Communities protest planned school closures across Oregon, Illinois

School districts in Oregon and Illinois are facing protests as they consider closures amid financial pressures and declining enrollment. Portland Public Schools has proposed closing 11 or 14 schools, while Salem-Keizer is considering closing six elementary schools; Portland families have held demonstrations to keep Stephenson Elementary and Sellwood Middle School open, with any approved changes taking effect as early as fall 2027. In Evanston, about 200 community members rallied against proposed closures of Dewey and Lincolnwood elementary schools, urging the District 65 board to delay decisions and review its financial assumptions. Their concerns intensified after a report said administrators had overestimated projected capital spending by $17 million over five years, while parents argued the broader budget-cut proposal relies on flawed data and lacks transparency.