Calexico Unified Considers School Closure Due to Declining Enrollment

District officials cite falling birth rates and chronic absenteeism as factors behind potential closure.

Mar. 26, 2026 at 11:07pm

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The Calexico Unified School District is exploring the possibility of closing a school due to declining enrollment across the district. District Superintendent Arturo Jimenez cited a steady decline in student enrollment over the past five years, with the district losing 1,190 students since the 2019-2020 school year. This decline in enrollment directly impacts the district's funding, as it is tied to the number of students served and average daily attendance. The district is hosting a series of informational meetings to gather community input as it forms an exploratory committee to determine which school will close in the 2027-2028 school year.

Why it matters

The potential school closure highlights the challenges facing school districts nationwide due to declining birth rates and chronic absenteeism. Calexico Unified, as the largest district in the Imperial Valley, is grappling with how to best serve its community while managing limited resources. The decision will impact families, teachers, and the overall fabric of the Calexico community.

The details

According to the district's data, several elementary schools in Calexico are operating well below capacity, with Mains Elementary at 42.3% capacity and Kennedy Gardens at 47.2% capacity. By the 2031-2032 school year, enrollment at these schools is projected to drop to 28.6% and 32.2% of capacity, respectively. The district is considering a range of factors beyond just enrollment numbers, including school facility conditions, operating costs, special programs, and transportation logistics, in determining which school to close.

  • Since the 2019-2020 school year, Calexico Unified has lost 1,190 students.
  • For the 2021-2022 school year, the district predicted 8,587 students but had 8,572 students.
  • The projection for the 2025-2026 school year was 7,965 students, but the actual number was around 200 less at 7,795 students.
  • The district plans to make a decision on which school to close for the 2027-2028 school year.

The players

Arturo Jimenez

The superintendent of the Calexico Unified School District.

Victor Legaspi

The mayor of Calexico, who attended the informational meeting and stated the city is working with the school district to lower impact fees.

Calexico Unified School District

The largest school district in the Imperial Valley, which is facing declining enrollment and considering closing a school.

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What they’re saying

“What we wanted to do is give the information, data, and numbers that explain why we're even having this conversation. Why are we talking about maybe closing the school? Why is that even happening? We are the largest school district in Imperial Valley, we have the most students.”

— Arturo Jimenez, Superintendent

“Honestly, I couldn't tell you that it's the school with the lowest enrollment. It might be that that school has the lowest enrollment, so it has the capacity to take more kids. It all depends, and we're trying to be very transparent ... We know it's a very serious decision, and it's not something we take lightly.”

— Arturo Jimenez, Superintendent

What’s next

The district has put together an exploratory committee to implement a plan to determine which school will close in the 2027-2028 school year. The committee will continue to host town hall meetings to gather community input while analyzing data, metrics, and other factors like school facility conditions, operating costs, and transportation logistics.

The takeaway

The potential school closure in Calexico Unified highlights the broader challenges facing school districts nationwide due to declining birth rates and chronic absenteeism. As the district works to make a difficult decision, it will need to balance fiscal realities with the needs and concerns of the local community.