Zuckerberg Closes Schools for Minority Communities as Trump Strengthens Policies Against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The tuition-free private school, The Primary School, established by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his partner, pediatrician Priscilla Chan, in 2016 with a mission to support low-income families and communities of color, has announced its closure at the end of the 2025-26 academic year.
Initially designed to provide access to education, healthcare, and social services, the school's closure has reportedly resulted from a lack of funding, a claim that raises questions given the significant wealth of its founders.
Since its inception, The Primary School, located in East Palo Alto, has been a beacon for families in low-income areas, who often lack access to well-funded educational options. The school's website acknowledges the systemic challenges these communities face and the disproportionate impact of those challenges on communities of color.
The school was built with a diverse team of professionals in education, healthcare, and family support to extend resources to underserved communities. However, in 2023, the school announced its closure, citing a lack of funding as the primary reason.
Some have speculated that the closure may be linked to broader strategic decisions by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), the philanthropic organization behind the school's funding. Reports suggest that CZI has recently withdrawn support from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, including those within the school.
The school's closure is causing distress among families who have relied on it for more than just educational services. Veronica Van Leeuwaarde, a mother of two students, shared with the San Francisco Standard that the school's staff had helped her navigate her son's learning difficulties, eventually leading to his diagnosis and treatment for ADHD.
Facing the loss of the school, families will receive between $1,000 and $10,000 to help enroll their children in another institution. However, the average tuition cost for private elementary schools in Palo Alto is around $35,000, and $16,500 statewide, leaving many families in need of additional support.
Despite the claims of insufficient funding, CZI has pledged to invest $50 million in educational and community programs to support the transitioning students and families. The closure has sparked criticism and a sense of betrayal within the community, as it appears to undermine the school's mission of long-term commitment to its students.
[1] San Francisco Chronicle. Aug. 1, 2023. The Primary School, a tuition-free private school, to close next year due to lack of funding. [2] The Guardian. July 31, 2023. Chan Zuckerberg Initiative ends diversity, equity and inclusion team. [3] Inside Higher Ed. July 31, 2023. Chan Zuckerberg Initiative slashes DEI and education spending. [4] Education Week. July 31, 2023. Zuckerberg Foundation ends diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
- The San Francisco Chronicle reported that The Primary School, a tuition-free private school founded by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his partner Priscilla Chan, will close at the end of the 2025-26 academic year due to a lack of funding.
- The Guardian revealed that the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), the philanthropic organization behind The Primary School's funding, has recently withdrawn support from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, which has sparked speculation about the school's closure.
- Inside Higher Ed and Education Week noted that CZI has slashed DEI and education spending, raising questions about the school's closure and its mission to support low-income families and communities of color, as well as concerns about the future of tech philanthropy's commitment to education, self-development, general news, politics, technology, and tech's role in fostering a more inclusive society.
