Los Angeles Unified will hold a new round of LAUSD community meetings from Wednesday, Nov. 4, through Monday, Nov. 9, to hear from families about possible school closures and mergers. Most sessions run online, and two are in person, so parents can join from home or show up at a campus.
This round follows the first one in October, which we covered in our earlier report on the closure process. The district has not named any school. Right now it is asking why it should consider changes at all.
LAUSD community meetings: dates and format
According to LAist reporting from Oct. 26, the district calls the effort “Stronger Schools Together.” The schedule is split by region of the district. Search results for the district’s Stronger Schools Together page show East and West sessions on Nov. 4, a South session on Nov. 5, an in-person South session at Fremont High School on Nov. 6, and East and West sessions on Nov. 9. The North region was still to come. However, times differ between listings, so check the district page before you go.
Why the district is asking
Enrollment is the main reason. Preliminary data shows about 374,000 students for 2026-27, nearly 4% fewer than last year. The district had more than 700,000 students in the early 2000s, yet it still runs about the same number of campuses. As a result, many schools have fewer students than their buildings can hold.
Money also plays a part. LAist reports that the district’s budget-cutting plan totals $3.5 billion. The district projects $30 million in savings from consolidation starting in the 2028-29 school year. Still, LAist notes it is unclear how much closures would save, and a Stanford review found that savings can shrink when students leave the district.
What happens next
The district describes two scenarios: merging schools, including some that already share a campus, or closing a school and reusing the site. Deputy Superintendent Pedro Salcido has called the work one of the most consequential initiatives in 30 years. District officials say any school flagged for closure would get notice at least one academic year ahead, with a possible exception for schools that ask to consolidate.
The first round drew more than 1,400 people across eight meetings, according to a district spokesperson, though Eastside turnout was the lowest. More in-depth meetings are planned for late fall and winter. Then the district plans a framework for judging which schools could change, and a board vote could follow within the next year.
For more local education and city coverage, see our Los Angeles and California guide. Dates and venues can change, so confirm them on the district site.