The Primary School founded by Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg in East Palo Alto will close after the 2025-2026 year because the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is withdrawing funding.
About 400 students from preschool to eighth grade, mostly from low-income families of color, will lose free tuition, health care, and counseling support.
The local Ravenswood City School District faces long-term financial pressure despite a $26.5 million grant and CZI covering costs for these students through 2031.
CZI is pivoting away from social and political programs toward science, biology, and AI, cutting community, housing, and education equity initiatives.
Families will receive $1,000 to $10,000 per child for future education and a transition specialist, but parents say this aid is insufficient.
Critics warn that dependence on a single billionaire donor creates instability and that changes in political focus influenced CZI’s decision.
The school struggled with leadership turnover, inconsistent academic progress, and lacked standard special education and disciplinary systems.
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