Long Beach, California — Two elementary schools in the Long Beach Unified School District could close after the 2026–2027 school year, prompting parents and community members to organize against the proposal.
The district has recommended closing Edison Elementary School and Gompers Elementary School because of low enrollment and significant underutilization of their available capacity.
The proposed closures are expected to come before the Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education during its Oct. 7 meeting, where officials will discuss whether the schools should close beginning with the 2027–2028 school year.
Edison Elementary Is Operating Well Below Capacity
Edison Elementary currently has 415 students enrolled, according to the district.
Nearly 40% of those students attend through the School of Choice process, while the campus is operating at only about 44% of its program capacity.
The district’s recommendation comes as officials consider how enrollment levels are affecting the use of available classroom space across the school system.
If Edison closes, students would be reassigned to nearby elementary schools.
Students currently attending Edison would have the option of moving to Chavez Elementary School or Oropeza Elementary School, with both campuses located within approximately one mile of Edison.
The proposed reassignment is intended to provide students with nearby alternatives if the closure moves forward.
Gompers Elementary Faces an Even Lower Utilization Rate
Gompers Elementary School is facing a similar situation.
The campus currently has 370 students and is operating at approximately 38% of its program capacity, according to district information.
Under the proposed plan, students attending Gompers would be reassigned to Cleveland, Holmes or MacArthur elementary schools.
All three schools are located within roughly two miles of Gompers, giving district officials nearby options for students affected by a potential closure.
However, the proposal has already generated opposition from parents who say the school provides more than just classroom space to the surrounding community.
Parents Organize Opposition to the Closure
Some parents have begun organizing ahead of the upcoming Board of Education meeting in an effort to convince district officials to reconsider the plan.
An online petition calling for Gompers Elementary to remain open has already collected nearly 1,500 signatures, showing the level of concern among families and community members.
Parents have highlighted the school’s close-knit atmosphere and its long-standing connection to the surrounding Lakewood community.
Vanessa, a Lakewood resident, described her family’s experience with Gompers on the petition page.
“My oldest son who is 13 now at Marshall middle school went to Gompers from Tk-5th. We loved the community and the feeling of family. My youngest is now there, in 1st grade. It still has that homey feeling that we don’t get anywhere else other than Gompers,”
Her comments reflect concerns from families who believe the school offers a sense of community that could be difficult to replace.
Community Members Say Gompers Is Part of Lakewood’s History
Another Long Beach resident, Amy, argued that Gompers represents an important part of the Lakewood community’s history.
She pointed to her own family’s connection to the school and questioned why the campus would be considered for closure after recent investment in repairs.
“My mom went to Gompers over 50 years ago. It would be devastating to all the children in the area that have a safe school to walk and ride their bikes to. After all the money poured into the school in the last few years for repairs, it makes ZERO sense to close it down,” she wrote.
The comments highlight one of the central issues likely to dominate the discussion: whether low enrollment and unused capacity outweigh the value families place on keeping neighborhood schools open.
Board Could Decide the Schools’ Future
The Oct. 7 Board of Education meeting will be an important moment for families, educators and community members following the proposal.
If the board approves the closures, both Edison and Gompers would remain open through the 2026–2027 school year before shutting down for the following academic year.
Students would then transition to the neighboring campuses identified by the district.
For parents opposing the plan, the upcoming meeting could provide an opportunity to make their concerns heard directly before a final decision is made.
What do you think about the proposed closures of Edison and Gompers elementary schools? Should low enrollment be enough to close a neighborhood school, or should community history and recent investments also be considered? Share your thoughts in the comments.
