Massive School Closures Proposed: As of February 6, 2026, SJUSD has released a list of up to 9 elementary schools that could be closed or consolidated. This represents nearly one-third of the district's elementary schools.

Declining Enrollment: Primary data from the district indicates enrollment has dropped by over 6,000 students (20%) since the 2017-2018 school year. Currently, 12 elementary schools have fewer than 350 students, with the smallest serving under 200.

Financial & Labor Tension: Unions recently claimed the district underfunded employee health benefits by over $30 million. While other Bay Area districts (like SFUSD) are seeing active strikes, SJUSD is currently navigating these tensions alongside its budget restructuring.

Measure R Bond: The district is beginning to plan the use of Measure R general obligation bond funds for facility improvements over the next 20–30 years, though many parents are questioning why they are investing in facilities while closing schools.

Schools of Tomorrow

The Schools of Tomorrow Implementation Committee presented three potential options at a meeting earlier this week. The committee will spend the next month discussing the options and any changes, before presenting a finalized recommendation to the district’s school board no later than March 12.

OPTION 1: CLOSES 9 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, RELOCATES ONE

Almaden Elementary

Anne Darling Elementary

Canoas Elementary

Gardner Elementary

Lowell Elementary

Rachel Carson Elementary

Selma Olinder Elementary

Simonds Elementary

Walter L. Bachrodt Elementary

Elementary to Rachel Carson Elementary

Relocates Hammer Montessori at Ernesto Galarza

OPTION 2: CLOSES 9 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Empire Gardens Elementary

Gardner Elementary

Lowell Elementary

Rachel Carson Elementary

Reed Elementary

Selma Olinder Elementary

Terrell Elementary

Walter L. Bachrodt Elementary

Williams Elementary

OPTION 3: CLOSES 8 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Almaden Elementary

Empire Gardens Elementary

Ernesto Galarza Elementary

Gardner Elementary

Grant Elementary

Rachel Carson Elementary

Reed Elementary

Williams Elementary

School Locator

The district created a school locator for parents and families to see which elementary school a student would be assigned to under all three options. If a school closes, the district said two options are possible: the students at the closing school would all move to the same school for the 2026-27 school year or would be split to new schools depending on new attendance boundaries.

What to Expect Next

The district is following a strict schedule for the consolidation process. Here is what you should look for in the coming weeks (Source: San José Unified School District, www.sjusd.org/events):

February 12, 2026 - Board of Education Meeting: Expect heavy public comment regarding the proposed school closures.

February 24, 2026 - STIC Meeting: The Schools of Tomorrow Implementation Committee will meet to refine the consolidation recommendations.

March 12, 2026 - Final Recommendation Deadline: The STIC will present its final recommendation on which schools to close and how to redraw boundaries.

March 2026 - Budget Kickoff: The district begins its formal budget review process for the next fiscal year.

June 2026 - Final Budget & LCAP Adoption: The Board will officially adopt the budget and the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP).

Where to Find More Info

For direct monitoring, you should bookmark these specific district portals:

Schools of Tomorrow Portal: sjusd.org/about/schools-of-tomorrow for the latest maps and closure options.

Fiscal Services: sjusd.org/about/fiscal for the LCAP and upcoming 2026-2027 budget drafts.

CDE District Profile: The California Department of Education provides the "Dashboard" data on student performance and suspension rates for the district.