawrence, Stanley, or Woodman Elementary Schools.

  • Cleaveland is a pure traditional magnet school. It doesn’t have a neighborhood, so there are no designated welcoming schools.

You can find an interactive map below. To view the key, click on the box in the top left corner of the map.

Families affected will get more information the week of Feb. 19. WPS plans to put more information on its website Monday night. Go to usd259.org/transform24.

Bielefeld wants the final decision about school closures to happen before spring break begins on March 11. He said this will give the school district time to prepare students, parents, teachers and staff for the drastic change in their lives.

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Three weeks ago, Willis told the BOE that the district is facing a $42 million shortfall in the 2024-2025 budget. She gave the BOE two options to save $16 million: close some old schools that need costly repairs or lay off staff.

Willis said the number of staff cuts would be equivalent to 230 teachers. She also pointed out that saving old school buildings could cost the district a billion dollars in repairs over the next five years, putting the district in worse financial shape.

The BOE chose school closures.

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