O.C. Districts Closing Schools

At least two school districts in Orange County are consolidating campuses at the end of this school year, while others are exploring potential school closures in the future.

For many districts, these decisions are driven primarily by ongoing declines in student enrollment and rising costs that have led to deficit spending.

This is the case in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District. The TK-12 district, which operates 34 campuses in southern Orange County, reconvened a Facilities Focus Group late last year. Comprised of parents, union members, and administrators, the group was tasked with recommending a merger between two schools. Seven campuses with current or projected enrollment of fewer than 400 students were under consideration.

“As all of our [focus group] members can attest, this was a very emotional process and reaching a decision and recommendation was not easy,” Robert Craven, SVUSD Assistant Superintendent for Business Services said at the February 6 school board meeting. 

That evening, based on the group's recommendation, the SVUSD board voted to close San Joaquin Elementary at the end of this school year. Last academic year, the school had 229 students enrolled, 77.7% of whom were classified as “socioeconomically disadvantaged.” The K-6 campus, built in 1974, is located in Laguna Hills in an area of the district with an aging population and fewer school-age children.

“I wish there was a better way, because it is just devastating for the families, especially when your community is so revolved around your school,” Catherine Beeny, a member of the focus group and president of the Saddleback Valley Council of Parent Teacher Associations (PTA), said in a recent phone interview. Beeny commended the district for how it handled a difficult process.

Declining enrollment leads to a reduction in state funding, as most Orange County school districts receive money based on student attendance. While elementary schools with fewer students may benefit from lower student-to-staff ratios, they are also more likely to have combination classes. In middle schools, a smaller student population can limit the scope of electives offered.

Another factor in San Joaquin’s case is that the campus won’t remain vacant for long—it will be used to accommodate an expansion of the charter school Oxford Preparatory Academy, also known as OPA.

“Even though our school board did not approve [OPA’s] charter, the Orange County Board of Education did, we are obligated by law as a district to provide [OPA] seats that they need,” Beeny said. She is referring to Proposition 39, a California law that requires districts to provide facility space for public charter schools.

Beeny is now focused on facilitating a smooth transition as San Joaquin students move to other SVUSD campuses. Most are expected to go to Olivewood Elementary, which is about four miles away from San Joaquin. The district’s PTA and other school-site PTAs are teaming up to support San Joaquin families. They’ve launched a fundraising campaign to help pay for a fantastic end-of-the-year celebration. Students will also get spirit wear t-shirts from their new campuses.

“What is most important to me is making sure that these kids know that they're supported, that their community is behind them, and they're going to thrive at their new school,” Beeny said.

This is not the first time SVUSD has been through this process. In 2021, the board voted to close Cordillera Elementary and merge its student body with Montevideo Elementary. Cordillera was repurposed for use by the district's Virtual Academy students.

Some Anaheim Union High School District students will also be shifting campuses next year. The district, serving seventh - 12th graders, will close Orangeview Junior High at the end of this school year. In the fall, Orangeview seventh and eighth graders will attend classes at Western High School, joining the ninth - 12th graders. 

Approved by the AUHSD board in August 2023, the consolidation was estimated to create $1 million in savings. Orangeview has seen its enrollment decline from more than 900 students in 2019-20 to 653 this school year, according to EdData. 

Several Orangeview students, parents, and teachers spoke against the change at the 2023 board meeting, according to the meeting minutes. One Orangeview student said she “would feel uncomfortable being on the same campus as high school students.” Oxford Academy in the AUHSD also serves students in seventh - 12th grades.

The plan also includes the relocation of students from Hope School to the Orangeview campus around the 2026-27 school year. Hope has a junior and senior high school, and an adult transition program and is described as a campus “dedicated to preparing students with special needs for lives of purpose, quality, contribution, and independence.” 

This week, the Orange Unified School District Board of Education discussed school consolidation. At the board’s April 16 meeting, trustees heard a presentation about the process.

The district plans to form a Consolidation Committee that will meet April 28 through June 9 to go over several criteria when considering which elementary or middle schools to merge or close, not just enrollment. A goal of the committee is to “examine options to consolidate schools to enhance programs, services and facilities across the District by providing more resources and opportunities for students, teachers and all stakeholders,” according to a slide presented at the meeting. Formal recommendations are expected to be presented to the Orange Unified trustees in August.

The Capistrano Unified School District is also in the early stages of examining school consolidation plans, according to district spokesperson Ryan Burris. While CUSD said it has no plans to consolidate any campuses for the 2025-26 school year, it has hosted meetings regarding enrollment trends and school capacity. 

One possible consolidation plan scenario could impact Del Obispo Elementary in San Juan Capistrano, which marked its 50th anniversary in March. While Del Obispo’s future is not certain, some residents are already taking action. A petition on Change.org argues against closing the K-5 campus that has around 350 students. “This school is not only an institution for learning but a haven for students, parents, and teachers who consider it their home,” reads part of the petition that had more than 650 signatures as of April 18. 

A group has also sprouted up on Instagram to organize opposition to Del Obispo’s consolidation. The account @SaveDelObispo is rallying people to attend the district’s next board meeting happening on April 23. “Let’s fill the room. Let’s be impossible to ignore. Let’s save our school,” reads a recent post.

In 2023, the Ocean View School District was considering school consolidation. Four schools were on the chopping block, including Golden View Elementary. Dozens of students, teachers, and parents from the Huntington Beach campus, known for its farm, showed up to address the board and begged trustees to spare their campus.

In the end, the board voted to keep Golden View and two other elementary schools open, but did vote to close Spring View Middle School. It shuttered at the end of the 2023-24 school year.

Spotlight Schools is committed to reporting on how school closures are impacting families, students, and staff across Orange County. Please email hello@spotlightschools.com to share your perspective.