Shrinking enrollment and rising costs could force tough choices for Ithaca schools, according to The Ithaca Voice.
A new demographic and financial study warns the Ithaca City School District may eventually need to close one or more elementary schools to stay solvent. Enrollment has dropped at nearly every school over the past decade, with some projected to lose more than 30% of students by 2035, while buildings now operate at barely half capacity.
The school board stressed no closures are planned yet. Still, the study shows shutting one to three schools could save millions annually, setting up a difficult conversation about finances, equity, and community impact.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].