Full list shows JCPS schools considered for closure, updates

JCPS plans for school closures

Jefferson County Public Schools plans to close or consolidate five schools in the next school year as part of a broader cost‑saving strategy. District leaders also warn that additional closures may occur later if financial and enrollment trends do not improve.

Reasons for the proposed changes

Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood explained that the decisions are guided by the district’s Facility Profile Index, which evaluates buildings by condition, operating costs and student enrollment. The index was created by the operations department to track how efficiently each facility uses district resources.

Role of the Facility Profile Index

According to the Facility Profile Index, ten schools are labeled “critical,” and four of them are included in this first round of cuts. The index helps the district identify campuses where maintenance needs and low enrollment make continued operation difficult to justify.

Liberty High School exception

One school recommended for closure, Liberty High School, is not ranked among the top 20 critical buildings in the index. JCPS states that Liberty is slated to close because other schools already provide credit‑recovery programs, which was Liberty’s main purpose.

Possible future closures

District officials emphasize that this plan focuses on the 2025–26 school year, but they cannot rule out more closures in the future. Leaders link the current moves to ongoing efforts to manage a significant budget shortfall while maintaining educational services.

“Our Facility Profile Index informed the majority of these decisions. It was a way to track the return on the investment in our facilities.”

Author’s summary

The JCPS plan uses facility data and overlapping programs to justify closing or consolidating five schools now, while leaving the door open to more cuts if finances and enrollment continue to strain the district.

WDRB — 2025-11-26