Salem Will Close Bowditch Elementary School

SALEM, MA -- Schools Superintendent Margarita Ruiz told parents and staff Wednesday that the Nathaniel Bowditch Elementary School will be closed after the current school year. Ruiz said the decision is part of an effort to "end segregation" at the school, which has a large percentage of Hispanic students and low-income families. The school has consistently failed to meet state performance goals.

Under the plan, students at the school would be assigned to other schools throughout the district, according to the Salem News, which first reported this story. The school building would become the new home of the Horace Mann Labortory School, which is currently located on the campus of Salem State University.

"Oftentimes, when schools are dissolved in other districts, it’s because schools are under-performing," Ruiz said. "I made it very clear to everyone in the room that this wasn’t a statement of the Bowditch administration or Bowditch staff. I made very clear that it’s about ending segregation and opening up access for all our students."

For more on this story, see the Salem News. Subscribe to Salem Patch for more local news and real-time alerts.

Photo by Salem Public Schools.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).