See how much your PPS school could grow under the closure proposal

Many elementary and middle schools across Pittsburgh could double or triple in size if city school board members vote to approve a school consolidation proposal.

Consultants from Education Resource Strategies (ERS) – hired by Pittsburgh Public Schools to review the facility’s footprint – say closing and merging schools would better distribute students and district resources. Their final recommendations result from declining enrollment, aging infrastructure and varying access to district resources.

Internal utilization report obtained by WESA earlier this year found that district schools were on average just over 50% full. If the ERS proposal is approved, it would close 10 school buildings and reconfigure a dozen others.

The district’s newly consolidated K-12 schools would be at an average of nearly 70% ERS capacity, according to WESA’s school-count and enrollment analysis. presented members of the school authorities last month.

The proposed school enrollment data assumes that all K-8 elementary and middle school students who attended closed schools or phased-out magnet programs are transferred to a newly merged neighborhood school.

In such a scenario, schools like Weil PreK-5 in the Hill District and Manchester PreK-8 on the North Side would roughly triple in size. The latter building would require extensive renovation to increase its capacity.

The consultants suggested that PPS transform Manchester PreK-8, currently one of the district’s smallest schools, into a middle school center on the city’s north side, serving an additional 436 students. In their proposal, they cite the region’s growing population of English learners, as well as Manchester’s proximity to charter schools competing for urban students.

“An investment in a significantly renovated facility could attract families back to the district,” consultants told board members.

Weil’s student body will expand by 410, taking over students from nearby Miller K-5 and students currently leaving the Hill District for the district’s selective magnet schools. In August, consultants initially proposed closing Weil over Miller, but ultimately changed course, citing Weil’s more central location and better amenities.

Meanwhile, the city’s high schools will either remain relatively stable or shrink as the district’s total 6-12 schools are divided into traditional middle and high school models. PPS leaders claim that doing so would provide students with appropriate developmental support.

At Westinghouse Academy in Homewood, it would result in 200 middle school students being transferred to Sterrett 6-8 in Point Breeze. Under the proposal, Westinghouse would become the district’s smallest high school, with just 362 students.

The consultants recommended that school principals consider alternative uses for any space created by consolidation, such as teacher centers for vocational education and space for community partners to provide services to families.

County leaders are currently examining the feasibility of this plan before it goes to the ballot. Admission and capacity data may also vary based on the district’s classroom size requirements, which vary depending on the grade the building serves:

• Early childhood centers serve up to 20 students per class
• In K-5 schools, up to 25 students per class
• In K-8 schools, there are up to 26 students per class
• In 6-8 schools, there are up to 28 students per class
• 6-12 schools serve up to 29 students per class
• 9-12 schools serve up to 30 students per class

Multi-grade programs such as Montessori and special education classrooms have various limitations. Standard special education classes can accommodate up to 12 students, up to 6 students in small classes and up to 8 students in classes supported by people with autism and multiple disabilities.

School board Chairman Gene Walker said district leaders will do what they think is best to ensure equity in the district.

“And then work really hard to make sure that the families that are most impacted by this get the resources and support that they need in the transition period to make it a positive experience in the long run,” he said.