Chicago school closures led to achievement declines, uncertainty among students and staff

In the hopes of consolidating resources, urban school districts nationwide have chosen to close the doors of their under-enrolled schools, displacing large numbers of low-income students and students of color. Facing a $1 billion deficit in May 2013, Chicago Public Schools did the same.

In the largest mass school closure to date, the Chicago Board of Education voted that year to close 49 elementary schools and one high school program located in an elementary school—a vote that displaced nearly 12,000 students in all...