Evanston/Skokie School District 65 is seriously considering closing up to three neighborhood elementary schools for the 2026–27 school year, a high-stakes move aimed at closing a multimillion-dollar budget gap. The board is split on which option to pursue and has packed the calendar with extra meetings and hearings as administrators scramble to land on a plan before winter break. Parents, principals, and neighborhood groups have packed meetings and inboxes, with some accepting the idea of a single closure and others insisting the district find another way that keeps every neighborhood school open.
District leaders say the potential closures are part of Phase III of a Structural Deficit Reduction Plan meant to stabilize long-term finances and consolidate buildings. As outlined by District 65, administrators are using a data-driven scorecard to compare buildings on factors such as geography, equity considerations, and maintenance costs.
Which schools are on the table
In scenario after scenario, North Evanston schools continue to appear. Kingsley and Lincolnwood appear frequently in the models, while Willard, Washington, and Dawes have also been run through in different combinations. Axios reported that the board is weighing multiple options, ranging from closing Kingsley alone to pairing Kingsley with either Lincolnwood or Willard, and even three-school options in some drafts.
Board deadlocked, clock ticking
The six-member board has repeatedly split on which scenario to advance, resulting in tied votes and a flurry of special meetings as members try to agree on a path forward. The Daily Northwestern reports the board must finalize a plan before Dec. 19 so the district can satisfy Illinois School Code notice rules and hold the legally required public hearings for any closure.
Parents and neighborhood groups push back
Families have shown up in force, urging the board to trim elsewhere instead of locking school doors for good. Parents told CBS Chicago they want cuts to administrative payroll, transportation costs, and overlapping programs on the table before neighborhood schools. Community group Invest in Neighborhood Schools and other local advocates have pushed to slow the process and fully explore alternatives, Axios adds.
Numbers and the trade-offs
Phase III of the Structural Deficit Reduction Plan aims to identify roughly $10.9 million to $14.85 million in cuts over several years, and administrators say closures are one of the few ways to reach that range. According to The Daily Northwestern and district presentations, shutting down a single underused building could save about $2 million a year in operating costs, a number that is heavily driving the conversation.
Legal context
The closure fight is unfolding under the shadow of federal charges tied to recent district leadership. According to the Associated Press, former District 65 superintendent Devon Horton was indicted on multiple counts alleging a kickback and contracting scheme, a development that current district leaders say has further complicated finances and community trust.
What’s next
The board is set to hold additional meetings and could vote to start the public hearing process required under state law. The timeline will determine whether any closures actually hit for the 2026–27 school year. FOX 32 Chicago aired a local update today, and neighborhood outlets such as The Record note the board has to lock in options before winter break to stay on track with hearing and implementation deadlines.
Whatever the final decision, any closure will ripple through attendance boundaries, staffing and programming across Evanston and Skokie. Parents on all sides say they want clearer numbers and a plan that balances fiscal reality with neighborhood stability. District 65 has posted data and resources for families as the process moves ahead.
