Lake County School District text accompanied by students exploring a cave.

2026 School Consolidation

Why is LCSD merging schools?

  • Enrollment has been declining over the past decade, which means we have fewer students spread across multiple buildings.
  • With a budget crisis at the state level, the school district does not anticipate significant new revenue. The only way we can continue to operate in this environment is to become more efficient.
  • Consolidating allows us to:
    • Maximize learning environments
      • Serve as many students as possible in the highest-quality learning environments
    • Maximize efficiency of resources
      • Use our school buildings more efficiently.
      • Save on costs like staffing, utilities and maintenance.
      • Invest more directly in teacher and staff pay, student programs, and classroom resources.

When will this happen?

  • No changes until Summer 2026.
  • All students will remain in their current schools for the 2025–26 school year.
  • Consolidation will begin in Fall 2026 (2026–27 school year).

Where will grades be located after consolidation?

SchoolGrades/Programs (starting 2026–27)
LCESPreschool (The Center), Kindergarten–5th grades
LCISProject Dream for all grade levels
LCHS6th–12th grades
PittsDistrict Office, Cloud City High School

Wait, I thought 5th grade was staying at LCIS. What changed?

Last spring, we did not think there was a way to move 5th grade over to LCES with 3rd and 4th grades before we build the extension. However, given a few other changes, we have figured out a way to include 5th grade at LCES without overcrowding the building. This has many advantages, including creating a seamless PK-5th grade experience for students, parents and staff. It also avoids isolating one grade level.

Will our buildings be ready? Will students fit? What about 6th graders being with older students?

  • LCES can add 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade with only minor renovations. Due to a change in preschool operations, from five classrooms to four, LCES will now be able to accommodate 5th grade through using the additional classroom in the preschool wing (which will now house Kindergarten and one 1st grade classroom), repurposing the library into two classrooms, and moving library time to the Lake County Public Library–right across the street. All grades will have enough classrooms at LCES for each class to have a self-contained classroom based on current enrollment. Don’t worry: students won’t be learning in closets!
  • LCHS can welcome 6th grade with only minor renovations. Based on staff feedback, the current downstairs 7th-8th wing at LCHS will house 6th-8th grades. 6th graders will have minimal interactions with 9th-12th graders because they will be isolated in a separate wing with minimal crossing. 6th-8th grades will have different lunch periods from 9th-12th grades.
  • Project Dream will relocate all grade levels to LCIS for after school programs, which will simplify their programs and staffing while giving them lots of space.
  • Long-term, LCSD is planning an LCES expansion, ideally funded by land sales and grants (not new taxes). 
  • LCSD also plans to ultimately relocate the District Office and Cloud City High School to LCIS, ideally in time for the 2027-28 school year.

What’s next?

We will use the 2025–26 school year to carefully plan for consolidation. Here’s what to expect:

  • Fall 2025 – Winter 2026:
    • Staff culture-building activities at LCES and LCHS.
    • Facilities planning, including finalizing renovation designs and furniture needs.
    • Regular communication to families and staff through town halls, newsletters, and the State of the Schools.
  • Spring 2026:
    • Renovations begin at LCHS and LCES.
    • Students learn more about the changes in school and take tours of their new buildings (3rd–4th graders tour LCES, 5th-6th graders tour LCHS).
    • Families receive transportation, calendar, and “start of school expectations” updates.
  • Summer 2026:
    • Moves take place: LCIS staff and supplies transition to LCES and LCHS, Project Dream moves to LCIS.
    • An “End of an Era” event at LCIS will celebrate the history of the building as an elementary / middle school.
  • Fall 2026: Students begin the school year in their new schools.

Questions?

Submit a question in English | Submit a question in Spanish

Feel free to contact: Kate Bartlett, Superintendent – kcbartlett@lakecountyschools.net / 719-486-6810