Anchorage School District proposes closing 3 schools

Plan would convert 2 elementary schools to language immersion programs

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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The Anchorage School District has proposed a plan to close three schools, including converting O'Malley Elementary and Government Hill Elementary into solely French and Spanish language immersion programs, respectively, while eliminating their neighborhood school programs.

Why it matters

The proposed closures and conversions are part of a broader effort by the Anchorage School District to address declining enrollment and budget constraints, though the changes have faced pushback from some parents and community members concerned about access to neighborhood schools.

The details

Under the district's proposal, O'Malley Elementary and Government Hill Elementary would lose their traditional neighborhood school programs and become dedicated French and Spanish language immersion schools. A third school, Nunaka Valley Elementary, would be closed entirely.

  • The Anchorage School District announced the proposed changes on February 17, 2026.

The players

Anchorage School District

The public school district serving the city of Anchorage, Alaska.

O'Malley Elementary

An elementary school in Anchorage that would be converted to a French language immersion program under the district's proposal.

Government Hill Elementary

An elementary school in Anchorage that would be converted to a Spanish language immersion program under the district's proposal.

Nunaka Valley Elementary

An elementary school in Anchorage that would be closed entirely under the district's proposal.

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What’s next

The Anchorage School Board is expected to vote on the proposed school closures and conversions in the coming months.

The takeaway

The Anchorage School District's proposal to close and convert several elementary schools reflects the challenges facing many urban school districts, as they balance declining enrollment, budget constraints, and community demands for neighborhood schools against the potential benefits of specialized language immersion programs.