Overview

• The Primary School, founded in 2016 by Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, will close at the end of the 2025-26 academic year, impacting families in East Palo Alto and San Leandro.
• The decision follows a decline in external donations, with contributions dropping from $8 million in 2022 to $3.7 million in 2023, and a strategic pivot by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI).
• More than 95% of the school’s students are underrepresented minorities, and its model combined education with healthcare, social services, and parent wellness coaching.
• CZI has pledged $50 million to support affected families, including education savings accounts and transition specialists to assist in finding alternative school placements.
• Parents expressed shock and frustration over the abrupt announcement, with many questioning the timing as CZI and Meta scale back diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.