The Missouri State Board of Education has voted to close 12 schools serving students with severe disabilities as part of a consolidation plan for the Missouri Schools for the Severely Disabled (MSSD). The decision, approved Tuesday, aims to streamline operations and improve resources, though it comes amid mixed reactions from families.
Board President Mary Schrag said the move is “the first step in providing more opportunities and strengthening education” for students, but acknowledged it was not made lightly.
The following schools will close by June 2026:
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Briarwood (Harrisonville)
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Citadel (Potosi)
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College View (Joplin)
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Crowley Ridge (Dexter)
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Delmar Cobble (Columbia)
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Dogwood Hills (Eldon)
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Gateway/Hubert Wheeler (St. Louis)
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Lakeview Woods (Lee’s Summit)
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Lillian Schaper (Bowling Green)
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Ozark Hills (Salem)
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Prairie View (Marshall)
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Rolling Meadow (Higginsville)
Six of these schools were already under temporary emergency closure due to staffing shortages, affecting 61 students. The other six, with 64 students combined, were also at risk of closure.
The closures follow years of declining enrollment—down 36% in 16 years—and $50 million in deferred maintenance across 34 buildings. A consultant deemed the current structure “unsustainable,” recommending the state reduce its facilities from 24 to 12 by building two new schools and consolidating the rest.
Missouri is the only state still operating separate day schools for special education, a model once common nationwide. While integration is a growing trend, 85% of surveyed parents said MSSD meets their child’s needs better than previous schools.
Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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