LONG BEACH, CA — The Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a proposal to close two elementary schools serving a combined 785 students, a move administrators say is necessary to address declining enrollment and the rising cost of maintaining underused campuses.
Under the recommendation, Edison Elementary School at 625 Maine Ave. in Long Beach and Gompers Elementary School at 5206 Briercrest Ave. in Lakewood would close at the end of the 2026–27 academic year. The board will also consider redrawing attendance boundaries to accommodate students at five neighboring elementary schools.
According to district documents accompanying Wednesday's Board of Education agenda, Edison currently enrolls 415 students and operates at approximately 44 percent of its program capacity, while Gompers has 370 students and operates at approximately 38 percent capacity.
Nearly 40 percent of Edison's students attend through the district's School of Choice process, which allows families to apply to schools outside their assigned attendance areas.
The closure recommendation, listed as Item 17.1 on Wednesday's agenda, follows an October review in which administrators examined enrollment trends, school capacity, educational needs and the district's long-term financial sustainability.
District officials attribute falling enrollment partly to lower birth rates and the rising cost of living, pressures that have affected public school systems throughout California.
In fall 2023, Long Beach Unified established a 12-member School Capacities Working Group to evaluate campus utilization, classroom sizes, enrollment projections and the space needed to maintain educational programs.
The group's findings helped inform the recommendation to close Edison and Gompers, which administrators formally presented to the board Oct. 7.
In an Oct. 9 announcement explaining the proposal, the district said it considered the proximity of neighboring schools, their ability to accommodate additional students and the importance of maintaining access to educational services.
Officials also cited the need for temporary facilities during bond-funded school modernization projects. Closing underused campuses could allow the district to relocate students and programs during construction, potentially avoiding the expense of additional temporary classrooms.
Other possible uses include professional development, specialized educational programs and district operations. However, the staff report does not identify specific financial savings from the proposed closures or establish permanent future uses for either campus.
A separate proposal, listed as Item 17.2, would consolidate the attendance boundaries of Edison and Gompers among five neighboring elementary schools beginning in the 2027–28 academic year. Under the proposed changes, Edison's attendance area would be divided between Oropeza and Chavez elementary schools.
Oropeza's boundary would expand west from Chestnut Avenue to Magnolia Avenue, while Chavez's boundary would extend north to 15th Street, adjoining Oropeza's revised western boundary. Gompers' attendance area would be redistributed among Twain, MacArthur and Cleveland elementary schools.
Twain's boundary would extend north to Candlewood Street between Clark Avenue and Bellflower Boulevard. MacArthur's boundary would expand north to South Street between Bellflower Boulevard and Dunrobin Avenue, while Cleveland's boundary would extend north to South Street and west to Dunrobin Avenue.
The district's Oct. 21 board agenda and accompanying boundary maps provide further details about the proposed changes. The boundary adjustments would take effect for the 2027–28 school year if approved.
The proposed closures have generated opposition from parents and community members who say the loss of neighborhood schools would disrupt families, particularly those who rely on walking to school or have children receiving specialized services.
During the Oct. 7 board meeting, parents questioned the district's capacity calculations and whether closing campuses would produce meaningful financial savings. Lakewood Mayor Jeff Wood also attended the meeting to oppose the proposed closure of Gompers, which is located within his city.
As reported by the Long Beach Post, some parents expressed concerns about longer journeys to school, the loss of established support networks and potential disruption to students with disabilities.
District administrators have maintained that educational services would continue for affected students, while acknowledging the challenges families could face if the closures proceed.
The Long Beach Unified Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 21, at district headquarters, 1515 Hughes Way, Long Beach. The public session begins at 5 p.m., following an earlier closed session.
Board members are expected to consider the school closure recommendation and proposed attendance-boundary changes as separate agenda items. If approved, both campuses would remain open through the end of the 2026–27 academic year, with the new attendance boundaries taking effect the following school year.
The district has also published school closure information and frequently asked questions for families seeking additional details. Wednesday's vote will determine whether Long Beach Unified proceeds with the closures and begins preparing for the redistribution of students across neighboring campuses.
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