Seattle Public Schools identifies 21 schools in potential merger plans

Seattle Public Schools is considering merging 21 schools as the district grapples with declining enrollment and disparities in classroom conditions.

The district confirmed the list Tuesday. Multiple outlets identified 10 potential merger pairings involving elementary and K-8 schools. The proposals could move students and staff into other school buildings beginning in the 2027-28 school year. No final decisions have been made.

Enrollment has fallen from more than 94,000 students in 1964 to fewer than 50,000 today. Superintendent Ben Shuldiner has acknowledged that some of the decline was driven by district decisions, including changes in leadership, programs and policies.

Shuldiner says the district needs to address unequal learning conditions, including classrooms divided by bookcases, split-grade classes and limited access to specialist teachers. He wants students across the district to have better learning environments and more consistent access to special education services.

“I think that the community is being heard, but again, we’re starting with the ones that might be impacted,” Schuldiner told KIRO 7 TV. “So, the staff, the families of the kids in the schools that might be or might not be, and then the broader community.”

Which Seattle schools could merge?

The district is considering the following pairings:

Licton Springs K-8 School could merge with Salmon Bay K-8 School
Sacajawea Elementary School / John Rogers Elementary School
Rainier View Elementary School / Rising Star Elementary School
John Hay Elementary School / Queen Anne Elementary School
Stevens Elementary School / Montlake Elementary School
Orca K-8 School / Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School / Mercer Middle School
Decatur Elementary School / View Ridge Elementary School
Captain Stephen E. Sanislo Elementary School / Highland Park Elementary School
Sandpoint Elementary School / Laurelhurst Elementary School
Cedar Park Elementary School / James Baldwin Elementary School

When will Seattle Public Schools decide on mergers?

The district is meeting with principals and staff at the schools under consideration. Family meetings are planned for November and December, followed by community meetings and public hearings in January and February.

The Seattle School Board could take final action in late February or early March 2027.

The district has said families affected by an approved closure would receive priority during open enrollment. It also plans to extend the transfer application window until one week after a possible board decision.

The merger discussions come nearly two years after Seattle Public Schools abandoned an earlier proposal to close four schools following community opposition. The latest process will give affected school communities additional opportunities to weigh in before the board makes its decision.

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