Kingsley Elementary Closure Leaves Evanston Families Scrambling

Families in Evanston’s central neighborhoods received devastating news this week: Kingsley Elementary School will close its doors permanently at the end of this academic year, citing insurmountable financial difficulties that have plagued the institution for months.

The announcement has left parents scrambling to find alternative schooling options for their children, while students grapple with saying goodbye to teachers and classmates they expected to see through graduation. The closure affects approximately 180 students from kindergarten through fifth grade, many of whom live within walking distance of the Foster Street campus.

“My daughter has been at Kingsley since kindergarten, and now she’s supposed to start over somewhere else in fourth grade,” said Maria Santos, whose family lives three blocks from the school. “This isn’t just about finding another school. This is about losing a community.”

Kingsley Elementary, which opened in 1924, has served as an anchor institution in the neighborhood for nearly a century. The school’s financial troubles began mounting two years ago when enrollment dropped below projected numbers, leading to reduced per-pupil funding from the state. Administrative costs continued to outpace revenue, creating a budget shortfall that school officials say became impossible to bridge.

School board president Jennifer Walsh confirmed the closure decision during an emergency meeting Tuesday night, attended by dozens of parents who pleaded for alternative solutions. The board explored options including merging with nearby institutions and seeking emergency funding, but ultimately determined that keeping Kingsley operational would jeopardize the district’s overall financial stability.

“This decision breaks our hearts, but we have a responsibility to ensure the long-term viability of all our schools,” Walsh told the packed auditorium. “We’ve exhausted every avenue to keep Kingsley open while maintaining the quality education our families deserve.”

The closure reflects broader challenges facing local school districts across the Chicago metropolitan area, where declining birth rates and shifting demographics have created enrollment pressures that directly impact school funding formulas. Illinois’ per-pupil funding model ties revenue to attendance, creating a particularly acute problem for smaller schools that struggle to maintain critical mass.

Evanston Township High School District 202 Superintendent Devon Horton acknowledged that Kingsley’s situation mirrors concerns at other elementary feeders in the area. Three additional schools in the district have enrollment numbers that administrators consider “unsustainable” for long-term operation, though no immediate closure plans have been announced.

“We’re seeing families move out of the area, and birth rates have declined significantly over the past decade,” Horton explained. “These demographic shifts create real challenges for maintaining neighborhood schools, especially in areas where housing costs are pushing young families elsewhere.”

Parents at Tuesday’s meeting pressed board members for more time to organize fundraising efforts or seek private donations to keep Kingsley operational. Several proposed reducing administrative positions or combining classes to cut costs, suggestions that board members said they had already considered and determined insufficient to address the budget gap.

The school’s Parent Teacher Association launched a petition drive Wednesday morning, hoping to gather enough signatures to request intervention from state education officials. PTA president Nicole Chen said the group has identified potential donors willing to provide emergency funding, but acknowledged that any private assistance would likely offer only a temporary solution.

“We’re fighting for our school, but we’re also realistic about what we’re up against,” Chen said. “Even if we raise enough money to stay open next year, we need a long-term plan that addresses the enrollment and funding issues.”

District officials have begun working with families to identify placement options at other elementary schools in the area. Roosevelt Elementary, located 1.2 miles east, has capacity to absorb most Kingsley students, though parents worry about transportation challenges and the disruption of changing schools mid-elementary career.

The closure decision has also raised concerns about property values in the neighborhoods surrounding Kingsley, where many families specifically chose their homes based on proximity to the well-regarded elementary school. Real estate agents report that several properties currently on the market have already seen reduced interest from potential buyers with school-age children.

Local alderman Sarah Martinez has requested a meeting with district administrators to discuss the broader implications of the closure, including potential uses for the Kingsley building and campus. The property, valued at approximately $2.3 million, could be sold to help offset district debt or repurposed for community programming.

“This closure affects more than just current students and families,” Martinez noted. “Kingsley Elementary has been part of this neighborhood’s identity for generations. We need to think carefully about what comes next for that space and how we maintain community connections.”

The timeline for Kingsley’s closure remains fluid, with administrators working to ensure all students complete the current academic year without disruption. Teachers and staff have been notified that their positions will be eliminated, though district officials say they’re working to place as many employees as possible in other schools within the system.

For students like fifth-grader James Thompson, who planned to graduate from Kingsley in May, the closure means missing out on traditions and milestones they had anticipated for years. The school’s annual spring carnival, graduation ceremony, and end-of-year celebration will mark not just the end of another academic year, but the end of an era for the Foster Street campus.

“I wanted to walk across the stage where my mom graduated,” Thompson said after Tuesday’s meeting. “Now I don’t know where I’ll be going to school next year.”

The district has scheduled additional community meetings for the coming weeks to address parent questions and concerns about the transition process. Officials say they remain committed to ensuring displaced students receive continuity of services and support as they adjust to new school environments.