Two weeks after Caddo Parish School District proposed the consolidation of district schools during its Building, Grounds and Security Committee meeting, school board members voted to approve the realignment plan.
This plan will close and consolidate three schools.
Check out the affected schools
Queensborough Elementary School consolidated with J.S. Clark Academy
Blanchard Elementary School consolidated with Donnie Bickham Middle School
81st Street Early Childhood Center consolidated with Atkins Elementary School
School board member, Katie McLain said, “I would like to reiterate that these are difficult decisions that we have to come to.”
Queensborough Elementary School
Willis Knighton Health has made a purchase proposal for Queensborough Elementary School, at 2701 Catherine St. This school currently has an enrollment of close to 275 students.
Caddo Parish Schools will be consolidating Queensborough Elementary School with J.S. Clark Academy. According to the school district, this will increase enrollment at J.S. Clark.
This consolidation will occur at the end of 2024-25 school year.
Blanchard Elementary School
This consolidation of Blanchard Elementary School with Donnie Bickham Middle School will form a new PreK-8 campus that supports the educational and developmental continuum for students in north Caddo.
According to the school district, it plans to construct a new PreK-2 wing at Donnie Bickham and introduce a school-based health clinic to meet the growing needs of the community.
This consolidation will occur at the end of 2025-26 school year.
81st Street Early Childhood Center
Atkins Elementary School at 7611 St. Vincent Ave. has close to 190 students. It is located just two miles away from 81st Street Early Childhood Center.
The consolidation of these two schools will bring enrollment at Atkins Elementary School to 300.
This consolidation will occur at the end of 2025-26 school year.
A citizen speaks to the Caddo Parish School Board about her concerns of the school closures Tuesday afternoon, April 15, 2025.
Superintendent Keith Burton said, “these recommendations reflect our responsibility to plan for both today’s students and the students to come.”
According to the school district, it is committed to supporting all staff members affected by these changes.
Among the crowd, Tuesday, April 15, were staff members from 81st Street Early Childhood Center. It was an emotional scene, as staff members came to the podium during the visitor section.
Staff member at 81st Street Early Childhood Center, T. Smith said, “closing this school will leave a void, not just in the service, but in the heart of the community. 81st Street is not just a school, it’s a family, a group of people from all over Shreveport.”
The school district said that it is committed to supporting the affected families by providing ongoing communication and preparation during this transition time.
“We’re creating opportunities that place students at the center of every decision,” said Burton.
More: POLL | Do you think a Caddo Parish district school is necessary in south Shreveport?
Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Caddo Parish School Board approved the closure of three schools