Mark Zuckerberg Funded Elementary School for Low-Income Kids To Shut in 2026

A Silicon Valley elementary school backed by Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg is set to close in the summer of 2026. However, the reasons behind the closure are unclear, The New York Times reports.

The school, known as The Primary School, was built in 2016 in the town of East Palo Alto, California, a relatively low-income and ethnically diverse area compared to many of its Silicon Valley neighbors. The school, which has another site in San Francisco, serves about 550 children in total.

The school primarily serves children of Latino descent, with the majority receiving some type of specialized educational support. The tuition-free school was backed with funding from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), a nonprofit controlled by the Meta founder and his wife, Priscilla Chan.

The reason for the closure was not disclosed in the school’s formal announcement, but The Times reports that some teachers may have told students the closure was due to the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) withdrawing funding for the project.

“Mommy, the guy who’s been giving money to our school doesn’t want to give it to us anymore,” a child allegedly told its mother.

The news comes after the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative announced earlier this year it was set to refocus on science research, namely research at the intersection of biology and AI, away from social advocacy. The nonprofit, like Meta, also announced it was doing away with its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program (DEI) in February 2025.

“This was a very difficult decision, and we are committed to ensuring a thoughtful and supportive transition for students and families over the next year,” read the official announcement. The school had been openly seeking additional funding for some time, according to its website.

Jean-Claude Brizard, a former superintendent of the Chicago school system who serves as chairman of the board of directors for the school, told The Times that the decision to close the school was “not part of a DEI retrenchment by Mr. Zuckerberg.”

Meanwhile, Carson Cook, a senior manager of strategy and advancement at the elementary school, refused to comment when asked whether he thought the decision was related to the foundation’s decision to roll back DEI policies.

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative will continue investing in the local Silicon Valley community, pledging a $50 million investment over the coming years in the East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, and East Bay communities, promising more details to come in the future.

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