11 Sacramento Schools Could Close Due To Declining Enrollment

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Sacramento is counting down to the closure of some district schools after the Sacramento Unified School District identified 11 schools that could be shut down due to declining enrollment.

Elyssa Laramme came to sign her son up for school next year at C.P. Huntington Elementary School.

"I like this school. I live out of the district and I continue to bring my kids here," the mother said.

But there's a big problem. The school could close its doors by next year, something Laramme says would be heartbreaking.

"I'd really have to do some rearranging. It would be an inconvenience. It's close to work for me," Laramme said.

Ten other elementary schools could face the same fate, including Fruit Ridge, James Marshall, Washington, Tahoe, Susan B. Anthony, Bret Harte, Joseph Bonnheim, Mark Hopkins, C.B. Wire, and Maple.

The district says these schools have too few students, and some are barely half full.

"We were having to split classes, so a teacher would have to teach two classes at one time because there simply wasn't enough students," Sacramento Unified School District spokesperson Darren Woo said.

Even the billions of extra dollars proposed for California schools may not be enough to avoid a deficit next year. The district says they must look for savings everywhere.

Mother Melissa Contrares says she hopes this school stays open. Her son likes it here and moving next year could be tough.

"I was more just afraid for him, because he is kind of shy, you know. Finding new friends, I know how that is," said Contrares.

Contrares says if her son's school shuts down, she'll adapt. In the end, she says she understands the district must make some tough choices.

"We're in a rough time right now. Things are going to change and we need to go with it," said Contrares.