The Anchorage School District (ASD) is considering a proposal to close two elementary schools at the end of the 2025-26 school year, citing low enrollment and underutilized facilities. The plan has been met with significant opposition from parents who argue the closures will disrupt their children's education and destabilize their communities.
Fire Lake Elementary in Eagle River and Lake Otis Elementary in Anchorage are the two schools recommended for closure as part of the district's ongoing "Rightsizing ASD" initiative. A final decision by the school board is expected on November 18.
Key Takeaways
- Anchorage School District proposes closing Fire Lake Elementary and Lake Otis Elementary.
- The district cites low enrollment, with Fire Lake at 48% capacity and Lake Otis just over 50%.
- Parents express concerns about educational stability, special needs programs, and community identity.
- This is the second consecutive year Fire Lake Elementary has faced a potential closure.
- The school board is scheduled to vote on the proposal on November 18.
District Cites Underutilization and Efficiency
The recommendation to close the two schools stems from a district-wide effort to address declining student enrollment and manage aging infrastructure. According to district data, Fire Lake Elementary is operating at 48% capacity, while Lake Otis is slightly over 50% full. ASD Superintendent Jharrett Bryantt previously stated that such underutilized schools often face greater challenges.
He explained that schools with lower enrollment are more likely to require combination classrooms, where students from different grade levels are taught together. They may also need to share essential services and staff with other schools, potentially limiting the academic support available to students.
In an official statement, the district reiterated its goals. "Anchorage School District (ASD) is continuing its Rightsizing ASD project to align facilities and resources with current student enrollment and community needs," the statement read. The district noted the plan addresses "declining enrollment, aging buildings, and a growing maintenance backlog while keeping student learning at the center."
A Pattern of Closures
This proposal is not an isolated event. The "Rightsizing ASD" initiative has led to several school closures in recent years. In December 2024, the school board voted to close Lake Hood and Nunaka Valley elementary schools. The year prior, Abbott Loop Elementary was also closed, indicating a consistent strategy by the district to consolidate its resources.
Parents Voice Strong Opposition
The proposal has mobilized parents and community members. Nearly 70 people attended a recent school board meeting to voice their concerns and plead with officials to keep the schools open. Parents described the schools as vital community hubs that provide stability and a nurturing environment for their children.
Shannon Bulua, a parent at Lake Otis Elementary, emphasized the value of its close-knit atmosphere. "I’m from a small town. I know what it’s like to be in a small community and to have a small group of friends, and that’s exactly what Lake Otis Elementary is doing with all of these children," she said. "It’s a wonderful thing. It’s giving them stability."
"It’s awful. It’s exhausting. It’s tiring. It’s mind-consuming. It’s almost all I think about if I’m not tending to my children or working… this is not a hurdle we expected to face."
– Jessica Schwartz, Fire Lake Elementary Parent
The Toll on Families
For families at Fire Lake Elementary, the announcement has brought a familiar sense of dread. This is the second year in a row their school has been targeted for closure, a process that parents describe as emotionally draining.
Jessica Schwartz, who has a kindergartener and a second-grader at Fire Lake, spoke about the immense stress the uncertainty has caused. One of her children receives support through an Individualized Education Program (IEP), and she worries a move would undo crucial progress.
"We’d have to learn new structure, new routine, new places, new teachers, new faces," Schwartz explained. "The school environment for my student would just be completely flipped over... we’d have to basically start from fresh, start from new."
Impact on Military Families
The potential closure also affects military families who seek stability in the Eagle River community. Alexander Temple, a 20-year Marine Corps veteran, chose to return to his childhood home to provide a consistent environment for his children. His fourth-grade daughter is already in her third elementary school.
"Part of being home is your school and it is part of who you are, and it is part of your identity," Temple said. He shared that his daughter asked the school board to let her finish her final year at Fire Lake. He is also concerned about the practical logistics, noting that the commute to a new school would nearly double, increasing travel time on potentially hazardous winter roads.
Awaiting a Final Decision
The community's emotional testimony highlights the deep connection families have to their local schools, which they see as more than just buildings. Parents argue that the sense of identity and support these schools provide cannot be measured by capacity percentages alone.
The Anchorage School District maintains that these difficult decisions are necessary to ensure resources are used effectively across a district facing demographic shifts. The school board is now tasked with weighing the district's operational arguments against the passionate appeals from the community.
All eyes will be on the November 18 school board meeting, where a final vote will determine the fate of Fire Lake and Lake Otis elementary schools. For the hundreds of families involved, the outcome will have a lasting impact on their children's education and their sense of community.
