Full list revealed: JCPS schools considered for closure or consolidation

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Jefferson County Public Schools will close or consolidate five schools next year, with district leaders warning that additional shutdowns could still be possible.

Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood said the decisions were guided by the district’s Facility Profile Index, which ranks buildings by condition, operating cost and enrollment. It was started by the operations department last February.

"Our Facility Profile Index informed the majority of these decisions," Yearwood said. "It was a way to track the return on the investment in our facilities."

Four of the 10 schools labeled "critical" on that list are included in this round of cuts. But one school flagged for closure — Liberty High School — isn’t even in the top 20. JCPS says Liberty is set to close because other schools offer credit recovery, which is what the school was built to provide.

At the top of the index but untouched in this round is Western High School, ranked critical in both cost and enrollment, which is sitting at just 27 percent capacity this year.

"Western High School was created as a magnet program the board and superintendent say they need 3 years to grow enrollment in their program so our recommendation would be do nothing with that building," said JCPS chief operations officer Dr. Rob Fulk.

Other schools high on the list — but not part of this round of cuts— include:

– No. 5 McFerran Preparatory Academy: JCPS cites low enrollment and an aging building and recommends rebuilding on the same site.
– No. 6 Breckenridge-Franklin: JCPS says it’s expensive to run and the building is in poor condition, but still needed in its cluster.
– No. 8 Churchill Park: JCPS reports it costs more than $120,000 per student, but says no changes are planned.
– No. 10 Olmsted Academy South: JCPS is considering consolidating it with Olmsted North.

"These are difficult decisions, but these are necessary to preserve the future of our district, to preserve the future of our district and to protect our students' future," said Dr. Brian Yearwood in a press conference Nov. 21.

Also on the list are schools that are a part of this round of cuts:

– JCPS plans to move No. 2 TAPP and No. 3 Waller Williams into different facilities.
– King Elementary, No. 7 on the list, would move into Maupin’s building.
– Zachary Taylor Elementary, ranked No. 9, would close entirely.

JCPS says other schools — including Newburg, Wellington, Hawthorne and Coleridge-Taylor — remain under review as the district works to reduce costs.

The Jefferson County Board of Education will vote on the proposed closures and consolidations at its Dec. 9 meeting.

The full Facility Profile Index list is here.

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