Priscilla Chan closes $125M school project to focus on AI
The Primary School, offering tuition-free education to low-income families, has officially closed, impacting around 540 children who depended on its support. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the school's benefactor, is redirecting its resources towards biotechnology and artificial intelligence. As part of its commitment, it has announced substantial funding aimed at assisting affected students and…
In June 2025, billionaire couple Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan decided to close The Primary School, a tuition-free school they co-founded in 2016 to support low-income students. The school, known for its wraparound services like free dental checkups and wellness coaching for parents, received over $125 million from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) over the past decade. However, CZI announced it would not fund the school beyond the 2025-26 academic year, leading to its closure.
The school's closure has significantly impacted the community, affecting nearly 540 children enrolled across two campuses. Mele Fakapelea, whose daughter was a founding student, expressed her disappointment, stating that the loss of the school's support was "crushing." Angelica Cardenas, a parent with children enrolled, felt the closure should have been communicated earlier.
The school's academic performance was notable, with 26% of third graders and above meeting literacy standards, compared to 47% statewide. Parents praised the school's support for children's development and well-being, with 85% of students receiving annual well-child visits.
Despite the closure, CZI pledged $5 million, covering the school's lease and supporting local groups to continue some services. CZI also allocated $3.6 million to education savings accounts, providing assistance for elementary students, preschoolers, and early childhood education. The Ravenswood City Elementary School District is now preparing for a potential enrollment surge, renovating a campus to accommodate the influx of students.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
