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# How other systems are managing closed schools
- URL: https://www.redeyebr.com/how-other-systems-are-managing-closed-schools/
- Published: 2026-08-04T02:25:50.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-04T02:25:50.000Z
- Description: EBR is in the midst of a master plan for facilities. Other systems are mostly turning closed schools into housing
- Author: Mukul Verma
- Tags: News

Public school enrollment is falling nationwide, largely because fewer children are being born. Slower immigration and the expansion of school-choice programs are also contributing to the decline. What should districts do with school buildings they no longer need?

**Why it matters:** Leaving schools vacant can take a toll on the surrounding community. Shootings near 49 closed Chicago schools rose 10%, according to research from the University of Chicago and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

**What school systems are doing:**

- **Housing—especially senior housing—has emerged as one of the most common uses for former schools.** Classrooms can be converted into apartments, while gyms, auditoriums and other large spaces can serve as shared amenities.
- **An example:** In Paris, Illinois, the former Paris High School became Tiger Senior Apartments, a 42-unit affordable housing complex named after the school’s mascot.
- **Other approaches:** Districts are converting former schools into early-childhood education centers, or using them to bring community services under one roof. Some are also considering workforce housing to help recruit and retain teachers.

**Zoom out:** Japan, which has closed more schools than any other country, offers a glimpse of just how creative these conversions can get. One former school is now “Your High School,” an attraction where tourists can spend a day as Japanese students—even eating lunch in the cafeteria.

**The bottom line:** EBR Schools is writing a master plan for facilities, now that enrollment has dropped here. Other systems are mostly turning over closed schools for housing. Baton Rouge’s schools have a more ambitious idea, though they are in flux. Depending on location, some schools could be reworked to offer training for trades, with other agencies offering support and developers building housing.