Seven Pittsburgh Public Schools To Close

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Pittsburgh Public Schools plans to close seven schools in a significant reconfiguration of its buildings that will see other schools shift the grade levels they service. Two new schools will be added under the plan being proposed by Superintendent Anthony Hamlet.

The plan said the seven schools that would close include: Woolslair Elementary in Lawrenceville, Allegheny 6-8 in the North Side, Sterrett 6-8 in Point Breeze, Fulton PreK-5 in Highland Park, Manchester PreK-8 in Manchester and Miller PreK-5 in the Hill District.

The schools being added would be Career Middle School in the Oliver building and birth to second grade in the Northview building.

“Our first priority remains opening schools for in-person instruction while assuring all our students are getting the educational support they need," Hamlet said in a district release.

“Even so, the COVID-19 pandemic has ripped the Band-Aid off of the inequities in every school
system, including Pittsburgh Public Schools. To succeed as a district and city – we must break from a legacy of inequity. We cannot and should not go back to the way things were.”

The plan additionally proposes:

• Relocation of the Oliver Citywide Academy.
• Reconfiguration of Pittsburgh Minadeo from a PreK-5 school to a 6-8.
• Reconfiguration of Pittsburgh Colfax from a K-8 school to a PreK-5. Colfax feeder students in grades 6-8 would go to reconfigured Minadeo 6-8.
• Reconfiguration of Pittsburgh Brookline from a PreK-8 school to a PreK-5. Brookline feeder students in grades 6-8 would go to Pittsburgh Carmalt.
• Reconfiguration of Pittsburgh King and Pittsburgh Morrow from PreK-8 schools to PreK-5 schools: Feeder students in grades 6-8 would go to new Career Middle School.
• Relocation of Pittsburgh Montessori into the Sterrett building.

The earliest the school board will vote on Hamlet's plan is May 26, according to the district. Public hearings on the plan will be held.