In 2016, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, opened a tuition-free school for low-income families in California’s Bay Area. Backed by their philanthropic organization, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), the Primary School was launched with the goal of supporting children from birth through high school by integrating healthcare and education — a vision shaped by Chan’s experience as a pediatrician.
However, the school recently announced it will close at the end of the 2025–2026 academic year. The announcement, delivered to families across its two campuses, described the decision as difficult but didn’t give a detailed explanation. The shutdown aligns with broader changes at CZI and the shifting direction of Big Tech in the political climate under President Donald Trump.
Families were informed that the school’s closure was due to CZI ending its financial support. Though a representative from the organization confirmed the decision was made by the school’s board of directors, they did not comment further on funding. The school stated that CZI will donate $50 million to support the communities and families affected by the closure.
Carson Cook, a senior leader at the Primary School, shared that meetings with families began last Thursday to communicate the decision. While he didn’t provide details about the reasons behind the shutdown or its timing, he emphasized the school’s commitment to helping families through the transition. “Our model has always focused on the whole family, and that hasn’t changed,” he said.
CZI has recently made several major strategic shifts. In February, it announced a reduction in internal and external efforts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This followed similar changes at Meta, Zuckerberg’s company, which has made increasingly conservative moves in recent months. The couple also attended Trump’s inauguration, sitting alongside other tech executives, and Meta has reportedly aligned itself more closely with Trump politically.
Originally launched in 2015, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative focused on four main goals: personalized learning, curing diseases, connecting people, and building strong communities. The Primary School was one of its first projects, combining early education with healthcare to reduce the effects of “toxic stress” caused by poverty, abuse, and trauma — an issue that Chan wrote about passionately after the school opened.
The school became a national model for integrated support for underserved children. Just last month, its medical director shared its approach at the SXSW conference. Over 95% of students at the Primary School are from underrepresented minority backgrounds, according to recent tax filings.
The school didn’t just educate children — it supported entire families. One unique feature was assigning families “parent wellness coaches” who will now help parents find new school options after the closure.
Despite Meta’s and CZI’s earlier public stances on social issues — including Zuckerberg’s past criticism of Trump’s rhetoric and support for racial justice — the couple’s recent actions mark a stark pivot. Last year, Zuckerberg referred to Trump as a “badass” following an assassination attempt, later visiting him at Mar-a-Lago to explore policy collaboration. Meta also donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration and settled a lawsuit with him for $25 million, including $22 million to help fund his presidential library.
CZI has since announced a refocus on science and a step back from social advocacy, including its efforts on immigration reform and racial equity.
The school’s closure has hit the Bay Area community hard. Locals have long criticized how tech industry growth has driven up housing costs and displaced lower-income families. For many, the Primary School was a rare and vital resource. “It was a gift to the community,” one parent said. “Now they’re going to take this away too.”
Still, the school staff say they’re determined to make the most of the final year. “We have an incredible team,” said Cook. “We’re committed to making this last year meaningful and supportive for our students and families.”