One Quarter Of Detroit Public Schools To Close In June

We can’t believe it’s come to this.

A quarter of Detroit’s public schools are set to close in June due to declining enrollment and a $219 million budget deficit.

By June, 44 out of 172 schools will close, followed by 6 more by June of 2011. Last fall, the district also closed 29 schools.

And it’s terrible for parents!

A mother whose daughter’s school is set to close in June, reveals:

“I am not happy about it, but the population of the city is shrinking and the people who have the means are moving out. You’ve got to give DPS a chance. You’ve got to give Detroit a chance. I’m trying to.”

The school closures fall into a $1 billion, five-year plan to downsize the district. With fewer than 900,000 living in Detroit, they are looking to improve education, test scores and student safety with the kids they have left.

More than half the seats in a dozen schools are empty! Enrollment from pre-k to 12th grade has decreased from 164,500 in 2002-03 to just 87,700 for the current school year. And it’s expected to dip to 56,500 in 2014.

So sad.

[Image via AP Images.]