# Chicago school board candidates split on closing schools > Chicago school board candidates disagree on whether to close under-enrolled schools, with one opposing closures and others pushing for community input first. - Title: Chicago school board candidates split on closing schools - Summary: Chicago school board candidates disagree on whether to close under-enrolled schools, with one opposing closures and others pushing for community input first… - Keywords: chicago, school board, school closures, chicago teachers union, cps, englewood stem, sustainable community schools, school board president, community engagement, school consolidation, student enrollment, school board candidates - Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2026/09/17/should-chicago-close-more-schools-candidates-for-school-board-president-diverge-on-key-issue - Published: 2026-09-17T19:48:36.828+00:00 - Read time: 1 min - Topics: chicago, school board, school closures, chicago teachers union, cps, englewood stem, sustainable community schools, school board president, community engagement, school consolidation, student enrollment, school board candidates ## School closures debate Chicago school closures became a political issue after 2013 mass closures by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel. > They don’t save money. They don’t improve academics. But what they do do is destroy our neighborhoods by increasing gun violence in the areas around those closed schools. ## 2013 closures impact Student enrollment dropped 25% in Chicago since 2013, with over a dozen high schools at 20% capacity. ## Current candidates Four candidates: Jessica Biggs, Hilario Dominguez, Victor Henderson, and Sendhil Revuluri. ## Dominguez stance Dominguez opposes school closures, citing neighborhood violence increases near closed schools. > They don’t save money. They don’t improve academics. But what they do do is destroy our neighborhoods by increasing gun violence in the areas around those closed schools. ## Biggs position Biggs supports community input before school closures to avoid past distrust. > We cannot repeat a top-down mass closure experience. ## Henderson approach Henderson wants community input on alternatives like Boys & Girls Clubs for under-enrolled schools. > There may be a neighborhood that says, We only have 10 or 15 kids in the school, and we would rather have a Boys and Girls Club so people can have some place to go after school to decrease violence. ## Revuluri proposal Revuluri supports closing under-enrolled high schools to improve educational quality. > It’s not about politics. It’s not about budgets. It’s about giving our students a quality educational experience. ## 2013 closure aftermath Over half of closed schools remain unused after 2013 closures, with many buildings in disrepair. ## Englewood STEM example Englewood STEM High School opened in 2019 after closing four struggling schools. > I didn’t know school could be like this. ## Sustainable Schools Chicago has a program to add wraparound services to schools, but results have been mixed. > Schools in the program have higher graduation rates but increased absenteeism and enrollment drops. ## Community concerns Parents and teachers have fought school closures despite multiple community meetings. ## 2013 study findings 2013 closures caused test score drops and increased neighborhood gun violence. ## Current debate The moratorium on school closures ends in January as the first elected school board takes office. ## Key issue Chicago school board candidates disagree on whether to close schools, with one opposing closures and others pushing for community input first. ## Key takeaway Chicago school closures could harm neighborhoods and students if rushed without community engagement.