THEN HER SON, HER NINE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, ESCAPED AND WAS NOT HURT. WELL, SCHOOL’S FUTURE IS ON THE LINE TONIGHT IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY AFTER YEARS OF DECLINING ENROLLMENT AND FINANCIAL STRAIN, KCRA 3’S CORTEZ HAS A CLOSER LOOK AT THE IMPACT THIS COULD HAVE FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. TONIGHT, A SCHOOL ON THE BRINK. SACRAMENTO CITY UNIFIED LEADERS ARE SET TO VOTE ON WHETHER TO CLOSE THE GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES AND RANCHO CORDOVA. WE VIEW THIS VERY MUCH AS A NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL. AFTER YEARS OF DECLINING ENROLLMENT, THE CHARTER CAMPUS, NOW AT JUST 146 STUDENTS AS OF APRIL, WELL BELOW WHAT IT NEEDS TO STAY FINANCIALLY STABLE, ACCORDING TO THE DISTRICT’S EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN RUNNING A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT FOR YEARS, WITH THE RESERVES ALREADY BELOW REQUIRED LEVELS AND A $388,000 DEFICIT CLOUD LOOMING OVER. THEY’RE FACING A LOT OF PRESSURES WITH ENROLLMENT. THAT’S HOW THEY STAY OPEN. UNDER STATE LAW, CHARTER SCHOOLS MUST OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY AND STAY FINANCIALLY STABLE, WHILE THE DISTRICT CAN STEP IN TO HELP. QUESTIONS REMAIN ABOUT WHETHER THAT’S SUSTAINABLE LONG TERM. THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING ABOUT A FUTURE FOR THE SCHOOL. THE SCHOOL SITS IN RANCHO CORDOVA COUNCIL MEMBER JOE LITTLE’S DISTRICT, WHO SAYS FUTURE PLANS ARE ALREADY IN THE TALKS, MAY BE IN A DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. FOLSOM CORDOVA WOULD REALLY LIKE THE CAMPUS. WE WANT TO HAVE CONTROL OF THAT ASSET. WE’D PREFER TO KEEP IT IN ONE OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH AND HAVE A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY GOING FORWARD, RANCHO CORDOV
Sacramento charter school faces possible closure due to $388K deficit
Sacramento City Unified leaders are set to vote on whether to close George Washington Carver School of Arts & Sciences on the border of Rancho Cordova, citing years of financial deficits and declining enrollment.
Updated: 9:44 PM PDT Apr 16, 2026
Sacramento City Unified leaders are preparing to vote on the future of George Washington Carver School of Arts & Sciences in Sacramento, as the charter school struggles with financial instability and declining enrollment. According to the district’s executive summary, the school has been running a structural deficit for years, with reserves already below required levels and an over $388,000 deficit looming. “They’re facing a lot of pressure with enrollment. That’s how they stay open,” Rancho Cordova District 2 City Councilmember Joe Little told KCRA 3.Carver’s registrar, Yvonne Spruell, confirmed with KCRA 3that the campus had just 146 students as of April. That number is far below the enrollment needed to have a surplus for next school year. Under state law, charter schools must operate independently and remain financially stable. While the district can step in to assist, questions remain about whether long-term support is sustainable. “Maybe in a different school district. Folsom Cordova would really like the campus,” Little said. A district spokesperson told KCRA that the school has already been surveying students on potential relocation possibilities if a closure were to happen The meeting began at 6:15 p.m. at the Serna Center.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Sacramento City Unified leaders are preparing to vote on the future of George Washington Carver School of Arts & Sciences in Sacramento, as the charter school struggles with financial instability and declining enrollment.
According to the district’s executive summary, the school has been running a structural deficit for years, with reserves already below required levels and an over $388,000 deficit looming.
“They’re facing a lot of pressure with enrollment. That’s how they stay open,” Rancho Cordova District 2 City Councilmember Joe Little told KCRA 3.
Carver’s registrar, Yvonne Spruell, confirmed with KCRA 3that the campus had just 146 students as of April. That number is far below the enrollment needed to have a surplus for next school year.
Under state law, charter schools must operate independently and remain financially stable. While the district can step in to assist, questions remain about whether long-term support is sustainable.
“Maybe in a different school district. Folsom Cordova would really like the campus,” Little said.
A district spokesperson told KCRA that the school has already been surveying students on potential relocation possibilities if a closure were to happen
The meeting began at 6:15 p.m. at the Serna Center.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel