A Think Twice Review of:

Review of Underachieving and Underenrolled: Chronically Low-Performing Schools in the Post-Pandemic Era

Think Twice - Jan 28, 2025

Publisher/Think Tank - Fordham Institute

Author(s) - Sofoklis Goulas

A recent Fordham Institute report argues that post-pandemic enrollment declines will inevitably force districts to make the controversial decision to close some schools. Embracing this possibility, it provides dual criteria of substantial declines in enrollment and chronic low performance as indicators of which schools should be closed first, naming nearly 500 specific schools that meet the criteria.

Reviewer(s) - Sally A. Nuamah, Northwestern University

In her review of Underachieving and Underenrolled: Chronically Low-Performing Schools in the Post-Pandemic Era, Sally A. Nuamah of Northwestern University finds little evidence to support the report's contention that closing these schools will meaningfully reduce budget deficits and improve education outcomes.