Robbinsdale board advances closures of Noble, Sonnesyn and Robbinsdale Middle; final vote Jan. 20 amid $20M shortfall
The Robbinsdale School Board voted to advance a plan to close Noble Elementary, Sonnesyn Elementary and Robbinsdale Middle School to address a roughly $20 million deficit the district attributes to an accounting error and declining enrollment. A final draft will be reviewed Jan. 5 with a final vote set for Jan. 20 under a plan that keeps Lakeview and Neill elementaries open, and parents raised concerns about the closures’ community impacts.
📌 Key Facts
- The Robbinsdale school board voted to advance a plan to close Noble Elementary, Sonnesyn Elementary and Robbinsdale Middle School.
- District leaders say the closures stem from a roughly $20 million deficit caused by an accounting error compounded by declining enrollment.
- A timeline has been set: the final draft will be reviewed on Jan. 5 and the final board vote is scheduled for Jan. 20.
- Under the current proposal, Lakeview and Neill elementary schools would remain open.
- Parents at the meeting voiced concerns about the community impacts of the proposed school closures.
📊 Relevant Data
Robbinsdale Area Schools K-12 enrollment decreased from 12,169 in 2014-15 to 10,253 in 2024-25, a decline of 1,916 students or 15.7 percent.
ROBBINSDALE AREA SCHOOLS ISD#281 — Robbinsdale Area Schools
The decline in Robbinsdale Area Schools enrollment is attributed to natural decrease from falling birth rates, net out-migration, and increased competition from charter schools and open enrollment to other districts.
ROBBINSDALE AREA SCHOOLS ISD#281 — Robbinsdale Area Schools
In Minnesota, completed fertility is 1.73 (below replacement level of 2.11), with White non-Hispanic women having below-replacement fertility, Asian and Hispanic women at or below replacement, and Black women (African American and African-born) at just below 3.0.
ROBBINSDALE AREA SCHOOLS ISD#281 — Robbinsdale Area Schools
The student body in Robbinsdale Public School District is 33.7% White, 30.2% Black, 5.9% Asian, 18.4% Hispanic, and 11.2% two or more races.
Robbinsdale Public School District — U.S. News & World Report
In 2022, the 4-year graduation rates in Robbinsdale Area Schools were 88.7% for White students, 90.0% for Asian students, 84.4% for Black students, 76.1% for Hispanic students, and 62.1% for American Indian students.
Robbinsdale Area Schools graduation rate hits 10-year high, bests state mark — Robbinsdale Area Schools
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Board voted to advance a plan to close Noble Elementary, Sonnesyn Elementary and Robbinsdale Middle School.
- District cites a roughly $20 million deficit caused by an accounting error and declining enrollment.
- Timeline set: final draft review Jan. 5 and final vote scheduled for Jan. 20.
- Lakeview and Neill elementary schools will remain open under the current plan.
- Parents voiced concerns about the closures’ community impacts during the meeting.