- Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan’s tuition-free Primary School will close after the 2025-26 academic year, impacting hundreds of low-income families in California’s Bay Area.
- The heartbreaking closure follows a broader shift in the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative’s priorities, away from social advocacy and toward scientific research.
- Parents and educators say the school, known for integrating healthcare and education, had become a lifeline for underrepresented communities.
In a heartbreaking closure that’s left families reeling, the tuition-free Primary School founded by Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan will shut its doors permanently at the end of the 2025–26 school year. The school, backed by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), was launched in 2016 with a bold mission: support low-income children and their families by merging early education with healthcare from birth through high school.
The announcement came last week without a detailed explanation, and many parents are calling the decision abrupt and painful. More than 95% of the students at the Primary School are from underrepresented minority groups. With campuses in East Palo Alto and Hayward, the school had earned praise for addressing the needs of entire families, not just children, through its innovative approach.
Why the Heartbreaking Closure Matters
This heartbreaking closure comes as part of a larger realignment of the philanthropic priorities of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. The organization recently confirmed it would shift away from social advocacy, including its work on education, immigration reform, and racial equity. Instead, CZI says it will focus on science and medical research, pledging $50 million to communities affected by the school’s closure.
Despite the financial gesture, the impact on local families is immense. Parents were not only counting on the school’s academic support, but also on the emotional and healthcare services it provided. Each family had access to a “parent wellness coach,” part of the school’s unique wraparound model.
The Real Impact of the Heartbreaking Closure
The heartbreaking closure of the Primary School reflects a broader retreat by Big Tech from community-focused philanthropy. While CZI says the school’s board made the decision, many observers see it as part of Meta’s evolving political and social stance, especially under renewed alignment with Donald Trump’s administration.
Zuckerberg’s personal and corporate policies have shifted sharply in recent years—from championing racial justice during the George Floyd protests to now eliminating DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) efforts at both Meta and CZI. This pivot has frustrated families who once saw Zuckerberg and Chan as progressive forces for change.
One parent told the San Francisco Standard that the school had been a “gift to the community” and expressed deep sorrow over its closure. “Now they’re gonna take this away too,” she said, highlighting how the tech industry’s moves continue to reshape and sometimes destabilize life in the Bay Area.
Moving Forward After the Heartbreaking Closure
While CZI’s decision is final, school leaders are working hard to ensure a smooth transition for affected families. Carson Cook, the school’s senior manager of strategy and advancement, emphasized that staff remain dedicated to giving students the best final year possible. “Our team cares very deeply about our children, our families, and about this community,” he told CNN.
But the heartbreaking closure also serves as a cautionary tale. As tech billionaires like Zuckerberg increasingly shape public services through private initiatives, their sudden pivots—motivated by political, financial, or ideological factors—can leave vulnerable communities without vital support systems.
While CZI’s decision is final, school leaders are working hard to ensure a smooth transition for affected families. Carson Cook, the school’s senior manager of strategy and advancement, emphasized that staff remain dedicated to giving students the best final year possible. “Our team cares very deeply about our children, our families, and about this community,” he told CNN.
But the heartbreaking closure also serves as a cautionary tale. As tech billionaires like Zuckerberg increasingly shape public services through private initiatives, their sudden pivots—motivated by political, financial, or ideological factors—can leave vulnerable communities without vital support systems.
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