LONG BEACH, CA — Two elementary schools serving nearly 800 students will close next year after the Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education voted 4-1 Wednesday to shut down the campuses despite sustained opposition from parents and community members.
Edison Elementary School in Long Beach and Gompers Elementary School in Lakewood will close at the end of the 2026-27 academic year, as the district struggles with declining enrollment, rising operating costs and a multimillion-dollar budget deficit.
Board member Maria Isabel López cast the lone dissenting vote, while the other four members supported the closures, according to the Long Beach Post's account of Wednesday's meeting. The decision followed weeks of protests, petitions and emotional appeals from families concerned about the disruption to their children's education, longer journeys to school and the loss of established neighborhood communities.
As Patch reported ahead of Wednesday's vote, the two campuses serve a combined 785 students and were identified by district administrators as operating substantially below capacity.
The closures are expected to save approximately $2.8 million, according to district officials, although the savings represent only a fraction of the reductions needed to address the district's financial difficulties. Superintendent David Zaid told board members that another $27 million in cuts must be identified, according to the Long Beach Post. The district also expects to end the current school year with a deficit of approximately $45 million.
Enrollment has fallen from nearly 100,000 students more than two decades ago to fewer than 60,000 today, leaving the district maintaining more school buildings than administrators say it can sustainably operate. In its official Oct. 9 closure recommendation, LBUSD cited declining enrollment, lower birth rates, school capacity and the long-term sustainability of educational programs and resources.
The district previously closed Hoover Middle School and reduced library services, mental health resources and staffing as part of its efforts to address its financial problems.
Parents at both elementary schools campaigned against the closures, arguing that the financial savings did not justify the disruption to children and families. At Gompers, parents organized a petition and Lakewood Mayor Jeff Wood publicly opposed the proposal. Edison families also expressed concerns about longer journeys to school, particularly for parents who walk their children to class.
Wednesday's vote prompted tears, boos and expressions of disappointment from families attending the meeting, according to the Long Beach Post. Under the district's proposed attendance-boundary changes, Gompers students would be reassigned among Cleveland, Holmes and MacArthur elementary schools, while Edison students would attend Chavez and Oropeza elementary schools.
Families wishing to enroll their children at other campuses are expected to receive priority consideration through the district's school choice process. Although Edison and Gompers will cease operating as elementary schools after the current academic year, the buildings could continue serving other educational purposes.
The closures represent another significant step in the district's effort to reduce spending as enrollment continues to decline, with further budget decisions expected in the coming months.
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