October 15, 2026
A Message to the LRSD Family
This evening, the Little Rock School District Board of Directors voted to approve the closure of Western Hills Elementary, Mabelvale Elementary and McDermott Elementary at the end of the 2026-27 school year as part of the District’s LRSD Forward plan.
We know this decision will be difficult for the students, families, employees and communities connected to these schools. A school is more than a building. It is where students build friendships, teachers build relationships, families become connected, and communities create memories and traditions.
We recognize that this decision brings uncertainty and questions about enrollment, transportation, daily routines, employees and what comes next. We do not take those concerns lightly. At the same time, LRSD has a responsibility to be honest about the financial challenges facing our District and why these changes are necessary.
Our enrollment has declined significantly over time, which means we receive less revenue while continuing to operate more school buildings than our current enrollment can reasonably support. Maintaining underutilized buildings requires resources that could otherwise support teachers, academic programs, student services, technology, transportation, safety and other needs across the District.
That financial reality was underscored on October 9, when Moody’s downgraded LRSD’s credit rating and assigned the District a negative outlook. Moody’s is an independent organization that evaluates the financial health of organizations such as school districts. Its assessment cited declining enrollment, limited financial reserves and the need to reduce ongoing expenses.
Moody’s estimates that LRSD’s available reserves could fall to approximately 2% to 3% of annual revenue. This does not mean LRSD is going broke. It does mean we have less financial flexibility and must take meaningful steps now to strengthen the District’s financial position. Reserves cannot be used year after year to cover an ongoing gap between what we receive and what we spend. Once those reserves are depleted, we have fewer resources available to respond to emergencies, changes in funding or other unexpected needs.
That is why LRSD Forward is focused on recurring savings. The District needs to reduce its recurring operating expenses by approximately $5 million to $6 million for the 2027–28 school year. LRSD’s experience has shown that closing or consolidating a school can typically reduce operating costs by about 30% to 40%, because we eliminate expenses that no longer need to be duplicated when students move into fewer buildings.
We also know that closing a school does not eliminate every expense associated with it. Students still need to be educated, employees and programs may move to other schools, and transportation and transition costs remain. The projected savings are based on what LRSD has actually experienced through previous school closures and consolidations.
We have heard many ideas for reducing costs or generating additional revenue, and we appreciate the time and thought people have put into those suggestions. Some may become part of LRSD’s longer-term strategy. However, the immediate financial challenge requires recurring savings that can be identified and achieved within the 2027–28 budget timeline.
The decision made tonight is not the end of our responsibility. It begins an equally important commitment to support our students, families and employees through the transition.
Impacted families will receive clear information and support as we work through enrollment options, transportation, school assignments and other changes. We will provide opportunities for families to learn more about their options, and schools welcoming new students will receive support to help those students feel connected, supported and part of their new school community.
We will also continue to support affected employees and communicate with them about the transition and opportunities available to them.
We know people may disagree with this decision. That is understandable. But we can disagree while recognizing that everyone involved cares deeply about LRSD and its students. Our responsibility is to look at the whole picture - our students, families and employees, enrollment, finances, academic opportunities, facilities and the long-term health of LRSD. The choice before us is not between disruption and no disruption. It is between managing a difficult transition responsibly now or allowing our financial challenges to create more serious disruption later.
We cannot promise that every part of this transition will be easy. We can promise that we will approach it thoughtfully, transparently and with care.
Our commitment to the children and communities of Little Rock does not change because a school building changes. Our focus remains on making sure our schools and resources meet the needs of our students and protecting LRSD’s ability to provide strong educational opportunities for generations to come.
Thank you for entrusting your child’s education to us. I know that trust is earned every day, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve your family. Whatever changes lie ahead, our commitment to your child and to the future of LRSD remains strong.
Thank you for being part of our LRSD family.
Dr. Jermall D. Wright
Superintendent of Schools