20 schools in Philadelphia could close under district's updated facilities plan

ByTaRhonda Thomas WPVI logo

Thursday, January 22, 2026

20 schools in Philadelphia could close under district's updated facilities plan

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The School District of Philadelphia has unveiled a sweeping $2.8 billion plan that would modernize 159 facilities and maintain another 122, but it also calls for closing 20 schools.

The district announced that the closures are part of a long-term strategy to consolidate resources and improve academic offerings.

School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Tony Watlington said the plan follows two and a half years of feedback from parents and community members.

"We'll be able to use our resources in a more efficient manner to drive more high-quality academic programming," he said.

Watlington said the district will continue outreach as the process moves forward.

"We want to do meetings with impacted schools and communities to make sure they understand it and give feedback," he said.

According to the district, students from closed schools will be reassigned to other campuses. Middle schools slated for closure will be phased out. All changes are scheduled to take effect in the 2027-28 school year.

Watlington said enrollment trends and building conditions were key factors in determining which schools would close, including facilities with "poor" or "unsatisfactory" ratings.

"We'll be in a position to reduce the number of schools with unsatisfactory or poor ratings from 85 to zero," he said.

Of the 20 schools set to close, 12 would be repurposed for district use. Eight would be transferred to the city for job creation or redevelopment into affordable housing. Ludlow is among the schools expected to be converted into housing.

Watlington said a transition team will be created to support students and families with transportation needs and social or emotional concerns throughout the process.

The proposal still requires approval from the School Board and is scheduled to be presented on February 26. The district said parents and community members will have opportunities to provide feedback before any final decisions are made.

For more details, visit the Facilities Planning page at PhilaSD.org.

The schools that could close are:

PreK-8 Schools

-Robert Morris Elementary

-Samuel Pennypacker School

-John Welsh Elementary School

-James R. Ludlow School

-Laura W. Waring School

-Overbrook Elementary School

-Rudolph Blankenburg School

-Fitler Academics Plus

Middle Schools