Priscilla Chan’s tuition-free Primary School, founded in 2016 and funded with more than $125 million over a decade, is closing in June, according to multiple reports. The school supports children from low-income families and has provided education alongside services such as healthcare and family support. The closure affects about 540 students who rely on the institution’s tuition-free model.
The school’s governing board votes to end the program because academic performance is described as being below state averages, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), the school’s benefactor, is not continuing funding beyond the upcoming academic year. In response to the closure, CZI says it is redirecting resources toward other areas, including biotechnology and artificial intelligence.
CZI also says it will provide assistance to help students and local organizations through the transition. One account cites a pledge of $50 million to support affected children, while another describes substantial funding for impacted students and community groups as part of the wind-down plan. The school’s final year proceeds through June.
