Long Beach school district proposes closing two under-enrolled elementary schools
The Long Beach Unified School District plans to shut Edison and Gompers elementary schools after the 2026-27 year because of low student numbers and excess capacity.
Facing persistent under-utilization, the Long Beach Unified School District has recommended closing Edison Elementary School and Gompers Elementary School at the end of the 2026-2027 academic year. Edison currently enrolls 415 children—about 40% of whom are admitted through the School of Choice process—and runs at roughly 44% of its designed capacity. Gompers serves 370 students and functions at approximately 38% of capacity.
Students from Edison would be transferred to nearby Chavez or Oropeza elementary schools, while those from Gompers would attend Cleveland, Holmes or MacArthur schools, all within two miles. Community members are mobilizing against the closures; a petition to keep Gompers open has attracted close to 1,500 signatures, and parents plan to voice their concerns at the upcoming board meeting.
Why it matters
School closures affect local families, community cohesion, and the use of public education resources.
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