MPS suggests to close Kenny, Lake Harriet Lower, Field elementary schools in school transformation plan

Minneapolis Public Schools senior leadership presented its "school transformation" plan on Sept. 15 to the school board and a large audience of MPS parents and press. 

The goal for the plans, according to the administration, are for the maximum number of students to be at "optimally sized schools.”

A building analysis done in 2024 showed that half of the districts’ buildings were underutilized. A 2023 district pro forma estimated the district could save $45 million by "right sizing" the district.

All of the information presented on Tuesday night is available on the district's related webpage.

Southwest Voices covered the meeting and immediate reaction by MPS parents, including those at proposed schools to close. 

Senior leadership presented three options for each community high school pathway to "optimtize" it's buildings.

Here are the options for the Southwest and Washburn High School pathways.

Southwest High School pathway proposed changes

Option 1: Kenny Elementary would close and students would move to either Armatage or Windom based on home address; Lake Harriet Lower would close and students would move to Lake Harriet Upper

Option 2: Kenny would close and students would be split up between Armatage and Windom based on home address; Lake Harriet Lower would close and students would be split up between Lake Harriet Upper and Kenwood based on home address; Lake Harriet Upper Elementary students would be split up between Lake Harriet Upper and Kenwood based on home address

Option 3:  Kenny would close and students would move to Armatage; Lake Harriet Upper Elementary students would be split up between Lake Harriet Upper and Kenwood based on home address; Lake Harriet Lower would close and students would be split up between Lake Harriet Upper and Kenwood based on home address

If a school is not mentioned, no major changes are being proposed. Attendance boundaries will shift with many of these options, which can be viewed on pages 71-73 of the presentation.

Washburn High School pathway proposed changes

Option 1: Field Elementary would close; attendance boundaries would shift for Barton, Burroughs, and Hale 

Option 2: Field and Hale would merge at Hale Elementary (Field would close); no attendance boundaries changes

Option 3: Field would close and students would be split up between Barton and Hale based on home address; Hale students would be split up between Barton and Hale based on home address; Lyndale students would move to the South High School pathway and attend Andersen Middle School; most schools in the Washburn pathway would see an attendance boundary change  

If a school is not mentioned, no major changes are being proposed. The pathway slides can be viewed on pages 78-80 of the presentation.

No votes were taken at the Sept. 15 meeting. Community enagagement meetings are scheduled for Oct. 1 at Washburn High School and Oct. 8 at Southwest High School.