Almost half of the schools in Russia have been closed down over the past 25 years, and hundreds of those that remain have been declared unsafe.

By the beginning of the 2025-2026 academic year, 68,8 thousand There are only a few schools left in Russia 37,9 thousand, according to data from the HSE Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge.

The main peak of school liquidations occurred in 2000-2010, when 18 thousands educational institutions. In the next decade, the country lost even more 10 thousands schools, and since 2020, more have ceased operation 2,3 thousand institutions.

Rural areas suffered the most, facing population outflow and declining birth rates. The number of public schools there fell by 55%—that's 25 thousands institutions. Despite the influx of residents, the number of city schools in the regions has decreased by more than a quarter - from 20,7 thousand until 16,3 thousand.

However, the overall number of schoolchildren is also falling. from 20,5 million in 2000 to 17,7 млн in 2025.

Along with the reduction in the number of schools, the infrastructure problem of the remaining buildings remains acute. As of 2024 3,9 thousand Russian schools did not have sewerage systems, 3,4 thousand - water supply, and 3,5 thousand — central heating. About 25% of all schools in the country require major repairs, and approximately 500 buildings have been officially declared unsafe.

The authorities call the closure of regional schools "education optimization." For example, in recent times alone, Vladimir area it was decided to close four schools, Achinsk — spoke out against the closure of one of the institutions directly at a meeting with the head of the district. The United Russia faction in the Krasnoyarsk Krai Legislative Assembly even convened a special meeting to discuss "rumors related to upcoming changes in the organization of the educational process."