INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Five schools in Inglewood are expected to close by the end of the 2024-2025 school year due to declining enrollment and a financial crisis the Inglewood Unified School District says it hasn’t been able to climb out of.

But parents say this is a social and racial injustice to their students. 

Inglewood Unified School District’s County Administrator, Dr. James Morris said the district has been in State receivership for 12 years. This means the State loaned them $29 million and Dr. Morris said the District still owes $21 million on that loan. 

“We have to get the District’s financial house in order and part of that is closing schools,” Dr. James Morris said.

“Operating more schools than we need. Population in the district decreased from 18,000 students down to 7000 students, less than 7000 students. That’s significant. We cannot continue to operate and provide a good instructional program with schools that have so few students.”

The schools that are planned for closure are Crozier Junior High School, Morningside High School, Hudnall, Kelso and Highland TK-6.

Some Inglewood parents are questioning why these locations were chosen. 

Victoria Preciado’s daughter attended Worthington Elementary before it was ordered to close last year, even though she says it was at capacity.

“This is more than just about one school and one city. It’s about Black and Brown, low income immigrant schools across the state who are being neglected,” she said.