According to the National Center for Education Statistics, America’s public-school enrollment has declined by nearly 1.5 million students over the past decade. As a result, more than 1,000 public schools are expected to close or consolidate each year. Education analysts expect this trend to continue throughout the coming decade.

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The reasons for the decline in enrollment include chronic absenteeism, which hovers at 28% per year, America’s declining birth rate, the rapid growth of parents who are homeschooling, and the recent influx of charter schools and private schools. As enrollment falls, school boards face difficult financial decisions about whether to maintain vacant buildings, consolidate campuses, or close neighborhood schools altogether. Often, selling the empty school buildings is the best option as school districts do not have funds for building maintenance on vacant properties.

One group that has shown considerable interest in purchasing vacant school buildings is Muslim communities across the United States. Former school properties are increasingly being converted into mosques, Islamic schools, and community centers. For organizations seeking to establish a place of worship or educational facility, an empty school building represents both an opportunity and a significant financial advantage, as Many former school buildings already have the features that religious and community organizations need, including adequate parking, utility access, classroom space, cafeterias, gymnasiums, and zoning approvals for educational or assembly use. Purchasing an existing facility is less expensive and less time-consuming than constructing a new building from the ground up.

Instead of agreeing to close their neighborhood schools, many local communities unite and fight back. In 2026, a Minnesota school district proposed closing or merging as many as 15 to16 schools because of enrollment declines and underused buildings. Parents, teachers, neighborhood groups, and city leaders mounted a strong campaign against the plan, arguing that neighborhood schools are community anchors and that closures could drive even more families out of the district. After weeks of public meetings and intense community opposition, the superintendent reversed course and recommended that no schools be closed, and the school board voted to pause the closure plans.

Community activism can help preserve neighborhood schools, maintain shorter transportation routes for students, and keep valuable public assets in local use. When schools remain open, neighborhoods often retain a stronger sense of identity and community engagement.

For the Islamic communities, purchasing a closed school building to use for religious purposes is a great choice, as they acquire a property that is already well suited for educational or religious use. This was demonstrated in 2025 when Mohamad Altabaa, a medical student at Texas Tech University, and a physician partner purchased a vacant elementary school with the goal of transforming it into a mosque within 45 days. Volunteers from across the country assisted with renovations, allowing the project to be completed in just in time for Ramadan. Since opening, the center has hosted nightly Taraweeh prayers, an open-invite Iftar dinner and religious programming.

A similar example occurred in September 2026, when the Islamic Society of Greater Kansas City purchased the former Truman Elementary School from the Hickman Mills C-1 School District for $1.4 million. The property included nearly 50,000 square feet of building space on more than 12 acres. District officials stated that educational programming and community services would continue on the site while also generating revenue for the school district.

According to PoiData.io, nearly 4,000 mosques and Islamic centers operate throughout the United States. Some are purpose-built structures, while others occupy repurposed buildings, including former schools, churches, and commercial facilities. The Islamic Schools League of America (ISLA) has reported that currently there are roughly 400 full-time Islamic schools in the United States.

As more schools face closure in the coming years, local communities will increasingly confront decisions about the future of these properties. Residents who wish to preserve neighborhood schools and culture may find that active involvement with local school boards is the most effective way to prevent closures before buildings become surplus property. Once a school is closed and sold, the community loses its ability to determine how that public asset will be used in the future.

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Nancy Huff is an educator with a mission to equip believers to pray strategically for the Cultural Mountain of Education. She has authored Taking the Mountain of Education: A Strategic Prayer Guide to Transform America’s Schools. She leads prayer groups to pray at key educational locations across the US. For additional information, go to: https://takingthemountainofeducation.com/author/nancyahuff/. Photo Credit: Comstock Images from Photo Images.