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District recommends closing Hoover Middle and moving Keller dual-language program to Hoover to create capacity
Summary
Staff presented a capacity analysis showing Hoover Middle operating at roughly 38% utilization and Bancroft at about 55%; to address declining enrollment and growing demand for dual-language middle programs, staff recommended closing Hoover (vote next week), merging its attendance boundary with Bancroft's, and relocating the Keller dual-language program to the Hoover campus to increase capacity and accessibility.
District staff told the board on Dec. 10 they will recommend a vote next week to close Hoover Middle School and to realign attendance boundaries and program locations to address both declining enrollment and rapidly growing demand for dual-language middle-school seats.
Facilities staff presented a program-capacity analysis showing Hoover's program capacity as just over 1,200 students with current enrollment of about 477, yielding roughly 38% utilization; enrollment at Hoover has declined sharply in recent years. Bancroft Middle School, about 1.5 miles away, has a program capacity of roughly 1,400 and an enrollment of about 770 (about 55% utilization), which staff said provides space to accommodate transitioning students.
Staff also described rapid growth in elementary dual-language programs: about 319 students promoted out of 5th grade last year across seven dual-language sites, and roughly 70% sought to continue in a dual-language middle program (most choosing Keller). Keller's current program capacity (about 575 total) will be insufficient to meet projected demand as hundreds more students matriculate into middle school in coming years.
To address both challenges, staff proposed closing Hoover at the end of the 2025' 26 school year, merging the Hoover residential attendance boundary with Bancroft's, and ultimately moving Keller's whole-school dual-language program to the renovated Hoover campus (timed to follow modernization work). Staff emphasized outreach already completed (parent meetings, staff meetings, FAQs) and said they are coordinating with Long Beach Transit to improve transportation access for families.
Board members asked about transportation supports, prioritized choice processes for families who may prefer other schools, and staff protections; staff said they will run a prioritized School of Choice and provide individualized transition assistance. No final vote was taken on the closure during the Dec. 10 meeting; the board will consider action at a later meeting.
The district said outreach will continue, including follow-up parent meetings at Hoover and Bancroft and tours of Bancroft for Hoover families. Staff emphasized the move is intended to both improve operational efficiency and expand access to the dual-language middle-school model.
