Evanston’s Roycemore School to Shut Down Amidst Enrollment Drop and Financial Struggles

The historic Roycemore School in Evanston, known for its 111-year legacy, will cease operations. Despite community efforts, including fundraisers and appeals for donations, the school faces closure due to a dramatic decrease in enrollment following financial instability. The Board of Trustees informed the school community of this decision on July 15.

“After thorough reviews of enrollment data and financial forecasts, we have decided to suspend Roycemore School’s operations,” the Board stated. The school will not reopen for the 2026-27 academic year.

Earlier, administrators opted to keep the school open for the upcoming school year, thanks to fundraising progress. However, a steep, unforeseen drop in student enrollment soon followed. Despite efforts from faculty and staff to retain and attract students, enrollment remained below sustainable levels.

An unnamed donor had granted Roycemore the financial support needed to conclude the 2025-26 academic year. But this financial assistance came with stipulations. Board member Kevin Foote noted that the donor required specific criteria to be met, such as potential sale of the building or a school merger. Parents were expected to fulfill half of their tuition payment by May 25 to demonstrate commitment.

By July 15, enrollment numbers had dropped below the threshold necessary to secure donor funding. “This decision was reached only after exploring all reasonable alternatives,” the Board stated, emphasizing the lack of resources to maintain high educational standards.

Efforts are underway to ensure smooth transfers of student records to new schools. Additionally, the school is working on financial reimbursements for families who have already made tuition payments.

Interim School Head Paul Druzinsky expressed profound sadness over the closure, noting that every possible action was taken to rescue the school. He acknowledged the rapid response from the community. Druzinsky, who joined as interim head on July 1, brings experience from managing other challenged schools.

He succeeded previous interim head Morgan Busbey, who took over after former head Christopher English’s departure. English was removed in April amid leadership changes, including the resignation of Board Chair Anthony Chambers and the Director of Finance, Michael Youkim.

The Board aimed to avoid decisions that might harm students or staff. The realization was that continuing operations without sufficient resources could harm educational quality. Enrollment numbers were significantly affected by the uncertainties culminating in April, creating unease among parents about the school’s continuity.

Many families return to the supportive Roycemore environment, finding the closure particularly tough. Jessica Risker, a parent at Roycemore, shared her feelings of loss, acknowledging the Board’s efforts to save the school. A local resident and communications volunteer, Tilden Katz, echoed these sentiments, praising the school’s significant contributions to Evanston.

Area schools have offered pathways for displaced students, and efforts to assist transitioning families are ongoing. Although closure procedures continue, Druzinsky stated that reopening the school in the future remains highly improbable due to the complex nature of reviving closed institutions.