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Parents, students and teachers urge board to keep Massey Hill and Anne Chestnut open amid consolidation study

Cumberland County Board of Education · January 14, 2026
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Summary

Dozens of parents, students and teachers told the Cumberland County Board of Education they rely on Massey Hill Classical High School and Anne Chestnut Middle School for academic programs, small class sizes and specialized services, and urged the board to reject recommendations in the district consolidation study.

Dozens of parents, students and teachers told the Cumberland County Board of Education on Monday evening they oppose proposed school closures and reassignments in a consolidation study, singling out Massey Hill Classical High School and Anne Chestnut Middle School.

"It's devastating to think that despite how positively and powerfully impactful Massey has been for our son and for countless other students, it is under consideration to be closed down," said Lyrica Harris, a parent who identified herself during the public forum. Speakers described Massey Hill as a high‑performing choice school with strong arts and AP programs, small class sizes that support students with disabilities, and a tight-knit school community.

Joseph Benjamin Miller, a math teacher at Massey Hill, told the board the school has been "A rated" on the state report card, outperforms other district schools on EOC and AP measures, and that its mix of college-prep instruction and arts programming creates unique student opportunities. Several students and alumni said the school's environment helped them succeed academically and socially.

Speakers also urged the board to reject MGT of America's recommendation to close Anne Chestnut Middle School and reassign students to Douglas Byrd Middle School. "Closing this school would mean eliminating an academic model that is innovative, purposeful, and effective," said Harmony Granderson, who cited Anne Chestnut's year-round calendar, language-immersion offerings and programs serving students from vulnerable communities.

Those who spoke emphasized potential harms if students lose specialized programs: parents cited transportation burdens for military families, loss of language immersion and year-round continuity, and difficulty replicating hands-on or specialized curricula at receiving schools. Several commenters asked the board to consider alternatives to closure, better marketing for choice programs to boost enrollment, and targeted investments in underused schools rather than consolidation.

Board members did not take a vote on closures during the public comment period. The board accepted public comments under a three-minute rule and noted the district will take remarks under advisement. The next board meeting was announced for Feb. 9, 2026.